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Has Sri Lanka been on your travel bucket list? If that’s a yes, we’ve got good news – the vibrant, sun-soaked island nation just got a whole lot easier to reach from Melbourne. Jetstar has just launched the first direct low-fares flights between Australia and Sri Lanka, with its inaugural Melbourne to Colombo service taking off today, August 25.
The new year-round route will fly three times a week, adding more than 100,000 seats between Melbourne and Colombo every year. And, to celebrate the launch, Jetstar is kicking things off with a 48-hour sale (launching at midday today, August 25), with one-way fares from just $319.
According to Jetstar, the new route is particularly significant for Victoria – which is home to Australia's largest Sri Lankan community. More than half of Australian residents born in Sri Lanka call Victoria home, making the new direct service useful not only for holidaymakers but for those travelling to visit friends and family, too.
“Sri Lanka has so much to offer, and we're excited to make it more affordable for Australians to experience its beautiful beaches, incredible wildlife, rich culture and world-class food,” says Jetstar Group CEO Stephanie Tully.
With three flights a week, travellers can now fly directly from Melbourne to Colombo without having to stop elsewhere in Asia – making the journey a whole lot easier. Flights depart Melbourne at 12pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, arriving in Colombo at 5.50pm local time. The return service departs Colombo at 7.50pm and arrives back in Melbourne at 10am the following day.
The flights are operated by Jetstar's Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, which is currently undergoing a makeover. The refreshed aircraft will have upgraded economy and business class cabins, with the number of business class seats doubling. There's also onboard Wi-Fi, so you could technically spend the flight working-from-air, then switch straight to holiday mode when you land.
The aircraft's new lie-flat crew rest area will also allow Jetstar to operate flights of up to 16 hours, opening the door for the airline to add more long-haul destinations in the future.
For now, though, Colombo is the new kid on Melbourne Airport's international departures board. From Colombo, travellers can explore Sri Lanka's magical ancient cities, lush tea plantations, tropical beaches and wildlife-packed national parks – all without the faff of a connecting flight from Australia.
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus says the new route is about “connecting people, not just places,” while also giving Victorians “easier, more affordable access to one of Asia's most vibrant destinations”.
The 48-hour First Flight Sale starts at midday today, August 25, with one-way fares from $319. Keen? You can learn more and book over here.
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