Jetstar is set to begin flights from Australia to Sri Lanka for the first time in August next year, introducing the only direct low cost service from Melbourne to Colombo.
Starting 25 August 2026, Jetstar will become the first Australian carrier to operate this route. The airline will run three flights a week between Melbourne and Colombo, offering more than 100,000 low fare seats each year.
The year round service will use Jetstar’s fleet of 787 Dreamliners, which will undergo major upgrades from early next year. Both economy and business cabins are being refreshed, with the number of business seats more than doubling and onboard Wi Fi being added for streaming on personal devices.
A new lie flat crew rest area will support flights of up to 16 hours, paving the way for potential future long haul destinations. The first upgraded aircraft is expected to arrive in Melbourne by late March 2026.
Jetstar will roll out a 24 hour Route Launch Sale, with one way fares from Melbourne to Colombo starting at 315 dollars on jetstar.com.
The announcement comes during one of the airline’s strongest growth periods in its 22 year history. Over the last two years, Jetstar has launched 26 new routes and added 13 new aircraft. In 2025 alone, the airline announced 14 new routes, including nine international services, with more expansion planned.
Jetstar is also marking 10 years operating from Melbourne’s Terminal 4, having carried more than 50 million passengers through the terminal.
The new service is revealed as Jetstar prepares for its busiest Christmas season on record. Nearly six million passengers are expected to travel across its network in December and January, including about 1.7 million through Melbourne.
Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully said the new Melbourne to Colombo connection will offer Australians an affordable and direct way to explore Sri Lanka.
She said Colombo is an incredible destination and the new route will make it easier for Australians to enjoy everything the country offers. She added that this service is part of a significant growth phase for the airline, with new destinations, more aircraft and an expanding international network.
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus welcomed the launch, calling Sri Lanka one of the region’s fastest growing destinations. She noted that this will be Jetstar’s tenth international destination from Melbourne and said the airport is proud to remain the airline’s largest hub as they celebrate a decade at Terminal 4.
