Jetstar commenced its first direct low-fares flights between Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Melbourne, Australia, on 25 August 2026. The airline operates this route three times weekly year-round using its fleet of 11 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, providing over 100,000 low-fare seats annually for travellers. The inaugural flight landed in Colombo the evening of 25 August, marking the start of a new direct connection between the two countries.
Jetstar is offering one-way sale fares from Colombo to Melbourne starting at LKR 67,770. The promotional fares are available from 7:30 AM IST on 25 August 2026 until 9:29 PM
IST on 31 August 2026, subject to availability for selected travel dates.
Jetstar Highlights Demand and Community Links
A Jetstar official stated that strong demand has emerged for the Colombo-Melbourne route. Victoria state, where Melbourne is located, hosts Australia’s largest Sri Lankan community, making the service attractive for holidaymakers and those visiting family and friends. The airline expressed anticipation to become a regular presence at Bandaranaike International Airport.
Route Addresses Previous Travel Limitations
Before Jetstar’s service launch, passengers travelling between Colombo and Australia had to transit through a third country, entailing higher costs. Shano Sabar, Deputy Managing Director of Hayleys Advantis – Jetstar’s General Sales Agent in Sri Lanka – explained
that the new thrice-weekly widebody connection offers consistent capacity year-round, including off-peak periods. This route improves affordable access for Sri Lankans to visit family in Victoria and connects onward to Australian cities like Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Tasmania, and New Zealand destinations such as Auckland and Queenstown via Jetstar’s domestic network on a single connection. Hayleys Advantis will support the route both commercially and operationally to ensure performance in both directions.
Jetstar Fleet Upgrades Support Long-Haul Operations
Jetstar’s Boeing 787 Dreamliners used on this route are undergoing a full cabin overhaul during 2026. Upgrades include more than doubling business class seats, adding in-flight Wi-Fi for
streaming entertainment, and installing a lie-flat crew rest area. The crew rest upgrade extends aircraft endurance to flights up to 16 hours, enabling Jetstar to sustain current long-haul services and potentially launch further long-distance routes in the future.
