Hi, long time lurker and posted twice in 2010.

I have a holiday booked to Sri Lanka and The Maldives next March. I've just looked at my booking on Sri Lankan and have found that the times have changed drastically. There's nothing on Sri Lankans website to explain why but a quick google suggests that the runway will be closed from 6 Jan 2017 to 7 April 2017 between 0830 and 1630. This has ruined my connections between CMB and MLE and onwards sea plane to the resort but also seems to mean having to leave the Maldives a day earlier and have a 12 hour layover in CMB.

Can anyone confirm this runway closure in what I have always been told is the peak season for tourism to Sri Lanka and can anyone suggest any alternative flight arrangements?

Thanks

Hi,

I noticed that my flights on UL in March had also changed quite a bit. I have just got off the phone to Sri Lankan (I called the UK number but I was put through to someone who spoke very little English! I was then put through to a supervisor who did speak English...)

She confirmed the reason for the flight changes was indeed the runway being closed from January to April from 8:30am to 4:30pm each day. I gave her the new flights I wanted to be booked as the ones I have currently been rebooked on don't work for me.

The agent said that it had not been decided by head office whether all flight changes to do with this would be free of charge or not! I laughed and said seeing as they had cancelled the flights they didn't really have much choice but to change free of charge. She said there was nothing she could do right now, but they were expecting the decision to be made by the end of the month, so I should call back in September...

I suspect this could be interesting...

Working with a IATA Agency I can confirm we received various agent newsletters from airlines stating flights to/from CMB will need to be rescheduled due to runway works.

I am afraid you will need so speak with Srilankan to see what reprotection they can offer you. If nothing suits and you are able to find something with other airlines that work for you schedule and price wise you could also claim a refund I suppose and book somewhere else, but check with Srilankan first.

Just to update on this, I just called UL and they have now worked out their policy.

If your flight has been changed you can change free of charge to any available flight the day before, same day, or day after your original flight.

If that does not suit you, you can cancel for a refund.

The day before worked for me, so I've been rebooked.