Emirates Airlines is adding new Dubai–Colombo flights to its schedule, with the additional service designated EK654/655 launching on January 2, 2025. The move increases daily seat capacity on the Emirates Dubai–Colombo route by 30 percent, aligning with Sri Lanka's ambition to attract three million visitors in 2025.
New Flight Schedule and Capacity
The new Boeing 777 service operates six times weekly during the winter season, with no Wednesday departure until March 31, 2025. From April 1, 2025, Emirates added a seventh weekly flight on Wednesdays.
The aircraft accommodates up to 360 passengers across three cabins:
- 8 First Class Suites - 42 Business Class seats - 310 Economy Class seats
The combined Dubai–Colombo timetable now offers more than 2,800 daily seats in both directions, along with approximately 160 tonnes of cargo capacity.
Emirates and Sri Lanka: A 39-Year Connection
Emirates has operated flights to Colombo since April 1986, making Sri Lanka one of its longest-standing destinations. The airline has carried more than 12 million passengers on the Dubai–Colombo route over that period.
"Emirates has always been very sensitive to Dubai's interconnectivity with Sri Lanka," the airline noted in announcing the expanded service. The carrier highlighted the island's natural and cultural attractions as particularly suited to eco-conscious travelers seeking to benefit from the additional connectivity.
Supporting Sri Lanka's 2025 Tourism Goals
The expanded service directly supports Sri Lanka's tourism drive. The country has set a target of three million international visitors in 2025, and improved air access from Dubai — a major transit and origin hub — is central to achieving that goal.
The EK654 departs Dubai International Airport (DXB) at 10:05 and arrives at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake at 16:00. The return EK655 departs Colombo at 22:05, arriving in Dubai at 01:05 the following morning. From April 1, 2025, Wednesday departures operate on a revised timetable.
