Air traffic at Kuwait International Airport was suspended and flights diverted to nearby airports after Iranian missiles and drones struck Terminal One, causing casualties and damage to several facilities.

According to a report by Gulf News, Kuwait’s Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) immediately activated its emergency plan in response to the attack. 

Spokesman Abdullah Al‑Rajhi said authorities were implementing established protocols to safeguard workers and passengers and secure airport facilities.

Al‑Rajhi added that security and technical contingency measures are being enforced to enable the eventual resumption of operations. 

Technical teams are currently assessing the extent of the damage before repair work begins. (Newswire)

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The United Arab Emirates reopened its airspace on Tuesday after a brief shutdown, as Iran continued missile and drone attacks in a conflict with the U.S. and Israel now in its third week.

The UAE’s Defence Ministry said Monday that air defences have intercepted more than 300 ballistic missiles and 1,600 drones so far.

The General Civil Aviation Authority said the decision followed a comprehensive assessment of operational and security conditions and was made in coordination with relevant authorities. It added that real-time monitoring of the situation remains in place to ensure the highest levels of aviation safety.

The temporary but full closure of its airspace lasted nearly two hours, which the regulator said was an “exceptional precautionary measure aimed at ensuring the safety of flights and air crews, and safeguarding the UAE’s territory, amid rapidly evolving regional security developments.”

The move followed disruptions at Dubai International Airport, which resumed a limited flight schedule on Monday after a drone strike hit a fuel depot and triggered a fire. Authorities said no injuries were reported from the strike, the fourth drone-related incident to occur at the airport.

The disruption comes amid broader flight cancellations and rerouting across the Middle East, as airlines reassess operations through the region’s increasingly volatile airspace.

British Airways said Monday it extended a temporary reduction to its Middle East flight schedule due to ongoing uncertainty, affecting flights from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv.

The airline said it is keeping the situation under constant review and is in direct contact with affected customers to offer travel options.

The IAG-owned airline has operated eight relief flights from Muscat, Oman, and added flights to and from Singapore and Bangkok to support travellers impacted by the situation. (CNBC)

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Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. employee trade unions staged a protest today (29 Dec), demanding that the company provide an allowance equivalent to five months’ basic salary as the 2025 bonus, as previously announced by Chairman, Retired Air Vice Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama.

About 50 employees representing the Airport Sri Lanka Freedom Workers’ Union, the People’s Workers’ Union, the Progressive Workers’ Union, the National Workers’ Union, and the SriLankan Airlines Freedom Workers’ Union took part in the protest.

During the protest, the President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Workers’ Union, Muhandiram, revealed that so far only an allowance equivalent to two months’ basic salary has been given as the 2025 bonus, despite the company recording an annual net profit of Rs. 21 billion.

Accordingly, the unions urged that at least an additional allowance equivalent to two months’ basic salary be granted in response to their demand. (Newswire)

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The Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL) has reported a 14.08% increase in international passenger movements and a 15.35% increase in international aircraft movements from January to September 2025. 

According to an AASL statement, the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), and the Jaffna International Airport (JIA) welcomed a total of 7,559,699 passengers during this period, with arrivals and departures nearly evenly split, 49.15% arrivals and 50.85% departures. 

Transit traffic remained strong, with 680,821 passengers passing through, reinforcing its strategic role in regional and long-haul connectivity. 

Of the total arrivals, 1,706,308 were tourists arriving by air, accounting for 45.92% of all arrivals. Meanwhile, local arrivals made up 54.08%, indicating a healthy blend of domestic engagement and international tourism. 

The AASL said these figures affirm the industry’s steady momentum and the final quarter is expected to see a continued boost in passenger volumes and flight operations, supported by the introduction of new airline schedules and expanded route offerings. (Newswire)

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The Airport & Aviation Services Sri Lanka Private Ltd (AASL) has issued a warning against flying kites in close proximity to international airports in the country. 

Issuing a special notice, the AASL warned that flying kites or any airborne objects over a height of 300 feet, within a radius of 5 km from any international airport, is strictly prohibited.

The AASL further said that flying kites in such close proximity to international airports is considered a punishable offence.

The warning has been issued highlighting the hindrance to flight operations and the threat to flights and passengers. (Newswire)

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A mother and daughter from Sri Lanka, who allegedly entered India using fake Indian passports, have been arrested in Chennai.

The duo had landed in Chennai on Monday, and upon inspection of documents by Indian immigration officials, the 48-year-old woman and her 21-year-old daughter were found to be carrying Indian passports with a Chennai address.

The duo had claimed that they had visited Sri Lanka on a tourist visa, but both were detained for questioning.

Shortly thereafter, it was confirmed that both were from Sri Lanka and had been staying illegally in Chennai for the last few years.

They had used forged documents to obtain ID proofs in India, and also fake Indian passports.

Officers arrested the duo and handed them over to the Central Crime Branch in Chennai, which has opened a probe into the person who helped them get the fake passports. (DT Next)

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Sri Lanka temporarily designated the Air Force base in Anuradhapura as an international airport on Sunday to facilitate Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s departure from the country.

The Civil Aviation Authority said the move was formalized through a gazette notification issued on Friday, granting one-day international airport status to the military airfield.

Modi and his core security team departed from Anuradhapura to Rameswaram in southern India under the special clearance. Immigration and emigration officials were deployed to process the departure.

Under Sri Lankan aviation regulations, aircraft cannot depart to foreign destinations from domestic airports unless those airports are officially designated as international through a government-issued gazette notification. (Newswire)

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Minister of Civil Aviation, Vijitha Herath engaged in an inspection tour of the Katunayake Airport premises on Sunday (10 Nov) during which he addressed a range of issues affecting employees and services.

According to a Civil Aviation Ministry statement, Minister Herath was accompanied by Airport and Aviation Services Chairman Harsha D. Abeywickrama and Deputy Chairman Cyril Wannigama.

During the tour, the minister engaged with workers across various departments, addressing their concerns and committing to resolutions in collaboration with airport authorities.

The minister made the following three key decisions to improve operational efficiency and employee welfare at the airport.

1.  Retention of Employee Allowances:

Following complaints from airport employees about the discontinuation of their Rs. 50,000 allowance provided in 2023, Minister Herath directed the chairman to restore the allowance for 2024, noting that recovering funds from employees would be unethical.

2. Enhanced Communication on Flight Delays:

Due to rising complaints regarding SriLankan Airlines delays, the minister instructed SriLankan Airlines and airport management to establish a dedicated unit responsible for informing passengers about flight delays in real-time. This unit is to operate 24/7 to ensure passengers are promptly updated, minimizing disruptions.

3. Uniform Provisions for Security Staff:

Minister Herath also addressed issues related to the uniforms provided to around 150 security staff hired in January 2024, which were found to be of inferior in quality. He ordered that standard materials be used for uniforms moving forward and that each officer be provided with three sets for regular use.  (Newswire)

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An unexploded U.S. bomb from World War II that had been buried at a Japanese airport exploded Wednesday, causing a large crater in a taxiway and the cancellation of more than 80 flights, Japanese officials said.

No one was hurt, and there were no aircraft nearby when the bomb exploded at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan, Land and Transport Ministry officials said.

An investigation by the Self-Defense Forces and police confirmed the explosion was caused by a 500-pound U.S. bomb and there was no further danger. Officials were determining what caused its sudden detonation.

A video recorded by a nearby aviation school showed the blast spewing pieces of asphalt into the air like a fountain. Videos broadcast on Japanese television showed a crater in the taxiway reportedly about 7 meters (yards) in diameter and 1 meter (3 feet) deep.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said more than 80 flights had been canceled at the airport as of midafternoon Wednesday.

The airport said the taxiway damage was repaired overnight and flights resumed Thursday morning.

Miyazaki Airport was built in 1943 as a former Imperial Japanese Navy flight training field from which some pilots took off on suicide attack missions.

A number of unexploded bombs dropped by the U.S. military during World War II have been unearthed in the area, Defense Ministry officials said.

Hundreds of tons of unexploded bombs from the war remain buried around Japan and are sometimes dug up at construction sites. (ABC News)

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The Airport-Fort Bus Employees Union has launched a protest today against the luxury airport bus service launched from the Katunayake Airport to several prominent areas in Colombo.

President of the Union, Indika Gunasekara pointed out that it was not possible to give appointments for new jobs during a period when a presidential election has been announced and the same applies to new buses as well.

Stating that there were 71 buses registered under its union, Indika Gunasekara revealed that 42 of the buses don’t operate daily and that a registered bus operates only 10 days a month.

Indika Gunasekara said that even though their Union had launched an airport bus service previously, it had to be suspended due to security reasons and due to political influences.

Claiming that the chairman of the Western Province Transport Authority has pointed out that there is no need for these buses, Indika Gunasekara alleged that the Ministry of Transport and Highways and the National Transport Commission have launched the new bus service.

The Airport-Fort Bus Employees Union President further said that if there was a real need then the 42 buses currently registered under the Union, which do not operate daily, can be utilized for the new bus service.

Indika Gunasekara added that the bus service provided by his Union charges only Rs. 300 per passenger for one journey, while the new luxury airport bus service charges Rs. 3000 per passenger.

The new luxury airport bus service was launched yesterday connecting the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake with Port City, Fort Railway Station, Colombo Main Bus Stop and the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre.

The luxury bus service will commence from the Katunayake Airport and ply along the Colombo – Katunayake Highway without any stops, to the destinations in Colombo. Ten (10) buses have been allocated for the new airport bus service and will cost Rs. 3000 per passenger for a one-way journey. (Newswire)

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A new luxury airport bus service was launched today connecting the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake to several key areas in Colombo. 

According to the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL), the luxury bus service connects the Katunayake Airport with Port City, Fort Railway Station, Colombo Main Bus Stop and the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre.

The new luxury airport bus service was launched under the patronage of Transport Ministry Secretary Ranjith Rubasinghe today, with the first bus commencing its journey at 11.45 am from the arrival terminal of the Katunayake Airport to the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre.

According to Ranjith Rubasinghe, the luxury bus service will commence from the Katunayake Airport and ply along the Colombo – Katunayake Highway without any stops, to the destinations in Colombo. 

He further said that 10 buses have been allocated for the new airport bus service and will cost Rs. 3000 per passenger for a one-way journey. (Newswire)

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A gas leak at Malaysia’s main international airport has left 39 people ill, authorities have said.

Fire services on Thursday responded to a report of a chemical leak at an aircraft engineering facility separate from the passenger terminal at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the Selangor state fire department said.

“A total of 39 victims suffered from dizziness and nausea,” local rescue officer Muhammad Nur Khairi Samsumin said in a statement.

Fourteen of the patients were sent to the air disaster unit to receive treatment, while one was hospitalised, according to authorities.

All of those affected work for three firms operating at the facility.

Officials said the incident did not affect passengers or flights, and that there was no wider risk to public safety.

Police said the gas leak had been traced to a skid tank that had been left unattended for nine years.

Muhammad Nur said the leaked gas was identified as methyl mercaptan, which is added to liquefied petroleum gas to give it a smell similar to rotten cabbages so that leaks can be detected.

“Work to cover the leak was being done by the emergency crew,” he said. (Al Jazeera)

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Two Chinese nationals have been apprehended for having allegedly stolen goods, including gold jewellery, from the luggage of a Sri Lankan who was travelling on a flight from the UAE to Sri Lanka, it was reported.

According to Lankadeepa newspaper, the Airport Police said the suspects had stolen goods, including two diamond rings, a gold chain, a gold ring, a gold pendant, and a wristwatch, from the Sri Lankan, which have been valued at over Rs. 1.1 million.

Police investigations reveal that the Sri Lankan had travelled from Abu Dhabi to Sri Lanka on Sunday (June 23) along with the Chinese nationals, and had placed his bag in the flight overhead carrier above seat No 09. 

Upon finding his goods missing at the time of landing, the Sri Lankan had informed the authorities after which all passengers of the said flight had been inspected. 

During the inspection, the stolen goods had been found in the possession of the two Chinese nationals who are aged 31 and 36 years. (Newswire)

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The government is considering establishing an international civil airport in Hingurakgoda, it was reported.

According to Daily Mirror, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation plans to develop the Hingurakgoda Airport, also known as the Minneriya Airport, as an international civil airport.

During a special discussion held at the Ministry yesterday (03), Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva made the proposal to develop the Hingurakgoda Airport as an international civil airport.

The Minister pointed out the convenience of facilitating visits to the Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Sigiriya and Dambulla areas by transforming the Hingurakgoda airport into an international civil airport.

He further said that this development will help Sri Lanka increase its foreign exchange earnings by attracting more foreign tourists to these historical and cultural sites.

“A field study will be conducted pertaining to improving and developing the airport for the landing and takeoff of A330 aircraft. Extending the current 2,287 m runway up to 2,800 m, construction of an access way to the airport runway, setting up an air navigation system, and construction of an Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower and a passenger terminal at the airport were decided as essential measures,” he added.

Minister Nimal Sirpala de Silva further revealed that the administration and operation of the said airport are currently under the Sri Lanka Air Force. (NewsWire)

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Ravindu Sanka de Silva alias ‘Booru Muna’ who is wanted over murders and other crimes in Sri Lanka has been arrested in the Avissawella area.

The Police stated the suspect was arrested while waiting in a car on a road near the Avissawella Court complex this afternoon.

An overseas travel ban had been imposed by the Avissawella court against the suspect after facts were presented to the court by the Western Province South Division Police. 

‘Booru Muna’ is accused of having shot dead the owner of an eatery in the Hanwella area on 18th December 2022. 

The suspect had attempted to flee overseas on 24th February 2023 but had been apprehended by the airport Police after which he had been aided by two Buddhist monks to escape from the airport.

Investigations have revealed that the 28-year-old suspect was the main shooter in several murders carried out in the country.

A couple from the Millaniya area in Horana that had provided refuge to the suspect was also arrested recently. (NewsWire)

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The Department of Immigration and Emigration has extended its apology to former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage over a mishap at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake. 

Issuing a statement, the Immigration and Emigration Department said MP Aluthgamage had been prevented by Immigration officials from travelling overseas on Friday night (10) citing a travel ban. 

The department stated that, however, the information included under the MP’s passport was that of another individual and that the MP had been wrongfully prevented from travelling overseas.

“Two officials of the Department of Immigration and Emigration have been suspended from service over the mishap, while investigations have been launched by the Criminal Investigations Department and Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT),” the department further said. 

The Immigration and Emigration Department also extended its apologies to former minister Mahindanda Aluthgamage for the inconvenience caused at the airport. (NewsWire) 

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