Try booking a flight from Dubai to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka from the flydubai website at the moment, and you'll only be able to do so from September 1 — and then, too, at your risk.
The budget carrier shows all dates in July and August as struck out until August 31, with flydubai saying it has suspended flights to Sri Lanka, which is facing economic and political crises, "until further notice".
The decision has been made on the back of violent protests that have escalated, over the island country's crises, with a mob setting fire to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's home on Saturday. However, the airline said it will "closely monitor the situation on the ground”, with a representative also saying: "Passengers who have booked to travel on these flights will be contacted and offered a refund. We apologise for the inconvenience caused to our passengers’ travel schedules."
Located on the west coast of Sri Lanka, Colombo is a four-and-a-half-hour flight from the UAE.
The capital is home to beautiful beaches and historic temples, and is a gateway to other parts of the tourism-reliant country.
Both Emirates and Etihad Airways are operating flights to Sri Lanka for the moment, but travellers are advised to double-check before making new bookings.
Sri Lanka crisis: in pictures
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A demonstrator presents Sri Lanka's new 'Wildlife Minister' at President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's Cabinet meeting room in Colombo. Huge crowds had poured into the city to protest in previous days amid months of unrest sparked by the country's economic collapse. Reuters -
Demonstrators take a break inside Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's residence in Colombo. Reuters -
Children play the piano inside the president's house in Colombo. Reuters -
A demonstrator poses for photographs where President Gotabaya Rajapaksa used to hold events. Reuters -
People wait to visit the presidential residence in Colombo after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled amid the country's economic turmoil. Reuters -
Part of the private residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was burnt by demonstrators. Reuters -
Demonstrators vandalised part of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's house in Colombo. Reuters -
Crowds flock to take a look inside the presidential palace in Colombo. EPA -
Part of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's private residence was burnt by demonstrators. Reuters -
People take a dip in a swimming pool at the presidential palace in Colombo. EPA -
Protesters pretend to hold a Cabinet meeting in the meeting hall of the president's official residence. AP -
Firefighters try to douse a fire at the residence of Sri Lanka's prime minister during protests in Colombo. AFP -
People watch the blaze. AFP -
An unidentified man poses for pictures while seated on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s chair at the presidential palace in Colombo, a day after it was overrun by anti-government protestors. AFP -
Protesters rest on sofas in the prime minister's residence. AP -
Soldiers and police gather outside the burnt private residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo. AP -
A security officer inspects a police vehicle, a day after it was vandalised by protesters in front of the residence of Sri Lanka's prime minister. AFP -
Protesters stand on a vandalised police water cannon at the entrance to the president's official residence. AP -
Protesters sing and dance after storming the Sri Lankan president's official residence. AP -
Protesters crowd inside the president's official residence. EPA -
Protesters cheer inside the president's official residence. EPA -
A man picks up a tear-gas canister to throw it away as police try to disperse protesters in Colombo. AP -
An injured protester during an anti-government demonstration in Colombo. EPA -
The security forces fire tear gas and use water cannon to disperse an anti-government protest. EPA -
A protester walks in front of police during an anti-government protest, calling for the resignation of the president over his alleged failure to address Sri Lanka's economic crisis. EPA -
Protesters gather inside the compound of Sri Lanka's Presidential Palace in Colombo. AFP -
Protesters are demanding that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigns. AP Photo -
Hundreds of people attended the rally. EPA -
Security forces fire tear gas to disperse an anti government protest rally. EPA -
Protesters throw back tear gas canisters fired by security forces. EPA
