Sri Lanka’s aviation sector reaches a historic milestone on August 25, 2026, as Australia’s Jetstar Airways touches down at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), marking the official launch of its new direct route connecting Melbourne and Colombo.
The non stop service stands as Australia’s only low cost direct link to Sri Lanka, while also representing Jetstar’s inaugural footprint in South Asia.
Schedule & Route Capacity
Operating three days a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays the year-round service will utilize Jetstar’s widebody Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner fleet, introducing over 100,000 seat capacity annually between the two nations.
| Flight | Route | Departure | Arrival | Frequency |
| JQ5 | Melbourne (MEL) ➔ Colombo (CMB) | 12:00 PM | 5:50 PM | Tue, Thu, Sat |
| JQ6 | Colombo (CMB) ➔ Melbourne (MEL) | 7:50 PM | 10:00 AM (+1 day) | Tue, Thu, Sat |
The low-cost direct connection aims to stimulate leisure tourism while providing affordable options for the large Sri Lankan diaspora residing in Victoria. Local sales, ticketing, and brand representation in Sri Lanka are managed by Hayleys Aviation, acting as Jetstar’s official General Sales Agent (GSA).
