Sri Lanka in Talks With Emirates, Qatar to Position Mattala as Alternative Transit Hub

COLOMBO (News 1st); As the crisis in the Middle East continues to intensify, Sri Lanka has begun discussions with major international airlines, including Emirates and Qatar Airways, to position the country as an alternative transit hub for international air travel.

International media reports indicate that special attention has been directed towards the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport as part of this initiative.

The focus on Mattala stems from its strategic advantages, including its distance from conflict-affected Middle Eastern regions and its capacity to handle Airbus A380 aircraft, the world’s largest passenger airplane. Mattala remains the only airport in Sri Lanka equipped to operate A380 aircraft.

Authorities expect that this initiative will help Sri Lanka capture business opportunities that are being lost due to the Middle East crisis, while also delivering a positive impact on the country’s economy and tourism industry, which has suffered significant setbacks as a result of regional instability.

The government aims to use this strategy both to further strengthen Sri Lanka’s developing tourism sector and to recover losses incurred due to the downturn in tourism caused by the Middle East conflict.

Sri Lanka’s geographical position also provides a key advantage, as many major air routes connecting Asia with Europe and Africa pass close to the island. This allows aircraft to reach Mattala International Airport without incurring additional fuel costs, making it a practical and efficient alternative transit point.

Confirming the ongoing discussions, Civil Aviation Authority Director General Daminda Rambukwella said requests had already been received to operate such flights through Mattala.

“We have received requests to operate flights in this manner, including to Mattala,” he said.

“Accordingly, based on requests from foreign airlines, discussions are currently underway at a diplomatic and governmental level, involving our line ministry, the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the government, to provide these opportunities to airlines operating to several Middle Eastern countries.”

The move signals a strategic effort by Sri Lanka to leverage its aviation infrastructure and geographic location amid global uncertainty, while seeking to strengthen its economic and tourism recovery.