SriLankan Airlines has announced a significant expansion of its Colombo–Melbourne route, increasing weekly services to 10 flights starting 2 August 2026.
The move, driven by rising demand and evolving market dynamics, underscores the airline’s commitment to strengthening its presence in Australia, one of the fastest‑growing inbound tourism markets to Sri Lanka, fueled by leisure travel and family visits.
The newly added flights will operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, departing Colombo at 14:10 hrs and arriving in Melbourne at 04:30 hrs the following day.
The return services will depart Melbourne at 06:00 hrs and arrive in Colombo at 12:15 hrs, offering convenient onward connections across the airline’s network.
The schedule is designed to maximise time spent in Sri Lanka for leisure travellers while enhancing connectivity for passengers travelling onwards to India via Colombo.
In addition to the new frequencies, the airline will continue operating its daily service, UL604, departing Colombo at 00:20 hrs and arriving in Melbourne at 14:40 hrs, with the return service UL605 departing Melbourne at 16:10 hrs and arriving in Colombo at 22:25 hrs. These services provide seamless connectivity to key destinations across India and beyond.
According to a Sri Lankan Airlines statement, this addition of flights will provide Sri Lankans with better options when choosing flights between the two countries and enable them to plan their travel more conveniently. The increased frequency will be especially beneficial for the Sri Lankan diaspora living in Australia, providing greater flexibility to visit family and friends while maintaining strong connections with their homeland.
Additionally, Sri Lankan students studying in Australia will find these enhanced services advantageous, as the expanded schedule accommodates academic calendars and holiday breaks, making it easier to travel home and return to their studies. Overall, improved connectivity supports both the expatriate community and students by offering more convenient and accessible travel options tailored to their needs.
The airline added that the increased frequencies will further strengthen Colombo’s role as a regional hub, enabling Indian travellers to seamlessly connect via Sri Lanka to Melbourne, with convenient schedules and efficient onward connections. (Newswire)
