Vietjet starts Colombo operations today

• Thrice-weekly flights a new gateway to Vietnam and Asia

Andrew The Aviation  Company Managing Director Mahen Kariyawasan

The commencement of Vietjet’s operations between Colombo and Vietnam today, with three flights a week, marks an important new chapter in Sri Lanka’s aviation, tourism, and trade connectivity with Vietnam and the wider Asian region.

The new service is much more than another airline connection. It opens a new gateway for Sri Lankan travellers to Vietnam and onward to key destinations across Asia, while creating greater opportunities for Vietnamese and Asian travellers to discover Sri Lanka.

Speaking on the commencement of the service, Andrew the Aviation Company Ltd., Managing Director Mahen Kariyawasan said the new connectivity could be a game changer for Sri Lanka.

“This is a very important development for Sri Lanka. Vietjet gives us a new gateway to Vietnam and, through its extensive network, access to many important markets across Asia. At a time when the global travel environment remains uncertain, Sri Lanka must diversify and actively develop new markets, particularly within Asia,” he said.

He stressed that the arrival of Vietjet should be viewed not merely as an airline operation, but as an opportunity for Sri Lanka to significantly expand its tourism and business footprint in Vietnam and the broader Asian market.

“The authorities and the tourism industry must now move quickly. We need a major consumer promotion campaign in Vietnam and other Asian markets to create awareness of Sri Lanka and the new connectivity. Simply having flights is not enough. We need to fill those aircraft and convert connectivity into tourist arrivals, trade, investment and business opportunities,” Kariyawasan said.

Andrew The Travel Company CEO Kemin Perera said the new service would provide the tourism industry with an important platform to develop new business.

“We see Vietjet’s entry into Sri Lanka as a significant commercial opportunity for the entire travel and tourism industry. Our focus will be on building demand, developing strong partnerships with the trade in Vietnam and Sri Lanka, and creating attractive packages that encourage travellers to choose Sri Lanka. The success of this route will ultimately depend on how well we work together to develop the market,” he said.

He added that the industry should look beyond the immediate Colombo–Vietnam sector and take advantage of Vietjet’s wider network to position Sri Lanka as an attractive destination for travellers from across Asia.

Kariyawasan noted that Vietnam represents a particularly important emerging market, while Vietjet’s extensive network provides Sri Lanka with the potential to reach beyond Vietnam into other parts of Asia.

“Sri Lanka cannot continue to depend on the same traditional markets. We need to look East and build stronger links with Vietnam, Korea, Japan and the wider Asian region. This is the time to be innovative and take advantage of every new air connectivity opportunity,” Kariyawasan added.

With geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and changing travel patterns affecting traditional source markets, he believes Sri Lanka needs to adopt a more aggressive and diversified approach to tourism marketing.

He also called upon the local tourism industry, particularly Destination Management Companies (DMCs), to work together to build the market rather than undermine the value of the new connectivity through excessive price competition.

“I sincerely hope our local DMCs will recognise the importance of developing this new market collectively. We should not immediately enter into a price war and spoil the market. We need to protect the value of the destination, maintain healthy pricing and work together to grow the overall business. There is a tremendous opportunity here if the industry takes a long-term view,” he said.

The commencement of Vietjet’s three-weekly service therefore provides Sri Lanka with an important platform to strengthen tourism, trade, education, investment and people-to-people links with Vietnam and the wider Asian region.

“This is an opportunity we cannot afford to waste. The airline has opened the door; now Sri Lanka must walk through it and market the destination aggressively,” Kariyawasan concluded.