• civil Aviation activates emergency plan 
• Dubai and other key transit hubs affected 

Sri Lanka’s air links with the Middle East were thrown into turmoil yesterday (1 March) as all SriLankan Airlines flights scheduled for 1 March were cancelled amid sweeping airspace closures across the region.

In a statement, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka said a special operational plan has been activated under the leadership of Director General and Chief Executive Officer Captain Daminda Rambukwella to facilitate passengers and manage aircraft movements in light of the prevailing situation. The emergency response has been formulated in consultation with relevant stakeholders and under the guidance of the Ports and Civil Aviation Ministry.

Authorities also stated that Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport has been placed on standby should diversions become necessary. Despite the disruption, the Civil Aviation Authority urged the public not to panic, assuring that contingency arrangements are in place and that developments are being closely monitored.

The national carrier confirmed that services between Colombo and key Gulf destinations including Dubai, Doha, Dammam, Riyadh and Kuwait were affected after several countries shut or restricted their airspace following escalating military tensions.

The cancellations came against the backdrop of a sharp escalation in hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which triggered retaliatory missile and drone strikes across parts of the Middle East. Strategic locations, including military bases and airports, were reportedly targeted, prompting authorities to deem large sections of regional airspace unsafe for civilian aviation.

According to global flight tracking platform FlightAware, thousands of flights across the Middle East and beyond had been disrupted as of yesterday. Major transit hubs such as Dubai International Airport, Abu Dhabi International Airport and Hamad International Airport faced closures or severe operational restrictions.

Dubai International Airport is reported to have sustained damage during Iran’s retaliatory attacks, while airports in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait were also affected. These hubs serve as critical east–west transit points linking Europe and Asia. With aircraft and crew stranded in multiple locations, airline schedules worldwide have been severely disrupted.

For Sri Lanka, the immediate impact has been the suspension of outbound and inbound flights to some of the country’s busiest labour and transit markets. The Middle East remains one of the most important aviation corridors globally, connecting long haul routes between Europe, Asia and Australia. Any instability in the region reverberates rapidly through international passenger travel, cargo operations and fuel logistics.

SriLankan Airlines and FitsAir have decided to temporarily suspend flights to destinations located within or operating through the affected airspace. Passengers scheduled to travel to these destinations have been advised to contact their travel agents or respective airlines before proceeding to the airport in order to obtain updated information on their flights.

For thousands of Sri Lankan migrant workers, business travellers and tourists, the sudden suspension has created uncertainty at the start of the month. Aviation analysts warn that if the security situation continues to deteriorate, rerouting of long haul flights around restricted zones could lead to longer travel times, increased operating costs and further delays.