Sri Lanka's Air Freight Gateway: Bandaranaike International Airport
All international air cargo moves through Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake — about 35 km north of Colombo. The airport's cargo terminal is operated by Sri Lanka Airport and Aviation Services Limited (SAASL) and handles both belly-hold cargo (on passenger aircraft) and dedicated freighters.
Cargo can also originate from Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) in the south, though commercial cargo volumes there are minimal.
Airlines Operating Cargo from Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's cargo network is primarily served through passenger belly capacity on the following carriers:
For high-volume express freight, integrators including DHL Express and FedEx operate out of BIA.
Transit Times from Colombo
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Door-to-door times are typically 2–5 business days depending on origin collection, customs at destination, and routing.
How Air Freight Is Priced: Chargeable Weight
Air freight is priced on chargeable weight — the higher of actual gross weight or volumetric weight. Volumetric weight is calculated as:
Length (cm) × Width (cm) × Height (cm) ÷ 6,000 = Volumetric weight (kg)
If a 5 kg parcel measures 60 × 50 × 40 cm, its volumetric weight is 20 kg — you pay for 20 kg. This is why low-density cargo (textiles, packaging, foam products) is expensive to ship by air.
When Does Air Freight Make Sense from Sri Lanka?
Air freight costs 5–10× more per kg than sea freight, but there are scenarios where it is the right choice:
Air Freight Documents Required
How Freight Express Logistics Handles Air Cargo
We have consolidation arrangements with major carriers out of BIA and can move cargo from your warehouse to the destination address worldwide. Whether you need a 10 kg urgent sample or a 500 kg commercial shipment, contact us for a rate within the hour.