Special Message from the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka

SriLankan Airlines was forced to divert five of its international flights to alternate airports in Muscat, Riyadh, and Dubai due to heightened tensions and temporary airspace restrictions in the Middle East, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) announced.

The affected flights, which were en route to destinations in Europe and the Middle East, were rerouted as a precautionary measure aimed at ensuring passenger safety amid the volatile regional situation. While the CAASL did not disclose the specific flight numbers or routes impacted, it urged passengers to contact the airline directly for real-time updates.

The diversion comes in the wake of growing geopolitical unrest in the region, following reports of retaliatory missile threats by Iran targeting a U.S. military installation near Doha, Qatar. In response, Qatar temporarily closed its airspace earlier on Monday but has since reopened it after the immediate threat was deemed to have subsided.

“SriLankan Airlines is closely monitoring the situation and working with relevant authorities to ensure the safety of its passengers and crew,” CAASL said in a statement.

Passengers traveling to or through the Middle East are advised to remain in contact with their airline and check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.