The Ministry of Tourism expects benefits to overtake the expected revenue loss from the extended waiver of parking and landing fees for charter flights at the Mattala Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) and the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake, until July 2021, The Morning Business learns. However, according to the Tourism Ministry, ground handling charges requested to be waived off were not granted. The CAA approved to operate over 20 charter flights last month. The CAA partnered with airlines Air Astana from Kazakhstan and SkyUp and Ukraine International from Ukraine operating flights to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA). In addition, Ethiopian Airlines and Maldivian Airlines are to operate flights into Sri Lanka.

Source: The Nation February 16, 2021 23:07 UTC