Three major Gulf carriers are set to position a total of 12 widebody aircraft at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) in the coming days amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

According to industry sources, the fleet will include three Airbus A380 aircraft, four Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets, and five Airbus A350 planes, all expected to arrive by Monday as part of a temporary parking and operational arrangement.

Aviation insiders say MRIA’s large apron capacity and low congestion make it an ideal location for short-term aircraft positioning during regional disruptions.

However, with such a large number of widebody aircraft arriving, airport authorities are exploring creative parking solutions. Reports indicate that some of the A380s may even be positioned along the edge of the runway to manage space limitations.

Ground teams are now preparing for what could become one of the busiest operational periods in the airport’s history, with further details on logistics and handling expected soon.