Jetstar has announced its first-ever direct services between Australia and Sri Lanka, with non-stop flights from Melbourne to Colombo set to commence on 25 August 2026. The year-round service will operate three times a week, making Jetstar the only low-cost carrier to offer direct connectivity on this route.
The Melbourne–Colombo flights will be operated using Jetstar’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, offering more than 100,000 low-fare seats annually. The aircraft are scheduled to undergo progressive upgrades from early 2026, including refreshed economy and business class cabins, an expanded business class cabin, and the introduction of onboard Wi-Fi. A new lie-flat crew rest area will enable longer-haul operations and support future network expansion.
Tickets for the new route have been on sale since 8 December 2025, with launch fares starting from AUD 315 one-way. The announcement follows a strong growth phase for the airline, which has added 26 new routes since 2023 and announced 14 new routes in 2025, nine of them international.
Melbourne Airport welcomed the new service, marking Sri Lanka as Jetstar’s 10th international destination from Melbourne and coinciding with 10 years of Jetstar’s operations from Terminal 4.
Flight schedule (effective August 2026):
Operating Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
- JQ005 Melbourne (MEL) 12:00 – Colombo (CMB) 17:50
- JQ006 Colombo (CMB) 19:50 – Melbourne (MEL) 10:00 (+1 day)
The new route further strengthens Jetstar’s international network while providing Australian travellers with a direct and affordable option to Sri Lanka.
