Emirates and Dubai Humanitarian have launched an airbridge to Sri Lanka to deliver urgent relief supplies following the impact of Cyclone Ditwah. Over the next two weeks, Emirates will provide more than 100 tonnes of cargo space free of charge on its daily passenger flights to Sri Lanka. This initiative enables Dubai Humanitarian and its partners to transport emergency aid via Colombo to areas affected by severe flooding.
The first shipments left Dubai International Airport on December 9, using three non-stop Emirates flights to Colombo. These initial consignments included fortified biscuits from the World Food Programme (WFP), food items and relief aid from the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, as well as tarpaulins and other supplies from The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Upon arrival, the goods are sent to a disaster management unit established by the Sri Lankan government for distribution among those affected and displaced.
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, stated: “Emirates is deeply connected and committed to Sri Lanka, and so, in coordination with Dubai Humanitarian, we are mobilising our infrastructure and operations to extend essential support to the communities impacted by Cyclone Ditwah. Emirates will be dedicating bellyhold cargo capacity for crisis relief aid on our daily flights to Sri Lanka, providing a regular and reliable flow of vital commodities. Dubai Humanitarian is the largest humanitarian hub in the world, and we will work closely with them to facilitate the movement of urgent supplies.”
HE Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Chairman of Dubai Humanitarian, added: “We sincerely thank Emirates for their continued support to Dubai Humanitarian and for enabling the activation of this critical airbridge in response to the floods in Sri Lanka. This collaboration reflects the strength of our long-standing partnership and the spirit of collective action that defines Dubai as a global hub for humanitarian action. As the world’s largest humanitarian hub, bringing together over 80 humanitarian organisations and companies, we rely on close cooperation with committed partners to ensure that essential relief items are delivered swiftly, efficiently, and sustainably. This continued support demonstrates how strategic collaboration between Dubai Humanitarian, its members, and partners can strengthen international emergency response and reinforce the resilience of affected communities.”
Dubai Humanitarian serves as a major logistics center for international aid missions. Its ongoing partnership with Emirates has allowed rapid mobilization across Emirates’ network since 2020. Previous joint efforts include delivering hundreds of tonnes of aid after earthquakes in Turkey and Syria in 2023 through dedicated space on flights to Istanbul. During Pakistan’s catastrophic flooding in 2022, Emirates set up an airbridge offering donated cargo capacity on all passenger flights into five Pakistani airports for transporting critical supplies.
