New cargo airline ‘WEAIR’ to strengthen Sri Lanka’s regional connectivity

• Slated to commence operations on 28 May with a Boeing 737-800 freighter
• Backed by Luxembourg-based IOTC, WEAIR to initially operate cargo flights to Bengaluru, Malé, Lahore, Dhaka from Colombo

By Sanath Weerasuriya

CEO Thinesh Ganeshakumaran	Chief Marketing Officer Indrajith Joseph

WEAIR, a newest competitor into Sri Lanka’s cargo aviation sector, is set to commence operations on 28 May 2026, aiming to strengthen the country’s air freight capacity and enhance regional connectivity. 

Sri Lanka’s travel and logistics landscape is poised for a notable shift as WEAIR prepares to take to the skies on 28 May. Entering the country’s expanding cargo aviation sector, the new airline marks a timely boost to air freight capacity at a point when speed, connectivity, and reliability are becoming critical to both tourism and trade.

Backed by Luxembourg-based IOTC – an investment fund, WEAIR is positioning itself as a next-generation, Sri Lanka-based cargo carrier, designed to meet rising demand across key regional trade corridors while establishing Colombo as a strategic Asian hub. 

Led by Sri Lankan-born Group CEO Thinesh Ganeshakumaran, who is also Director/Group CEO of IOTC, the airline has ambitions to streamline the movement of goods while reinforcing Sri Lanka’s role as an emerging hub for South Asian air connectivity.

IOTC is one of the European Union›s premier investors in the Asia Pacific region. Its consolidated assets amount to nearly 1 billion Euros with 300 million Euros directly managed by IOTC Investment Luxembour, a closed-investment fund.

Sri Lanka’s air cargo sector has traditionally depended on passenger belly capacity and foreign operators, often limiting flexibility for exporters and freight forwarders.

Chief Marketing Officer Indrajith Joseph said: “The introduction of a dedicated cargo airline is expected to significantly improve reliability, capacity availability and turnaround times, particularly for time-sensitive shipments such as apparel, perishables, pharmaceuticals and e-commerce goods.”

WEAIR plans to establish a regional network connecting Colombo with major destinations across South Asia, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, leveraging Sri Lanka’s strategic geographic location at the crossroads of global trade routes. 

The airline will begin operations with a Boeing 737-800 freighter and has outlined a phased fleet expansion strategy. 

Joseph joins as Chief Marketing Officer and Assistant to CCO, contributing extensive expertise in marketing and corporate leadership.

Looking ahead, WEAIR plans for a potential listing on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) by 2029. The company is also exploring expansion into passenger operations as part of its long-term growth strategy. Beyond its operational ambitions, WEAIR is expected to contribute to employment generation across aviation and logistics sectors, including ground handling, cargo operations and related services. 

CEO Thinesh Ganeshakumaran stated that the airline is focused on building a reliable and efficient cargo network to support Sri Lanka’s evolving role in global trade. 

WEAIR’s initial network has been structured to maximise regional reach and frequency, with services operating on multiple rotations through key South Asian and Indian Ocean destinations. Scheduled routes include Colombo–Bengaluru–Malé–Colombo and Colombo–Lahore–Dhaka–Malé–Colombo on select days, alongside regular Colombo–Malé shuttles and additional links via Dhaka, ensuring consistent connectivity across its core markets.

Central to the airline’s strategy is the positioning of Colombo as a regional cargo hub, capitalising on its location along major east–west trade lanes to consolidate freight flows efficiently. To support early volumes and market penetration, WEAIR has also secured General Sales Agent (GSA) partnerships across Sri Lanka, India, the Maldives, Bangladesh and Pakistan, laying the groundwork for a broader network as operations scale up.