In Brief
Emirates and Sri Lankan Airlines have established a reciprocal interline partnership to enhance passenger connectivity. Travelers from both airlines can now access additional destinations through Colombo and Dubai with single-ticket bookings and seamless baggage transfers. Emirates passengers gain access to 15 regional destinations operated by Sri Lankan Airlines, including new Indian destinations and the Maldives. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Airlines passengers can connect to 15 cities beyond Dubai through Emirates. This partnership aims to provide greater convenience and choices for passengers and is now open for bookings through various channels.
In Detail
Dubai/Colombo – September 19, 2023: In a significant development for air travelers, Emirates and Sri Lankan Airlines have inked a reciprocal interline agreement aimed at enhancing connectivity for passengers of both carriers. This strategic partnership will open up new destinations on each other’s networks via Colombo and Dubai, offering travelers the convenience of single-ticket booking and seamless baggage transfers.
Travelers can now purchase tickets for immediate travel, as the interline partnership provides access to 15 regional destinations operated by Sri Lankan Airlines via Colombo, offering Emirates’ passengers a wider range of options. This network includes two new Indian destinations, Madurai and Tiruchirapally, as well as Gan Island in the Maldives. Passengers can travel effortlessly on a single ticket while enjoying the benefit of a generous baggage policy and hassle-free baggage check-through to their final destination. Destinations in the Far East and South Asia include Cochin, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Malé, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Guangzhou, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Sri Lankan Airlines’ passengers will also benefit from access to Emirates’ extensive global network, connecting to 15 cities operated by Emirates beyond Dubai. This interline network spans the Middle East, Africa, Russia, and the United States. SriLankan’s passengers will experience a premium travel experience and partnership advantages when flying on Emirates to destinations such as Bahrain, Amman, Dammam, Medina, Cairo, Muscat, Nairobi, Moscow, Tel Aviv, and numerous U.S. cities, including New York JFK, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, and Houston.
Travel itineraries can be booked immediately on emirates.com, srilankan.com, and preferred online and offline travel agencies.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer, expressed his pleasure regarding the interline partnership, stating, “We are pleased to activate an interline partnership with Sri Lankan and provide our customers with more choice and access to additional destinations to suit their travel plans. This partnership enables customers to seamlessly fly to unique destinations in India and the Maldives, via Colombo. We look forward to further developing our cooperation in the near future and enhancing benefits that customers can enjoy when traveling with Emirates and Sri Lankan on one ticket.”
Richard Nuttall, Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lankan Airlines, also welcomed the renewed interline collaboration with Emirates, emphasizing Sri Lankan’s commitment to providing global connectivity to Sri Lanka. “The partnership provides more options to connect to and from Sri Lanka, assisting both Sri Lankan passengers at home and abroad, and supports tourism growth to the Pearl of the Indian Ocean,” he stated.
Emirates has a long history of serving Sri Lanka and is a crucial part of its network, with nearly 140 destinations spanning the globe. The airline has been operating in Colombo since 1986 and has carried more than 11 million passengers to and from the city. Emirates currently offers two daily flights to Colombo, utilizing the Boeing 777-300ER, as well as an additional daily service via Malé, providing passengers with flexibility in choosing flights and the convenience of minimal connection times. Emirates is the sole international carrier to provide first-class services to Sri Lanka, delivering world-class products and superior in-flight and ground comfort.
Travelers flying to destinations in the U.S. on Emirates and Sri Lankan interline tickets must clear their baggage with U.S. Customs at the first point of entry in the country.
About Emirates
Operating from its global hub in Dubai, Emirates serves customers across six continents, providing high-quality air transport services that facilitate tourism and trade. The airline is renowned for its industry-leading services both on the ground and in the air, delivered by a diverse workforce representing over 160 nations. Emirates operates the world’s largest fleet of wide-body Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft, offering spacious cabins and iconic inflight features such as its A380 Shower Spa and Onboard Lounge. Furthermore, the airline’s ice inflight entertainment system is available in all seats across its fleet, offering up to 6,500 channels of on-demand, multi-language content, enhancing the passenger experience.