SriLankan Airlines ground handling, catering monopoly extended by 10 years

May 24, 2011 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's airports authority has extended by 10 years a ground handling and catering monopoly given to the national carrier SriLankan Airlines at the international airport, a statement said. "Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited has awarded SriLankan Airlines the long term exclusive franchise for ground handling and catering services for all airlines operating to Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for a period of ten years," it said.

SriLankan Airlines will be the exclusive ground handler at BIA’s international terminals, covering passenger handling, baggage services, and cargo handling.

SriLankan Catering Ltd, the national carrier’s subsidiary, will be the exclusive provider of food and beverage products for 10 years at all of BIA’s restaurants and passenger lounges.

It will also be the exclusive provider of in-flight catering, the statement said.

SriLankan Catering already manages BIA’s 24-roomed Serenediva Transit Hotel.

"We will not regard this as a monopoly, but instead as the creation of a stable long-term environment for us to invest and contribute to the growth of services and facilities in Sri Lanka’s main airport," said Manoj Gu