Emirates to Operate Daily Flights betweet Male and Colombo, Sri Lanka

31st July 2010, www.lankabusinessonline.com

Emirates is to increase the frequency of flights between Sri Lanka and the Maldives to cater to increasing tourist traffic, a statement said.

Emirates is to add three extra flights to Malé from August 1, resulting in the airline operating daily flights between Malé and Colombo and increasing its services from four to five flights a week.

The additional flights take Emirates’ services to the Maldives to 19 a week, making the Dubai-based airline one of the most active international carriers serving the country.

"As tourism and economies revive in the region, there is increasing demand for seats on the Malé-Colombo sector," said Majid Al Mualla, Senior Vice President - Commercial Operations West Asia & Indian Ocean.

Emirates flights EK652 and EK 654 will depart Malé at 16:30 and arrive in Colombo at 18:30. On Wednesdays and Fridays, EK654 will continue on to Dubai from Colombo.

The return flight EK653 - operating on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday - will depart Colombo at 21:35 and arrive in Malé at 22:35.

These flights will be served by Emirates’ Airbus A330-200 aircraft in a three-class configuration, with 12 seats in First Class, 42 seats in Business Class and 183 seats in Economy Class.

Emirates has served the Maldives since April 1987, and also operates 14 flights a week from Malé to Dubai, the airline’s home base.