FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – Turkish Airlines, Turkey’s national airline, has upgraded its Istanbul to Colombo route by introducing the long-range, wide-body twin-engine A350-900 aircraft, replacing the previous A330-300 model, according to the state-operated Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
This change coincides with the commencement of the peak tourism season last month. The BIA expressed its enthusiasm for the upgrade, stating on social media, “We are delighted to announce that Turkish Airlines has upgraded the Istanbul – Colombo route with the introduction of the new A350-900 aircraft.”
Since 2012, Turkish Airlines has been operating nonstop flights from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), serving as a crucial connector for transit passengers traveling between Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
With the Airbus A330-300 aircraft, Turkish Airlines increased its weekly flights from 7 to 9 between July 11 and October 25, 2025, aiming to enhance tourism and trade in line with strengthening bilateral relations.
(Colombo/January 09/2026)
