Sri Lankan expats in UAE delay plans to fly home this summer as more airlines cancel flights

Sri Lankan expats in UAE delay plans to fly home this summer as more airlines cancel flights

Dubai: Airlines in the UAE and elsewhere have started cancelling their services to Sri Lanka amidst the political and economic situation in the country. On Monday (July 11), flydubai became the latest to do so, after protestors took over the residence of Sri Lanka’s President. India’s Vistara Airways had put all its Sri Lanka flights on hold a few months ago. Etihad Airways said that starting July 14 the airline’s return flights from Colombo will make a short stop to refuel at Cochin. “Passenger services between Abu Dhabi and Colombo are currently operating as normal – Etihad continues to closely monitor the situation in Sri Lanka,” said an airline spokesperson. This will severely dent Sri Lanka’s tourism hopes, with holiday travellers likely to opt for other Indian Ocean destinations. Also dropping would be the number of expat Sri Lankans in the UAE and Gulf flying back for summer vacations. Many have postponed any immediate plans to fly to the home country as more uncertainty is added over airlines' plans. Jet fuel purchases in Sri Lanka have come to a halt, and this means airlines have to make stops in India to re-fuel. This could also lead to longer flight times.