Monday Aug 31, 2026
Monday Aug 31, 2026
Monday, 31 August 2026 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Dignitaries, aviation officials and senior representatives from Jetstar Airways, Qantas Airways and Hayleys Advantis gather at Bandaranaike International Airport to mark the launch of Jetstar’s inaugural Colombo-Melbourne service
Consul General of Sri Lanka Pradeepa Saram, Jetstar Airways Boeing Fleet Manager Captain Paul Weatherstone, Melbourne Airport SVP and Head of Commercial Michael Cullen at Melbourne Airport prior to the take-off inaugural flight
Australian low-cost carrier Jetstar last week launched its first direct service between Sri Lanka and Australia, opening a new year-round air link that is expected to add over 100,000 low-fare seats annually between Colombo and Melbourne.
The inaugural service landed at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on 25 August, with the first Colombo–Melbourne flight departing shortly afterwards, marking Jetstar’s entry into the Sri Lankan market.
The three-times-weekly wide body service is being positioned as a lower-cost alternative to existing connections between the two countries, where passengers have traditionally had to transit through a third country.
Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully said the airline had already seen strong demand for the new route, particularly given Victoria’s large Sri Lankan community.
“We’re so excited to be able to begin operating to Sri Lanka and to give Sri Lankans and Australians a low-cost connection between our two countries,” Tully said.
The airline is offering introductory one-way fares from Colombo to Melbourne from Rs. 67,770, with the promotional sale running until today (31), subject to availability and applicable travel dates.
The route is being operated year-round rather than being confined to the peak travel season, potentially providing Sri Lanka with a more consistent source of inbound capacity during the tourism industry’s softer months.
Hayleys Advantis Deputy Managing Director Shano Sabar said the service addressed a longstanding capacity gap between Sri Lanka and Australia.
“Until now, travelling between Colombo and Australia has meant connecting through a third country at a higher cost,” Sabar said, adding that the three weekly widebody services would provide capacity through the off-season as well as peak periods.
Beyond Melbourne, the service also gives Sri Lankan travellers access to Jetstar’s Australian and New Zealand network, including Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Tasmania, Auckland and Queenstown, with a single onward connection.
For Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, the new route comes as authorities seek to strengthen air connectivity and diversify source markets amid a renewed push to lift tourist arrivals.
Jetstar will operate the route using Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The airline has begun refurbishing its 787 fleet with upgraded economy and business-class cabins, Wi-Fi and other enhancements, while the aircraft’s upgraded configuration is designed to support longer-haul operations.
The new connection is expected to cater to both visiting-friends-and-relatives traffic and leisure demand, while giving Australian and New Zealand travellers a direct, lower-cost gateway to Sri Lanka.
