AirlineRatings.com, an Australia-based aviation safety and product rating agency, has restored SriLankan Airlines' 7-star status after the airline took swift action against pilot for breaking cockpit protocol rules, SriLankan airlines announced today.

Earlier, the airline's safety rating had been downgraded from seven to six stars by AirlineRatings.com due to an incident involving a captain who reportedly locked his female co-pilot out of the cockpit during a 10-hour flight from Sydney to Colombo in last September.

SriLankan Airlines responded by grounding the captain involved in the incident. Additionally, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka has initiated an investigation into the matter to ensure compliance with safety regulations and protocols.