• Sharp drop in income generated by AASL
• Airlines unable to continue previous daily operational requirement

The frequency of overflying aircraft through Sri Lankan airspace has declined following the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, resulting in a sharp drop in income generated by Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. (AASL) from services provided to such flights, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) reveals. 

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, CAA Media Spokesperson and Director of Air Navigation Services Thilina Warnasinghe stated that in the aftermath of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the number of overflying flights crossing Sri Lankan airspace had decreased significantly.

“Most airlines are unable to continue their previous daily operational requirements,” he stated.

Warnasinghe said that overflying aircraft crossing the Sri Lankan airspace paid fees for services provided by Sri Lanka, adding that a marked decline in this income had been observed since the outbreak of the conflict.

He noted that these flights paid AASL for the air traffic services provided.

Warnasinghe further stated that the frequency of these flights passing through Sri Lankan airspace continued to be highly volatile as a consequence of the ongoing conflict.

Responding to queries regarding discussions on offering Sri Lankan airports to Middle Eastern airlines as transit hubs amid the current crisis, Warnasinghe stated that while discussions had taken place at the ministerial level, nothing concrete had materialised to date.

Accordingly, he stated that from their perspective, Sri Lanka remained open to allowing these airlines to use its airports as transit hubs, with no restrictions in place. However, he noted that no concrete proposals had been made by the airlines so far.

“We are open and always ready, but we are unaware of their business models. Such a move has to be profitable for them. They have to consider demand and supply, and their demand must necessarily have fallen,” he stated.