Monday Nov 17, 2025
Monday Nov 17, 2025
Friday, 24 October 2025 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Poland Priyangika Dharmasena recently held discussions with senior officials of LOT Polish Airlines and “Enter Air” in Warsaw to explore avenues for enhancing air connectivity between Poland and Sri Lanka, through scheduled regular flights, considering the growing influx of Polish tourists to Sri Lanka, to strengthen trade, investment, and people-to-people linkages between the two countries.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Poland Priyangika Dharmasena met with LOT Polish Airlines Director – Network Planning Office Robert Ludera and other officials at its headquarters in Warsaw. While recalling the commencement of scheduled direct flights by LOT Polish Airlines to Sri Lanka in 2019, which were subsequently suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and other impediments, Ambassador Dharmasena expressed Sri Lanka’s keenness for early recommencement of regular flights under the existing Air Services Agreement. She emphasised the marked increase in Polish tourists visiting Sri Lanka in recent years, with over 44,000 recorded in 2024, and an expectation of a larger number in 2025. Ambassador Dharmasena underscored that while charter flights, such as those operated intermittently by LOT Polish Airlines and “Enter Air”, provide seasonal connectivity, regular flights would ensure year-round air connectivity, essential to strengthen tourism, economic activities, and people-to-people contacts between the two countries, also enhancing the brand presence of LOT Polish Airlines in Asia.
LOT Polish Airlines highlighted challenges, including engine durability restricting aircraft deployment to some countries, including Sri Lanka. Collaborative marketing with tourism authorities and tour operators to improve route viability to Sri Lanka was also discussed. The airline expressed plans to expand its long-haul fleet by the end of 2026, with Sri Lanka positioned as a high-priority destination for resumption in 2027–28. LOT Polish Airlines currently operates nearly 90 aircraft with over 300 daily departures, carrying approximately 12 million passengers annually.
In September, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Poland Priyangika Dharmasena met with Enter Air CEO Grzegorz Polaniecki, and Chief Commercial Officer Andrzej Kobielski, at their Warsaw headquarters to discuss long-term plans for “Enter Air’s” seasonal flights to Sri Lanka.
During the discussions, “Enter Air” confirmed plans to operate direct flights from Warsaw and Katowice to Colombo from 30 October 2025 to mid-April 2026. Ambassador Dharmasena, while appreciating the commencement of charter flights by “Enter Air” with the support of tour operators, urged steadfast continuation of operations to Sri Lanka, considering the growing demand of Polish travellers, strengthening tourism, economic activities, and social relations between the two nations.
