Monday Oct 26, 2026
Monday Oct 26, 2026
Monday, 26 October 2026 06:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
British Airways Captain Terry Smith and Hayleys Chairman and Chief Executive Mohan Pandithage cut a cake to celebrate the resumption of direct services on Saturday. British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick, British Airways General Manager – South Asia David Wright, Civil Aviation Authority Director General and CEO Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, British Airways Senior First Officer Pradeeb Vimalraj, IAG Cargo Regional Commercial Manager – Asia Pacific, India and Middle East Ankush Chawla and Hayleys Advantis Managing Director Ruwan Waidyaratne are among those who look on
British Airways General Manager – South Asia David Wright
British Airways Captain Terry Smith (third from left), Senior First Officer Preveen Moorthy (left), and IAG Cargo Regional Commercial Manager – Asia Pacific, India and Middle East Ankush Chawla (right)
The crew of the first British Airways flight
By Nisthar Cassim
British Airways on Saturday marked a significant milestone with the arrival of its first flight into Colombo, reconnecting Sri Lanka with the UK for the first time in over 11 years.
The inaugural flight, operated by Sri Lankan crew, was welcomed by traditional dancers and drummers on arrival to commemorate the occasion. The new route strengthens links between the two countries, supporting tourism, trade, and business travel.
The thrice-weekly service will be operated by British Airways’ Boeing 777 fleet, featuring Club World (business class), World Traveller Plus (premium economy), and World Traveller (economy) cabins.
To celebrate the launch, British Airways is offering special return fares with savings of up to 10% in World Traveller, starting from Rs. 255,000 for travel from Colombo to London Gatwick.
British Airways Chief Planning and Strategy Officer Neil Chernoff in a statement said the resumption marks a special moment for British Airways, as it meant bringing Sri Lanka back to its global network and giving customers greater choice when planning their next getaway.
“Sri Lanka is renowned for its warmth, rich culture, and hospitality, and we’re delighted to be flying there once again. To celebrate, we’re offering special fares and look forward to welcoming customers on board,” he added.
Noting that Sri Lanka is one of the first re-entries in recent months, British Airways General Manager – South Asia David Wright during a media interaction post-first flight on Saturday stressed that Sri Lanka has always been a really important market for British Airways.
“Between the UK and Sri Lanka, we have deep cultural and historic links, and so it is a market that we continue to keep an eye on. And obviously, over the last few years, we have seen that economic growth and tourism rebound post-COVID, and we continue to review our network, and we felt that the time was right to reintroduce our services from this winter,” he told journalists in Colombo.
Wright said that a heart of a business case like this is very much tourism from the UK coming into the incredible island of Sri Lanka and everything it has to offer. “But we have also seen really positive demand across sectors: tourism going into the UK, but also across business sectors and also people visiting communities and friends and family as well.”
He described the all-inclusive offers starting from Rs. 255,000 as “compelling.” The Boeing 777 has a capacity of over 300 seats and Wright noted that British Airways has been really pleased with the response. The special fares in World Traveller (economy) on return flights from Colombo to Gatwick, available for booking until 15 November 2026, for outbound travel between 20 October and 30 November 2026 and inbound travel between 26 October and 10 December 2026.
British Airways General Sales Agents (GSA) Hayleys Advantis Ltd., Managing Director Ruwan Waidyaratne said: “The commencement of British Airways’ flight operations to Colombo marks a significant milestone in enhancing air connectivity between Sri Lanka and the UK. The service will offer customers greater travel options while supporting tourism and business travel between the two markets, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with British Airways.”
He said Hayleys’ relationship with British Airways dates back to 1995, and it is delighted to welcome the airline back to Sri Lanka as this longstanding partnership enters a new chapter.
Waidyaratne stressed that improved connectivity between Sri Lanka and the UK creates opportunities that extends beyond travel, supporting tourism, stimulating economic activities, and strengthening ties between the two countries.
“We look forward to seeing this connection grow and deliver lasting value for travellers, the tourism industry, and Sri Lanka as a whole,” he added.
Senior First Officer Pradeeb Vimalraj, who operated the airline’s inaugural flight in a statement said: “As a Sri Lankan, born and raised in Jaffna in my early years, bringing our first flight back home after more than a decade was particularly special. The warm welcome we received made it even more memorable, and I am so proud to be part of this new chapter connecting Sri Lanka and the UK.”
British Airways also revealed that searches on ba.com for flights from London to Colombo have increased by more than 10% in the past week, reflecting continued interest in the destination.
British Airways operates one of the largest and the most modern fleets of any airline in the world and is transforming the operations with a £ 7 billion investment plan.
Departure from Gatwick is at 1640 hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and arrival in Colombo at 0935 hours the next day. Departure from Colombo is 1035 hours Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays with arrival at Gatwick at 1700 hours.
British Airways said the new service gives customers travelling from the UK direct access to one of South Asia’s most captivating destinations. From golden beaches and ancient cultural sites to wildlife reserves, tea country and a thriving food scene, Sri Lanka offers a diverse range of experiences for travellers to discover.
