By: Staff Writer
October 25, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s aviation and airport sector is entering a critical phase of renewed activity as the winter tourism season approaches, with a notable surge in international arrivals and flight operations. Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. (AASL) reports that both passenger volumes and air traffic are expected to rise sharply between November 2025 and February 2026 traditionally the island’s busiest travel period.
The Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake and the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) in Hambantota are preparing to handle expanded operations as several international airlines resume or introduce new routes to Sri Lanka. This influx is expected to support the country’s tourism recovery and boost foreign exchange inflows.
Among the new developments, Kuwait Airways will resume flights to Colombo on October 27 with four weekly services. Belarus’s national carrier Belavia Airlines will begin scheduled charter flights to MRIA from October 28, while Russia’s Red Wings Airlines is set to launch five weekly flights to Hambantota on the same day. Edelweiss, a subsidiary of SWISS International Air Lines, will also resume its winter operations to BIA, signaling confidence in Sri Lanka’s tourism rebound.
Polish carrier Enter Air will start regular charter flights between Warsaw and Colombo from October 30, operating every 10 days on Thursdays and Sundays until mid-April 2026. These additional connections are expected to strengthen Sri Lanka’s position as a winter sun destination for European travelers.
To cope with the anticipated passenger surge, AASL announced that 12 new check-in counters will be operational at BIA from November 1, 2025, as part of a short-term capacity expansion plan. The measure comes in response to growing requests from international airlines to increase flight frequencies and operate wide-body aircraft during the high season.
Further expansion of Sri Lanka’s aviation network is also on the horizon. Beijing Capital Airlines plans to commence twice-weekly flights from Beijing Daxing International Airport to Colombo in January 2026. Additionally, Jetstar part of Australia’s Qantas Group is exploring the possibility of launching scheduled services to Colombo next year, which could help tap into the growing South Asian Australian travel corridor.
Tourism performance indicators remain encouraging. By mid-October 2025, Sri Lanka had recorded over 1.8 million tourist arrivals, marking a strong post-pandemic recovery. The Government’s revised target of 2.6 million arrivals for 2025, however, requires attracting more than 800,000 visitors in the final quarter a challenge industry analysts describe as “ambitious but achievable,” contingent on global travel trends and the performance of the upcoming winter season.
Despite optimism, aviation officials stress the need for infrastructure upgrades, streamlined airport services, and policy stability to sustain growth. The expected air traffic surge underscores both the sector’s revival and the urgency to address operational bottlenecks, ensuring Sri Lanka remains competitive as a regional aviation and tourism hub.
