Sri Lanka adds winter air links from Russia, France and Central Asia

Monday, 2 November 2026 06:33 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Azur Air services to Mattala begin today, while S7 Airlines plans twice-weekly Siberia–Colombo flights from December
French Bee to launch Maldives-routed services to Katunayake next month
Centrum Air introduces twice-weekly Tashkent–Mattala flights till March 2027, while Edelweiss adds Colombo capacity

Sri Lanka is set to strengthen its international air connectivity for the European winter tourism season, with several airlines introducing new services or increasing capacity on routes linking the island with Russia, France, Central Asia and Switzerland.

Flights operated by Russia’s Azur Air to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) are scheduled to commence today (2), while French carrier French Bee is expected to begin services to Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in December via the Maldives.

S7 Airlines is also scheduled to launch direct flights from Siberia to Katunayake in December, operating twice weekly.

The new services come as Sri Lanka seeks to attract more visitors during the northern hemisphere’s winter season, while expanding access to emerging source markets.

Adding to the new routes, Uzbekistan’s Centrum Air last week launched direct scheduled flights between Tashkent and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport.

Sri Lanka adds...

The twice-weekly service, operating every Wednesday and Saturday until the end of March 2027, opens another gateway from Central Asia to Sri Lanka.

Royal Spence Aviation, a partner company of Aitken Spence Travels, welcomed the launch, describing it as a step towards strengthening connectivity and tapping the potential of emerging tourism markets.

Meanwhile, Swiss airline Edelweiss is deploying additional capacity on selected high-demand routes during the peak winter season.

Colombo has received an additional weekly flight from 27 October until mid-January, increasing the airline’s frequency to up to three flights per week.

The additional capacity and new services are expected to provide more travel options for visitors and support Sri Lanka’s efforts to improve access from key and emerging international markets.