Aircraft Owners and Operators Association (AOOA) has complained of what it calls the dire state of Sri Lanka’s domestic aviation industry, citing systemic failures, regulatory incompetence, and a lack of adherence to international standards by the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL).

The AOOA, at a media briefing on Tuesday, highlighted critical safety concerns, operational inefficiencies, and the potential collapse of the industry if immediate corrective actions were not taken.

The AOOA raised serious concerns about the concrete boundary wall at the Galle Road end of Colombo’s Ratmalana Airport, posing a significant risk to aircraft operations. The wall, constructed in 2006/07 in violation of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, remained in place despite repeated warnings from the Association. The AOOA pointed to the tragic Jeju aircraft crash in South Korea on December 29, 2024, where 179 lives were lost due to a similar concrete wall structure, as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by such obstructions.

The Association noted that the wall, currently leased for commercial advertising, should be replaced with a frangible fence as per ICAO standards. Despite instructions from Transport Minister Bimal Ratnayake to remove the wall, the Director General of CAASL has failed to act, demonstrating what the AOOA describes as “professional incompetence and a lack of understanding of civil aviation procedures.”

The AOOA criticized the CAASL for its inability to address critical issues outlined in two key reports: the 2018 ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) and the October 2023 report by the Organisation of Professionals Association (OPA). The ICAO audit highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive review of national aviation regulations to align with international standards, while the OPA report accused the CAASL, Airport and Aviation Services (AASL), and the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) of being “obstructive rather than facilitative” due to the employment of unqualified and inefficient personnel.

The Association also highlighted the lack of licensed and experienced inspectors within the CAASL, who often issued directives contrary to manufacturer guidelines and industry best practices. This has forced operators to educate regulators, resulting in costly delays and operational inefficiencies. “The domestic aviation industry, already struggling, faces further challenges due to prohibitive costs and regulatory hurdles,” The AOOA has noted that the price of a domestic return ticket to Sigiriya is nearly equivalent to a Colombo-Singapore international flight, making Sri Lanka uncompetitive in attracting high-end tourists. The grounding of the entire domestic fleet in 2022 due to impractical insurance requirements drafted by the CAASL further exacerbated the situation, causing irreparable damage to the industry.

Additionally, delays in addressing duty-free import processes for aircraft spares have increased operating costs, making flight training and operations prohibitively expensive. The Colombo Flying Club, a hub for leisure aviation, has also been rendered non-operational due to unrealistic maintenance standards imposed by the CAASL.

The AOOA has urged the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation to take immediate corrective action, including implementing the recommendations of the ICAO audit and OPA report. Failure to do so, the Association warned, could lead to the withdrawal of investments and the permanent collapse of the domestic aviation sector.

The Association emphasised its commitment to partnering with the tourism industry to revitalize domestic aviation. However, without urgent reforms, Sri Lanka risks falling further behind regional competitors like the Maldives, which boasts a thriving domestic aviation sector with over 350 aircraft, compared to Sri Lanka’s meager fleet of fewer than 30.