Emirates airline is to resume night flights to Sri Lanka, two months after the service was suspended following rebel attacks.
Bandaranaike airport in Colombo halted nighttime arrivals and departures in May following a number of afterdark bombing attacks by lowflying Tamil Tiger aircraft.
The rebel planes crossed the flightpaths of international airliners.
The decision to allow the flights to recommence follows the installation of an advanced radar system to detect lowflying aircraft.
Airport chiefs announced the restoration of night services last week - but until now none of the international airlines has announced the resumption of flights.
"Emirates welcomes the reopening of the airport for night operations," said an airline spokesman. "On July 15 we will resume night services, returning to a schedule of 17 weekly flights between Colombo and Dubai." The decision was taken after senior security staff visited Colombo to assess the situation on the ground and following safety assurances from the Sri Lankan authorities, he said.
"For Emirates, the safety and well-being of its passengers and crew is of paramount importance," he said.
Four services a week from Colombo to Singapore and Jakarta will also be resumed.
SriLankan Airlines, which accounts for two-thirds of the traffic at the country's only international airport, has yet to decide whether to resume night flights. Dubai's Emirates has a 43.6 per cent stake in Sri Lanka's national carrier and manages it.
Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Malaysian Airlines are yet to decide whether they will resume night flights.
And Cathay Pacific, which suspended all operations in Sri Lanka, has yet to announce plans to return.
Planes manned by Tamil Tiger rebels struck fuel depots around Colombo two months ago, briefly plunging Sri Lanka's capital into darkness. Security forces lit up the night sky with anti-aircraft fire.
The airport shares a runway with the Sri Lankan air force which has previously been targeted by the rebels. As a result some flights were diverted to the southern Indian city of Chennai.
By Joseph George
© Emirates Today 2007
