Sri Lankan Airlines reroutes Europe-bound flights after Mideast airspace closures

Sri Lanka’s national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, has shifted to an alternative route through Afghanistan and Azerbaijan for its European destinations after the closure of Middle Eastern airspace, a senior Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) official said here Tuesday.

Daminda Rambukwella, director-general and CEO of CAASL, told journalists that the new route had increased flight time to London by about one and a half hours.

Therefore, the airline had to reduce payload, including the combined weight of passengers, baggage and cargo carried, he said.

— Xinhua