Emirates, which has a 40% stake in SriLankan Airlines as well as management control over the National Carrier, will reduce its weekly operations to Sri Lanka from the current 11 weekly flights to seven from yesterday, airline sources said.

"The reason for this reduction is due to the high insurance premia levied by insurance companies after the July 24 attack on the Katunayake International Airport which has resulted in insurance companies jacking up the premia by an additional US$ 100,000-US$ 175,000 per flight," they said.

The sources further said that the scaling-down on Emirates’ operations to Colombo comprised the complete stoppage of operating their more expensive but bigger Boeing 777 aircraft (seating capacity of 353) which used to operate four weekly flights to Colombo, and also replacing the A330 airbuses (seating capacity 285) which operate seven weekly flights, with A310 airbuses which have a reduced seating capacity of 184.

Soon after the attack, Cathay Pacific which used to operate four weekly flights to Colombo completely stopped flying to Colombo due to the high insurance premia, while Singapore Airlines’ which,used to operate daily flights using Boeing 777 aircraft, have replaced those flights with A310 airbuses which have a reduced seating capacity.

The attack on Katunayake also resulted in the destruction of three airbuses belonging to SriLankan and damage to three others, effectively halving its operational strength from 12 airctaft to six, as well as the destruction of several military aircraft. (PA)