SriLankan Airlines will operate its last flight to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, after the temporary travel ban imposed on citizens and residents due to the Covid-19.
An official from SriLankan told the Daily News that in accordance with the travel advisory issued by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in Saudi Arabia, it will cease operations to the Kingdom’s destination after its last flight on Saturday to Dammam and Riyadh. Following the ban on Umrah pilgrims, SriLankan Airlines stopped operations to Jeddah since its passengers were mainly pilgrims.
The deadline given by the Kingdom for its citizens to return home has been extended till Sunday midnight.
Saudi Ambassador in Colombo Abdulnasser Al-Harthy told the Daily News on Friday several Saudis in Colombo are awaiting departure and they will leave for Saudi Arabia by Saudi Arabian Airlines flights on Saturday or Sunday, which is the last flight to Jeddah from Colombo. “If those passengers do have any financial difficulties in purchasing fresh tickets or getting endorsements on tickets, the mission will help them process their tickets to their homeland,” the envoy said,adding that such things could happen mainly to those who want to change their carrier at this hour of emergency.
Sources from the Saudi Arabian Airlines told the Daily News that the Saudia flight on Saturday is fully booked and the Sunday flight is still open.The Saudi Health Ministry on Thursday announced 17 new cases of the Covid-19 virus, bringing the total in the Kingdom to 62.
They include a Saudi citizen who had been in contact with someone who previously tested positive for the virus, and a resident who returned to the country from Portugal, via Turkey. Both patients are in isolation in Riyadh.
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