FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier of Sri Lanka, plans to enhance its service to Australia starting in August this year, responding to a surge in demand within the sector, as stated by the company.
Beginning August 2, SriLankan Airlines will increase its weekly flights between Colombo and Melbourne to 10, introducing three additional scheduled flights.
According to the airline’s statement, this expansion is a response to “growing demand and evolving market dynamics.” The airline emphasized its commitment to bolstering its presence in Australia, recently identified as one of the fastest-growing inbound tourism markets to Sri Lanka, fueled by leisure travel and an increasing number of visits by family and friends.
The additional flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. They will depart Colombo at 14:10 hrs and arrive in Melbourne at 04:30 hrs the next day. The return flights are scheduled to leave Melbourne at 06:00 hrs and reach Colombo at 12:15 hrs.
“The schedule is designed to maximize time spent in Sri Lanka for leisure travelers while enhancing connectivity for passengers traveling onwards to India via Colombo,” stated the airline.
SriLankan Airlines also noted that the increased frequency will particularly benefit the Sri Lankan diaspora residing in Australia, offering greater flexibility to visit family and friends and maintain strong ties with their homeland.
(Colombo/March 11/2026)
