FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – Kazakhstan’s Air Astana has commenced flights to Sri Lanka, beginning on Christmas Day, to cater to tourists for the 2025/2026 winter season, according to the tourist promotion office. This development comes as the island nation rebounds from the impact of Cyclone Ditwah.
As of December 25, tourist arrivals have increased by 2.05 percent, reaching 195,394 compared to 191,465 in the previous year. By the end of 2025, Sri Lanka welcomed 2,298,987 tourists, marking a 15 percent rise from the previous year, according to data from the tourist office.
Air Astana will operate two weekly flights on Mondays and Thursdays from Almaty, Kazakhstan’s capital, to Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo. Each flight will accommodate 160 passengers on Airbus A321 aircraft, with operations continuing until March 2026. The local agents managing these operations are LSR.
The inaugural flight was greeted with a water salute, offering a spectacular visual treat for passengers and crew. Disembarking passengers were warmly welcomed by a cultural dance troupe.
“Kazakhstan, as part of the East European region, is now recognized as an emerging market for Sri Lanka,” stated Sri Lanka Tourism. “Arrivals such as these will help spread Sri Lanka’s uniqueness as a premier travel destination across the region, beyond its traditional source markets.”
On December 25, 2025, 11,111 tourists arrived, surpassing last year’s figure of 9,378. (Colombo/Dec27/2025)
