Emirates launches airbridge to Sri Lanka, flying 100 tonnes of relief aid

Emirates and Dubai Humanitarian have set up an airbridge to Sri Lanka to deliver urgent relief aid to communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah. Over the next two weeks, Emirates will provide more than 100 tonnes of cargo space free of charge on its daily flights to Colombo.

The first shipments departed Dubai International Airport on 9 December, carrying high-energy fortified biscuits from the World Food Programme (WFP). Subsequent flights will transport food and aid from the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, along with tarpaulins and other supplies from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). On arrival, the goods will be sent to a government disaster management unit for distribution to displaced and affected residents.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, said: “Emirates is deeply connected and committed to Sri Lanka. In coordination with Dubai Humanitarian, we are mobilising our infrastructure to extend essential support. We will dedicate bellyhold cargo capacity for crisis relief on our daily flights, providing a regular and reliable flow of vital commodities.”

HE Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Chairman of Dubai Humanitarian, added: “We sincerely thank Emirates for enabling this critical airbridge. This collaboration reflects the strength of our long-standing partnership and Dubai’s spirit of collective humanitarian action. Working with committed partners ensures that essential relief items are delivered swiftly, efficiently, and sustainably.”

Dubai Humanitarian, the world’s largest humanitarian hub, coordinates relief missions across over 80 organisations and companies. Since partnering with Emirates in 2020, the two have supported numerous relief operations, transporting hundreds of tonnes of aid to communities affected by disasters.

In previous operations, Emirates SkyCargo provided space for relief shipments to Turkey and Syria after the 2023 earthquakes and established an airbridge to Pakistan during catastrophic flooding, delivering essential food, equipment, and emergency supplies across five major airports.