Sri Lanka’s aviation industry continues to demonstrate steady progress, marking a significant recovery in global and regional air travel. Recent statistics highlight sustained growth across international passenger and aircraft movements during the first nine months of 2025.
From January to September 2025, international passenger movements increased by 14.08%, while international aircraft movements grew by 15.35%, reflecting renewed global confidence and a rising demand for travel to and from Sri Lanka.
Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) — the country’s main international gateway — together with Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) and Jaffna International Airport (JIA), collectively handled 7,559,699 passengers within this period. Passenger traffic was nearly balanced, with 49.15% arrivals and 50.85% departures, underscoring the country’s growing two-way travel activity.
Transit operations also showed encouraging momentum, with 680,821 passengers passing through Sri Lanka’s airports. This strong performance highlights the island’s evolving role as a strategic transit hub connecting regional and long-haul destinations.
Of the total arrivals, 1,706,308 were foreign tourists, representing 45.92% of all arrivals, while domestic passengers accounted for 54.08%. The figures illustrate a healthy balance between international tourism and local travel engagement.
The latest data reaffirms Sri Lanka’s position as a key aviation and tourism hub in South Asia, supported by the ongoing revival of global air travel and increasing international confidence in Sri Lanka as both a destination and a connecting point.
