Koggala Airport (ICAO: VCCK, IATA: KCT) sits on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, roughly 15 kilometres east of Galle on the shores of Koggala Lake. What began as a Royal Air Force seaplane base during the Second World War has evolved into a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) station that also handles domestic civilian flights. Its wartime record is remarkable, its current role modest but useful, and its potential — as a southern alternative to Bandaranaike International Airport — is a subject of ongoing government planning.
What is the history of Koggala Airport?
Before the war, the sheltered waters of Koggala Lake were already being used informally for seaplane operations. When Japan seized the Malay Peninsula in early 1942, the RAF urgently needed a new flying-boat base east of Singapore. RAF Koggala was hastily commissioned in March 1942 with a skeleton crew of around forty personnel, a single Consolidated PBY Catalina, and no direct outlet from the lagoon to open water.
Within weeks, reinforcements — many evacuated from Singapore — swelled the base to more than a hundred personnel. Construction teams cut slipways, erected hangars, and prepared a water runway. By the end of 1942 the station had grown to over 800 personnel, earning it the distinction of being the largest flying-boat base in the eastern theatre. Squadrons operating from Koggala included No. 205 Squadron RAF, No. 413 Squadron RCAF, No. 202, 204, and 230 Squadrons RAF, flying Catalinas and Short Sunderland aircraft.
One of the base's defining moments came on 4 April 1942, when a Catalina of 413 Squadron, operating out of Koggala, located the carrier fleet of Admiral Chuichi Nagumo off the coast of Ceylon — intelligence that shaped the broader Indian Ocean campaign. In June 1944, two Sunderlands flew from Koggala to Burma to rescue a group of wounded Chindits.
What was the 'Double Sunrise' flight?
After the fall of Singapore, Qantas Empire Airways (QEA) and Imperial Airways lost their mid-route refuelling stop between Calcutta and Perth. Maintaining the air link between Britain and Australia was considered a strategic necessity. Koggala Lake became the answer. From 1943, No. 205 Squadron operated a direct flying-boat service from Koggala to the Swan River at Perth — at that time the longest non-stop air route in the world.
Each flight took roughly 28 hours and carried only three passengers alongside about 60 kilograms of priority mail. The journey was so protracted that travellers witnessed two sunrises, giving the service its enduring nickname: the Double Sunrise. The first service arrived from Perth on 30 March 1943; the last departed on 18 July 1945. QEA subsequently operated the route using civilianised Consolidated B-24 Liberator and Avro Lancastrian aircraft before the route was retired at the end of the war.
How did Koggala Airport develop after the war?
Once hostilities ended, the base transitioned from water operations to a conventional land aerodrome. A tarmac runway was laid, and Air Ceylon introduced scheduled passenger services using Douglas DC-3 Dakota aircraft. In 1964 the Dakotas gave way to Avro 748 and Nord Aviation 262 turboprop planes. Those services came to an end in 1978 when Air Ceylon ceased operations, and Koggala reverted to full military control as an SLAF base.
The current runway is capable of accommodating smaller domestic turboprops such as the de Havilland Dash-8 and ATR-72. Civil domestic flights operate on a limited, often charter or scenic-flight basis rather than scheduled airline service. The Galle area remains the primary draw for visitors arriving in the vicinity, given the airport's position just outside the historic fort city.
What flights operate from Koggala Airport today?
Regular scheduled commercial service does not currently operate from Koggala in the way it does from Bandaranaike International or even Mattala Rajapaksa Airport. However, the airfield supports:
- Domestic scenic flights — short aerial tours over the southern coastline and Galle, operated by light aircraft
- Aerial whale watching — charter flights timed to align with whale-watching seasons in the deep waters south of Sri Lanka
- SLAF military operations — the base remains an active Sri Lanka Air Force station
- Charter and air-taxi movements — private and semi-private flights serving southern Sri Lanka
The Madu River area and the broader southern coast are well within day-trip range of Koggala, making a scenic flight a distinctive way to appreciate the coastal lagoons and reef systems from above.
What are the plans to upgrade Koggala Airport?
The Government of Sri Lanka has periodically revisited the idea of upgrading Koggala to international standard, positioning it as a relief gateway for the south of the island and reducing pressure on Bandaranaike International Airport near Colombo. A feasibility study commissioned from a US consultancy has reportedly been completed, though no firm construction timeline has been publicly confirmed. Any such upgrade would transform access to the Southern Province, potentially bringing direct international traffic to a region currently served mainly by road from Colombo — a journey of roughly two and a half to three hours depending on conditions.
How do I get to Koggala from Colombo?
Most visitors reach the Koggala area by road. The Southern Expressway (E01) connects Colombo to Matara, with Koggala accessible via the Pinnaduwa or Imaduwa interchanges. Private transfers are the most comfortable option and can be arranged to connect directly with any flight departure. The train line between Colombo Fort and Matara also stops at Koggala station, making rail a scenic and affordable alternative for those without heavy luggage.
What is there to do near Koggala Airport?
The airport's lakeside position places it within easy reach of several notable attractions along the southern coast:
- Koggala Lake — boat trips on the lake pass cinnamon and rubber plantations on its islands, with opportunities for birdwatching
- Galle Fort — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved colonial fortifications in Asia, around 15 kilometres west
- Koggala Sea Turtle Conservation Project — a community-run hatchery protecting nesting olive ridley and green turtles on the beach near the lake
- Sinharaja Forest Reserve — the island's last significant lowland rainforest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reachable in roughly an hour and a half from Koggala; find out more on the Sinharaja page
- Stilt fishing — the iconic image of solitary fishermen balanced on poles driven into the shallows, still practised by a handful of local families near Koggala beach
Is Koggala Airport suitable for private charters?
For travellers seeking a premium or time-efficient way to explore the southern coast, Koggala functions as a practical charter departure point. Scenic flights over the coastline, combined with aerial whale-watching excursions, are among the most popular uses of the airfield for leisure visitors. The runway capacity — currently handling aircraft up to the size of an ATR-72 — means that mid-size turboprops can operate comfortably, though passengers should confirm aircraft type and availability with their operator in advance.
