Several airlines are continuing to fly from the UAE to trouble-torn Sri Lanka, despite the temporary suspension of flights by Emirates airline.
Cathay Pacific had also closed their flights to the capital of the small island situated in the Subcontinent.
Airlines still flying include Sri Lankan Airlines, Gulf Air, Air Arabia and Mihin Lanka, which only recently started its budget service. Emirates and Cathay Pacific grounded its flights after an air strike in Colombo by Tamil Tiger rebels.
Planes manned by insurgents struck fuel depots around Sri Lanka's capital on Saturday night, briefly plunging Colombo into darkness. Security forces lit up the night sky with anti-aircraft fire.
Desiree Premachandra, Country Manager for Sri Lankan Airlines, said the flights to Colombo are fully booked and all passengers who have requested tickets are being accommodated.
"We have an excellent relationship with Emirates and we are trying to accommodate passengers who had planned their travel with Emirates airlines," said Premachandra.
However she refused to comment on the safety of the passengers as well as the flights operating to the Lankan capital.
Emirates spokeswoman Radhika Markan said Emirates flights to Colombo should resume today.
"Our flights were not operating in the past two days because of the attacks, but the situation is calm and the airport has re-opened, so we are evaluating our operations," said Markan.
Emirates operated scheduled flights from Dubai to the Maldives, Singapore and Indonesia through the Sri Lankan capital.
Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific also suspended flights to Colombo's international airport indefinitely.
Meanwhile, according to reports, Singapore Airlines said it will only fly during daylight hours into Bandaranaike International Airport, which shares a runway with the Sri Lankan air force.
"As a security precaution with regards to the extenuating circumstances in Colombo, we have rescheduled our flight departure and arrival times," a Singapore Airlines official is reported to have said. According to travel agents in Dubai, several Indians who travelled to Kerala using Sri Lankan Airlines are rescheduling their plans.
Mohammad Fayaz, a Dubaibased travel agent, said: "The demand has definitely dropped. People used to prefer travelling by Sri Lankan Airlines to Kerala via Colombo.
"People preferred the services offered by the airlines but now the number of tourists has drastically declined."
By Joseph George
© Emirates Today 2007
