Sri Lanka's Air Import Gateway: BIA Katunayake

All scheduled international air cargo arrives at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake — Sri Lanka's only major international airport, located 35 km north of Colombo city. Cargo is processed at the BIA Cargo Complex, operated by Sri Lanka Airports and Aviation Services Limited (SAASL).

Clearance is handled through Sri Lanka Customs' ASYCUDA World system — the same platform used for sea freight, but with tighter storage timelines and faster processing expectations.

Airlines Handling Inbound Cargo to Sri Lanka

Most inbound air cargo to Sri Lanka arrives as belly-hold freight on passenger aircraft. The major carriers bringing cargo into BIA include:

SriLankan Airlines (UL) — widebody services from Asian and Middle East hubs

Emirates (EK) — daily flights from Dubai connecting worldwide cargo

Qatar Airways (QR) — Doha hub with strong Europe and Americas inbound

Singapore Airlines (SQ) — Singapore hub, key for China and Asia-Pacific cargo

Cathay Pacific (CX) — Hong Kong hub

Turkish Airlines (TK) — Istanbul hub, broad European inbound

IndiGo / Air India — Indian subcontinent routes

For express freight, DHL Express and FedEx operate dedicated freighter services into BIA.

Step-by-Step: Air Import Process at BIA

Step 1 — Shipment Booked at Origin

Your supplier or their freight agent books cargo with an airline at origin. The airline (or consolidating freight forwarder) issues a Master Airway Bill (MAWB). If cargo is part of a consolidation, a House Airway Bill (HAWB) is also issued.

Step 2 — Documents Sent to Sri Lanka Agent

Before the aircraft departs, your Sri Lanka cargo clearing agent should receive:

The HAWB or MAWB number

Commercial Invoice

Packing List

Certificate of Origin (if required)

Any product-specific permits

Pre-arrival entries can be filed in ASYCUDA at this stage to save time after landing.

Step 3 — Aircraft Arrives at BIA

Upon arrival, the airline depalletises cargo and transfers it to the SAASL cargo terminal. A General Declaration is lodged by the airline. You or your agent will receive a Cargo Arrival Notice — typically by email within 2–4 hours of landing.

Important: storage charges begin accruing from this point. BIA cargo terminal typically offers 48–72 hours of free storage, after which storage fees apply. Act promptly.

Step 4 — File the Customs Entry (Bill of Entry)

Your licensed clearing agent files a Bill of Entry in ASYCUDA World, declaring:

AWB details and cargo description

HS code(s) for each line item

CIF value (used as the duty base)

Incoterm and declared value from Commercial Invoice

Import Permit reference (if applicable)

Step 5 — ASYCUDA Channel Assignment

The system automatically assigns a clearance channel:

Green channel — no examination required; proceed directly to duty assessment

Yellow channel — document verification by a Customs officer required

Red channel — physical examination of cargo at the BIA cargo terminal

Step 6 — Duty Assessment and Payment

Customs issues a Duty Assessment Notice. Your clearing agent pays the assessed duties (Customs Duty + VAT + PAL + CESS where applicable) via bank transfer or Customs' online payment portal.

Step 7 — Release Order and Collection

Customs issues a Release Order. Your agent presents this to the SAASL cargo terminal, your transport team collects the cargo, and a Delivery Note is signed. Cargo is then transported to your nominated address.

Typical Timeline: Air Import Clearance at BIA

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Documents Required for Air Import Clearance

Airway Bill (MAWB or HAWB) — the core transport document

Commercial Invoice — value, description, HS code, Incoterm

Packing List — individual carton/pallet weights and dimensions

Certificate of Origin — if claiming preferential duty under an FTA (SAFTA, ISFTA etc.)

Import Permit — from the relevant authority (NMRA for pharmaceuticals, SRA for vehicle parts, etc.)

Product Certificates — conformance test reports, health certificates for food/pharma

How to Avoid BIA Storage Charges

BIA storage charges are significantly higher per day than Colombo Port. To minimise exposure:

Send documents to your clearing agent before the flight departs — not after it lands

Pre-file customs entries against the pre-arrival AWB details

Ensure import permits are obtained in advance — a missing permit is the most common cause of Red channel delays

Have your transport arranged so you can collect within 24 hours of clearance

Air Import vs Sea Import: Key Differences

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Why Use a Licensed Cargo Clearing Agent at BIA?

Sri Lanka Customs requires a licensed customs agent to file entries on behalf of most importers. At BIA, the compressed timelines make a fast, experienced clearing agent critical — delays cost real money in storage fees.

Freight Express Logistics provides same-day air import clearing at BIA, with pre-arrival document review and door delivery across Sri Lanka. Contact us with your AWB number for an immediate quote.

Air Freight Import to Sri Lanka: Step-by-Step Process at BIA