Jetstar to launch Australia’s only low-cost direct flights to Sri Lanka

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 which enables customers to stream entertainment through 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, allowing travellers to take off more, for less. 2025 has been a standout year, with 14 new routes announced – nine of them international – with more exciting growth plans in the future. 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.