Mattala VCRI Technical Stop and Fuel Stop Guide

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport can be considered for a Sri Lanka technical stop or fuel stop when its location, runway, operating capability and onward routing suit the mission. Located in southern Sri Lanka, Mattala uses ICAO code VCRI and IATA code HRI.

For flight departments and charter operators, VCRI may be considered for technical stops, fuel uplifts, crew-related movements and operations serving southern Sri Lanka. However, its suitability should be assessed against the actual mission—not assumed from its international-airport designation or physical infrastructure alone.

A successful stop depends on advance confirmation of permits, airport acceptance, Jet A-1 availability, parking, ground equipment, customs and immigration requirements, crew support and onward-flight planning.

This guide outlines the operational questions that should be resolved before confirming Mattala as a destination or technical-stop airport.

Airport conditions and service availability can change. Current AIP information, NOTAMs, airport instructions and direct operational confirmation take precedence over this article.

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport at a glance

• Official name: Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport
• IATA code: HRI
• ICAO code: VCRI
• Location: Southern Province, Sri Lanka
• Primary operational role: International and domestic airport
• Potential business aviation use: Technical stops, fuel stops, charter operations and access to southern Sri Lanka

VCRI is separate from Bandaranaike International Airport, which uses the codes CMB and VCBI. Operators should use the correct ICAO code in handling requests, permits, flight plans and fuel documentation.

When VCRI may be considered

Mattala may be evaluated when an operation requires:

• A technical stop in Sri Lanka
• A planned Jet A-1 uplift
• Access to southern Sri Lanka
• Passenger or crew movements in the region
• Aircraft parking away from Colombo
• A suitable stop along an onward routing
• An alternative operating plan when VCBI does not fit the mission

The decision should be based on the full operational requirement. Geographic location or runway availability alone does not confirm that the airport can support a particular movement.

The flight department should consider:

• Aircraft type
• Landing and take-off performance
• Required fuel uplift
• Parking duration
• Ground-support requirements
• Passenger and crew processing
• Operating hours
• Onward destination
• Suitable alternates
• Permission lead time
• Schedule flexibility

Before committing the flight, confirm that the airport and local providers can support every required service.

Planning a technical stop or fuel stop at Mattala VCRI

A technical stop normally involves more than landing, refuelling and departing. Even when no passengers join or leave the aircraft, several organisations may need to coordinate around the movement.

The initial technical-stop request should include:

• Aircraft registration
• Aircraft type and maximum take-off weight
• Operator name and nationality
• Flight category
• Complete routing
• Estimated arrival and departure times
• Passenger and crew numbers
• Passenger and crew nationalities
• Purpose of the stop
• Required fuel uplift
• Ground equipment
• Catering or refreshments
• Waste and water servicing
• Crew-change information
• Whether anyone will disembark
• Target ground time
• Billing and fuel-release details

The handler can then verify airport acceptance, permissions, fuel, ground equipment and authority requirements for the proposed movement.

Landing and overflight permissions

Private, charter and other non-scheduled operations may require prior landing approval before operating to Sri Lanka.

An overflight permission may also be required if the aircraft crosses Sri Lankan airspace as part of its routing.

Permission requirements can vary according to:

• Private or commercial status
• Aircraft registration
• Operator nationality
• Purpose of flight
• Route
• Passenger or cargo details
• Whether the aircraft lands in Sri Lanka
• Nature of the technical stop

Operators should submit complete and accurate information with sufficient lead time. Missing documents, changes to the schedule or differences between the permit request and flight plan can delay the operation.

A handling acknowledgement should not be treated as final regulatory permission. Confirm that the required approvals have been issued and remain valid for the planned schedule.

Jet A-1 fuel coordination at Mattala VCRI

Fuel is often the main reason for considering VCRI as a technical-stop location. Nevertheless, fuel availability should be confirmed for the specific flight rather than assumed from general airport information.

The fuel request should include:

• Aircraft registration
• Aircraft type
• Date and estimated time of uplift
• Required fuel grade
• Requested uplift quantity
• Whether the quantity is an uplift or total onboard figure
• Fuel-release number
• Supplier or contract details
• Billing instructions
• Special fuelling requirements

The flight department should receive confirmation that the requested fuel quantity and payment arrangement have been accepted.

Fuel should be reconfirmed after a material schedule change. The supplier, bowser and authorised personnel may have been coordinated around the original arrival time.

A fuel quotation is not the same as a confirmed uplift. Operators should ensure that the local delivery arrangement is active before departure.

Fuel planning for the onward sector

The uplift at Mattala should be calculated around the onward mission, not just the minimum quantity required to leave the airport.

Planning should account for:

• Planned onward route
• En-route weather
• Destination conditions
• Alternate-airport requirements
• Airspace restrictions
• Expected holding
• Aircraft weight limitations
• Fuel availability at the next destination
• Possible schedule disruption
• Tankering considerations
• Required regulatory reserves

The operator remains responsible for fuel planning and aircraft performance. The local support provider coordinates the requested uplift but does not determine the operational fuel requirement.

When the turnaround is time-sensitive, send the confirmed uplift well before arrival. Last-minute quantity changes can affect the ground sequence and departure time.

Parking and ground time

Aircraft parking at VCRI is subject to airport acceptance, aircraft dimensions, operational demand and the requested duration.

The initial request should specify whether the aircraft will:

• Complete an immediate turnaround
• Remain for several hours
• Park overnight
• Require towing
• Remain under power
• Need passenger or crew access during parking
• Require security arrangements

A short ground time should be treated as a planning target rather than a guarantee.

Actual turnaround time can be affected by:

• Arrival sequence
• Aircraft parking position
• Fuel-bowser availability
• Customs and immigration procedures
• Ground-equipment positioning
• Passenger or crew movements
• Catering delivery
• Weather
• Revised fuel quantity
• Documentation
• Departure clearance

A realistic ground plan should include enough time to complete every required service safely.

Confirming ground equipment

Do not assume that every item of ground-support equipment will automatically be available or compatible with the aircraft.

Confirm requirements for:

• Ground power unit
• Air-start unit
• Passenger steps
• Baggage equipment
• Towbar
• Towbarless towing
• Lavatory servicing
• Potable-water servicing
• Cabin cleaning
• Wheelchairs or mobility assistance
• Fire-cover requirements
• Cargo-loading equipment

When a specific towbar head, electrical output or connector is required, provide the technical details during the initial request.

If specialised equipment must be positioned from another location, additional notice and cost may apply. This should be identified before the flight is confirmed.

Customs, immigration and quarantine implications

Technical stops can still create customs, immigration or quarantine requirements.

The applicable process may depend on:

• Whether the flight is international or domestic
• Whether passengers disembark
• Whether crew members enter Sri Lanka
• Whether a crew change takes place
• Whether catering or supplies are loaded
• Whether baggage or cargo is removed
• Duration of the stop
• Previous and next points of departure

Operators should not assume that remaining onboard removes every CIQ requirement.

Complete passenger and crew manifests should be provided in advance. Passport and visa requirements should also be checked when anyone intends to enter Sri Lanka.

If the stop involves a crew change, provide the details of both the arriving and joining crews, including their positioning arrangements.

Passenger handling during a technical stop

If passengers will remain onboard, the handling team should be advised in advance. Cabin temperature, ground power, security and access requirements may need to be planned around them.

If passengers intend to disembark, confirm:

• Immigration and customs requirements
• Permitted waiting area
• Terminal access
• Security procedures
• Transport requirements
• Mobility assistance
• Refreshments
• Reboarding arrangements
• Required reporting time

A technical stop should not automatically be presented to passengers as a lounge stop. Facility access and passenger movement depend on the arrangements confirmed for the flight.

Crew refreshments and rest

Even a short technical stop should account for crew welfare, particularly when it falls within a long duty period.

Requests can include:

• Drinking water
• Hot beverages
• Light meals
• Packaged crew catering
• Restroom access
• Short ground transfer
• Hotel accommodation
• Replacement-crew transportation

If the crew will remain with the aircraft, state how many people require refreshments and whether they have dietary restrictions.

For an overnight or extended stop, confirm hotel availability, road-transfer time, late check-in, early departure transport and crew-rest requirements.

Accommodation and ground transport should remain flexible when the flight schedule is uncertain.

Catering and onboard supplies

Catering requests should specify:

• Number of passengers and crew
• Meal type
• Required delivery time
• Dietary restrictions and allergies
• Hot or cold preparation
• Packaging requirements
• Ice
• Beverages
• Dry stores
• Any requested alternatives

Availability depends on notice, local sourcing and the complexity of the order.

For a short turnaround, choose requests that can be reliably prepared, screened and delivered within the available time. Complex last-minute changes can extend the stop.

Aircraft servicing during the stop

Depending on the mission and confirmed availability, the stop may include:

• Jet A-1 uplift
• Ground power
• Lavatory servicing
• Potable water
• Cabin cleaning
• Catering
• Waste removal
• Passenger and crew transport
• Flight-document delivery
• Weather and NOTAM updates

The services should be placed in a planned sequence. For example, passenger movement, catering, cleaning and fuelling may need to be coordinated to avoid conflicts around the aircraft.

The crew should advise the handler immediately if an additional service becomes necessary after arrival.

Onward-flight planning

The departure from VCRI must be coordinated as carefully as the arrival.

Before leaving the previous station, confirm:

• Onward landing and overflight permits
• Destination acceptance
• Destination operating hours
• Arrival slot or PPR requirements
• Weather
• NOTAMs
• Suitable alternate airports
• Fuel availability at the next destination
• Crew duty time
• Passenger entry requirements
• Updated flight-plan information

A delay at Mattala can affect permits, slots, airport acceptance and crew duty at the next destination.

When the onward sector has a restricted arrival window, build an appropriate margin into the planned technical-stop time.

Schedule-change risks

A schedule change can affect more than the handler’s arrival time.

It may change:

• Landing-permission validity
• Airport operating arrangements
• Parking
• Fuel delivery
• Ground-equipment availability
• Customs and immigration support
• Crew transport
• Catering
• Onward permits
• Destination slots
• Crew duty limits

Send schedule changes to the coordinating team as soon as they become known.

Do not revise only the flight plan or fuel order. The entire ground and onward-flight arrangement should be checked against the new schedule.

The handler should acknowledge the revision and confirm whether the operation remains supportable.

When VCBI may be the better option

Bandaranaike International Airport—VCBI/CMB—may be more appropriate when the mission requires extensive passenger processing, broader service availability or direct access to Colombo.

Choosing between VCRI and VCBI should consider:

• Route efficiency
• Aircraft performance
• Fuel requirement
• Passenger destination
• Crew logistics
• Ground-service availability
• Parking
• Operating flexibility
• CIQ requirements
• Onward-flight timing

Mattala can be operationally useful, but it should be selected because it fits the mission—not simply because it appears convenient on the route.

VCRI technical-stop checklist

Before departure, verify that:

• Landing and overflight requirements have been checked
• Required permits have been issued
• Airport acceptance has been confirmed
• Current AIP information and NOTAMs have been reviewed
• Aircraft suitability has been assessed
• Parking has been confirmed
• Jet A-1 quantity and delivery have been confirmed
• The fuel release has been accepted
• Required ground equipment is available
• CIQ requirements have been established
• Passenger and crew manifests have been submitted
• Catering or refreshments have been confirmed
• Crew transport or accommodation is arranged
• The onward flight has the required permits and acceptance
• Schedule-change contacts are available
• The operational alternate remains suitable

Frequently asked questions

What are the airport codes for Mattala Airport?

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport uses the IATA code HRI and ICAO code VCRI.

Can VCRI be used for a technical stop?

VCRI may be considered for a technical stop subject to permits, airport acceptance, aircraft suitability, fuel confirmation and the availability of required ground services.

Is Jet A-1 available at Mattala Airport?

Jet A-1 can be requested, but the required quantity, delivery time, supplier arrangement and payment method must be confirmed for each operation.

How quickly can an aircraft turn around at VCRI?

The required time depends on fuelling, CIQ, passenger movements, ground services and ramp conditions. A target time can be planned, but the handler must first confirm that the requested sequence is achievable.

Can passengers remain onboard?

This may be possible subject to airport, security, customs and immigration procedures. The handler must be advised before arrival so the appropriate arrangement can be confirmed.

Are customs and immigration required for a fuel stop?

Requirements depend on the routing, flight status and whether passengers or crew disembark. CIQ implications should be confirmed even when everyone intends to remain onboard.

Can crew refreshments be arranged?

Crew catering, water and refreshments can be requested subject to notice and local availability. Hotel and ground-transport arrangements can also be coordinated for longer stays.

Can an aircraft park overnight at VCRI?

Overnight parking is subject to airport acceptance, aircraft dimensions, apron availability and security arrangements. It should be requested in advance.

Arrange technical-stop support at Mattala VCRI

SEAS coordinates flight support for private, charter, cargo, commercial and other non-scheduled operations across Sri Lanka.

Support at Mattala may include:

• Landing and overflight permit coordination
• Airport acceptance
• Ground handling
• Jet A-1 fuel coordination at Mattala VCRI
• Passenger and crew assistance
• Ground transportation
• Crew accommodation
• Catering
• Ground-equipment coordination
• Schedule monitoring
• Onward-flight planning

Visit our Mattala VCRI operational airport page or submit a handling request.

Email: operations@seas.aero
Telephone: +94 720 860 870

Airport and service conditions can change. Current aeronautical publications, NOTAMs, authority requirements and direct operational confirmations take precedence over this guide.

Reviewed: September 2026