Jetstar launches low-cost flights to Sri Lanka
The Morning: Jetstar recently launched its 24-hour Route Sale low-cost service from Melbourne to Colombo. One-way fares between Melbourne (Tullamarine) and Colombo are available from United States Dollars ($) 315 for travel in August next year, in line with the start of the airline’s direct flights.
From 25 August 2026, Jetstar will become the first Australian airline to operate this route, flying three times a week between Melbourne and Colombo and offering more than 100,000 low-fare seats a year on the new route.
This year-round service will be operated by Jetstar’s fleet of 11 widebody Boeing 787 Dreamliners which are progressively being upgraded from early next year to overhaul both the economy and business class cabins.
The interior refit includes more than doubling the number of business class seats and installing Wi-Fi, so customers can stream entertainment to their own devices.
The addition of a new lie-flat crew rest area to allow flights of up to 16 hours will open the door to even more incredible long-haul destinations in the future. The first of the upgraded aircraft is due to touchdown in Melbourne in late March 2026.
The launch of Melbourne to Colombo flights comes during one of the most exciting growth periods in Jetstar’s almost 22-year history. Over the past two years, the airline has announced 26 new routes and welcomed 13 new aircraft. 2025 has been a standout year, with 14 new routes announced – nine of them international.
This year the Melbourne-based carrier is also celebrating 10 years of operating domestically from Melbourne’s T4, having carried more than 50 million customers through the terminal.
Jetstar is forecast to carry a record of almost six million passengers across its Australian, New Zealand, Japan and international network throughout December and January. This includes a record 1.7 million passengers flying through Melbourne alone across the summer peak.
Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully said the airline’s Melbourne to Colombo route will give Australians a new, direct and affordable way to take off more to Sri Lanka.
“Colombo is an incredible destination, and from August next year, we’re excited to be making it easier for Aussies to experience everything the beautiful country of Sri Lanka has to offer.
“This new route out of our home base of Melbourne is part of a huge growth phase for Jetstar. We’ve added new destinations, more aircraft and we’re continuing to expand our international network to give travellers even more choice and opportunities to take off for less.”
Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Officer, Lorie Argus, welcomed Jetstar’s new flights to Sri Lanka as the airport and airline celebrate 10 years since the opening of Terminal 4.
“We’re thrilled to see Sri Lanka, one of the region’s fastest-growing destinations, become Jetstar’s 10th international destination from Melbourne.
OSL take:
The direct flights launched between Australia’s Melbourne and Colombo, Sri Lanka clearly indicates the increasing number of foreign travelers between Australia and Sri Lanka. This would also give a further boost to the steadily growing tourism industry in Sri Lanka. While Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is undergoing an expansion due to the steady growth, the increasing number of arrivals and the future growth potential, the business/investment opportunities in the industry would also see continuous growth. Apart from the business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and related sectors, the increasing number of flights being operated to Sri Lanka by international airlines as well as the steadily increasing number of foreign travelers to the country have also resulted in the expansion of the country’s airport and aviation industry with business/investment opportunities also seeing a growth in the industry. Sri Lanka’s airport and aviation industry is part of the country’s overall development programme with the authorities focused on further developing and uplifting the airports in the country. The main Bandaranaike International Airport is also undergoing an expansion programme. All these factors indicate the expanding opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tourism as well as airport and aviation industries and related sectors. Given Sri Lanka’s overall economic expansion and increasing business potential, foreign businesses/investors could confidently explore the expanding business/investment opportunities in the country’s tourism as well as airport and aviation industries and related sectors.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20251211/Z_1 |