SriLankan Airlines has announced an increase in its daily services from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) from seven to 10 flights per week. This move comes as travel demand for South Asia continues to soar, with the additional three services set to add more than 92,000 seats annually.
The new flights, operating on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, will utilize an Airbus A330-300 aircraft, with a lunchtime arrival in Colombo at 12:15 local time.
The increased capacity will provide improved connectivity to Sri Lanka’s increasingly popular tourism destinations and beyond the country to India, the Maldives, and Europe.
Melbourne Airport recently recorded its busiest February on record for international travel, with passenger numbers bolstered by increased capacity from China ahead of Chinese New Year. The airport welcomed 996,677 international travelers, a 7.1% year-on-year increase compared to the previous February record set in 2025.
Domestic passenger numbers also saw a modest increase of 1.6% compared to the previous February, with a total of 1,827,825 passengers passing through the three domestic terminals. However, domestic travel continues to track below pre-covid levels as budget-conscious travelers take advantage of cheaper international fare offerings.
Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos welcomed SriLankan Airlines’ commitment to increasing capacity, stating, “Amidst the current global uncertainty, it is pleasing to see SriLankan Airlines committing more capacity to Melbourne and increasing the opportunities for international connection.”
SriLankan Airlines’ Head of Commercial, Dimuthu Tennakoon, attributed the airline’s success in the Melbourne market to several factors, including the city’s large Sri Lankan community and its historic significance as the airline’s entry point into the Australian market.
Looking at passenger figures for the financial year to February 2026, Melbourne Airport saw a 4.7% growth in international passengers and a 3% increase in domestic passengers compared to the previous financial year, with a total of over 25 million passengers,excluding transits, passing through the airport.