Three New Airlines Touch Down in Sri Lanka, Connecting the Island to Southeast Asia, Australia and Beyond

For the first time, Sri Lanka and Vietnam are linked by direct scheduled flights — and not by one carrier, but two, both taking wing in August 2026.

Low-cost favourite Vietjet now operates four weekly services between Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), bringing its trademark affordable fares to a city pair that previously required a stopover in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.

Vietnam’s national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, launched on the route in the same month, deploying its modern Airbus A321 aircraft on three weekly rotations between Ho Chi Minh City and Colombo. Together, the two carriers give travellers up to seven weekly nonstop options between the countries, a remarkable air bridge that opens Vietnam’s dynamic cities, cuisine and coastline to Sri Lankan travellers, while inviting Vietnamese visitors to discover the island’s beaches, wildlife and heritage.

The third arrival is one Australians and Sri Lanka’s large Australian diaspora have long been waiting for. Jetstar Airways touched down in Colombo on 25 August with its new nonstop Melbourne–Colombo service, operating three times weekly. It is Australia’s only low-fare direct link to Sri Lanka, cutting out the stopover for holidaymakers chasing surf breaks, safaris, tea country and wellness escapes on the island’s southern and eastern coasts.

Three new international carriers in a single month are a milestone few destinations can claim and the timing could not be better. Sri Lanka recorded a strong surge in international arrivals at the start of 2026, and these new services add capacity precisely where demand is growing Southeast Asia and Australasia while offering seamless onward connections across each carrier’s wider network.

For the travel trade, the message is clear: improved connectivity means shorter journeys, more competitive fares and fresh source markets. For visitors, it means Sri Lanka’s golden beaches, misty hill country, ancient cities and legendary hospitality are now just one flight away from more of the world than ever before.