Emirates Resumes Maldives-Colombo Flights After Four Month Halt Due to Conflict

Emirates has restarted flights between the Maldives and Colombo, following a four month halt caused by operational disruptions from the Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict. The service re-establishes a vital connection for tourism and trade between the two island nations.

The daily service operates as an extension of Emirates' Dubai-Male flight EK652, continuing to Colombo, with the return flight EK653 traveling from Colombo to Dubai via Male. Both flights are operated using a wide-body Boeing 777 aircraft in a three-class configuration.

The resumption comes after severe disruption to Emirates' network. The conflict, which began on February 28, led to widespread airspace closures across Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Jordan, forcing airlines to reroute or cancel thousands of flights. Emirates alone canceled more than 2,000 flights approximately 54% of its scheduled services between late February and mid-March.

Early in the conflict, UAE airspace closures forced Emirates to suspend flights to several regional destinations, with some aircraft performing dramatic mid-air U-turns as drone and missile alerts disrupted operations. Over 30,000 flights to and from Middle East airports were cancelled in total.

Emirates has since been rebuilding its network, operating flights to over 110 destinations by mid-March. However, operations remain subject to airspace availability and geopolitical conditions, with airlines now navigating through restricted safe corridors rather than the pre-war regional airspace block.

Emirates is not the only carrier adjusting operations. Qatar Airways and Etihad also experienced significant schedule reductions, with cancellation rates of 93% and 79% respectively during peak disruption. The resumption of the Maldives-Colombo route reflects Emirates' strategy of prioritizing key tourism and cargo markets as the airline gradually rebuilds its flight schedule subject to operational safety requirements.

The service remains a key link for Sri Lanka's export industry and the Maldives' tourism sector, with Emirates having operated to both countries for over three decades.