Jetstar has announced that its aircraft will take off for the first time from Australia to Sri Lanka in August next year, with the launch of the only direct low-cost service from Melbourne to the South Asian nation’s capital, Colombo. 

According to the Airline, 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. 

Upgraded aircraft 

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 so customers can stream entertainment to 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.  

Sale fares  

The countdown is on to these new flights going on sale at midday (AEDT) today (08 Dec). 

At that time, Jetstar will launch a 24-hour Route Launch Sale with one-way fares available between Melbourne (Tullamarine) and Colombo from only $315^ at jetstar.com. 

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 coming years.  

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. 

Jetstar CEO, Stephanie Tully, said the airline’s Melbourne to Colombo route will give Australians a new, direct and affordable way to take off more to Sri Lanka.  

“Colombo is an incredible destination, and from August next year, we’re excited to be making it easier for Aussies to experience everything the beautiful country of Sri Lanka has to offer. 

“This new route out of our home base of Melbourne is part of a huge growth phase for Jetstar. We’ve added new destinations, more aircraft, and we’re continuing to expand our international network to give travellers even more choice and opportunities to take off for less.” 

Flight schedules valid from 25 August – 03 Oct 2026

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SriLankan Engineering has signed a long-term line maintenance agreement with Singapore’s Jetstar Asia.

As the trusted leader in aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, SriLankan Engineering has extended its expertise to Jetstar Asia, ensuring its fleet receives world-class care in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 

Issuing a statement, SriLankan Engineering said; “This includes our exclusive EASA-approved hangar and component shop facilities in Colombo, Sri Lanka, that will be able to provide quick solutions to any MRO requirement that they may have.”

SriLankan Engineering further said that this partnership marks another milestone in strengthening its reputation as a premier MRO provider in the region, and adds another great partner from South East Asia to its portfolio. 

“Together, we’ll keep the skies safer and flights smoother for millions of passengers,” it added.  

Singapore’s Jetstar Asia commenced scheduled flight operations between Sri Lanka and Singapore in November.

The airline operates five return flights each week with a fleet of Airbus A320s. (Newswire)

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A Jetstar passenger has opened the emergency exit door of a plane after it landed at Melbourne Airport and then walked along the wing before being intercepted by ground staff.

A spokesperson for Jetstar said the plane, which had arrived in Melbourne from Sydney, was parked at the time.

“The passenger exited via the emergency exit and walked along the wing before making his way down to the ground via the engine,” the spokesperson said.

Sky News reported that the man was pacing around before he opened the exit, with flight attendants and passengers urging him to sit down.

The passenger was arrested by the Australian federal police (AFP) and the remaining passengers disembarked from the plane a short while later.

A spokesperson for the AFP said the man was assessed by ambulance officers and was transferred to hospital for further assessment.

The spokesperson said the man was arrested for alleged aggressive behaviour and breaching aircraft safety protocols.

“AFP is continuing to investigate this matter, and charges are likely to be laid at a future date,” they said.

One passenger posted on X that the passenger was tackled on the tarmac after he exited the plane.

A Melbourne airport spokesperson confirmed the man was detained by staff before being arrested by the AFP.

“Melbourne Airport is proud of the exceptional response from ground crew, which meant there was no immediate danger to other passengers or airport staff,” the spokesperson said. (The Guardian)

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Jetstar Asia (3K), a Singaporean low-cost airline, has announced it will become the only low-cost carrier to fly direct from Singapore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, when the new service takes off on 21 November 2024. 

The Singapore low-cost carrier will operate five return services each week using its fleet of Airbus A320s, offering more than 90,000 low fares between the two destinations each year. 

The split schedule offers morning and evening departures from Changi Airport providing choices for those starting their journey in Singapore and easy connections for those travelling via Singapore on Jetstar Airways (JQ) daily service from Melbourne or the up to six weekly flights from Perth. 

To celebrate the announcement, Jetstar Asia has launched one-way sale fares from Singapore to Colombo from just SG$149*, making Sri Lanka more accessible than ever. Club Jetstar members have access to even lower fares, starting from SG$139*. (Newswire)

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