Sri Lanka Aviation

The fact that Sri Lanka needed a second international airport is indisputable. However, whether it should have been located in Mattala is debatable. The fact that after 12 years of operations, it cannot sustain a single year-round flight to even a single international destination suggests that this was not the most viable place to build a second international airport. Jaffna, even with its constrained runway, supports multiple flights to India. The fact that only a portion of Wednesday's diverted flights went to Mattala is telling, with others diverting to TRV. A proper international airport, if it had been located in Jaffna, could have accommodated all these diversions. In my opinion, money could have been better spent on upgrading Jaffna to international standards and building a second runway at CMB, rather than on Mattala, which continues to be a drain on the Sri Lankan taxpayer - for the last 12 years, and the foreseeable future.

This is why Mattala was built.
It was built during the war because Katunayake had been bombed and one of the SLA planes was disabled on the tarmac.
We simply couldn't afford to have no international airport.
Our airport at Ratmalana was bringing in the war dead and the injured, and I will never forget the choppers, and then the ambulances. It was not able to cope with international flights.
Have people forgotten when they curse the Rajapaksas and the Southern development?
It was the most viable place to build another international port and an airport.
I hope our citizens can now see the foresight of our leaders during the so-called 77 years of corruption.

Three SriLankan Airlines flights returning from Mumbai, Riyadh, and Guangzhou were safely diverted to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) this morning due to low visibility caused by mist over Katunayake area..

Two international flights divert to Thiruvananthapuram airport due to bad weather in Sri Lanka. The diverted flights included a Turkish Airlines flight originating in Istanbul and a SriLankan Airlines flight from Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The Turkish Airlines flight was carrying 258 passengers and 10 crew members, while SriLankan Airlines aircraft had 188 passengers, including eight crew members

In related news, an aircraft carrying 44 passengers and headed for Jaffna on Saturday was rerouted to Tiruchirappalli due to poor weather in the northern Sri Lankan city, according to PTI. Since the weather failed to improve and the delay stretched to more than three hours, the airline eventually cancelled the service, according to the sources quoted by PTI. The flight, operated by a private carrier, took off at 10:20 AM, and shortly after departure, the pilot was alerted to the “adverse weather conditions in Jaffna,” they mentioned. The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Tiruchirappalli. “Right now the plane has landed safely in Tiruchirappalli with all the passengers. The flight will resume its journey once the weather is clear in Jaffna.”

19 November 2025

OO-ABF [1844] already been painted in Air Algerie livery at CHR

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/11887846

Does anyone know details about the resumption dates of UL PEK and PVG flights for 2026?

I think the replacement aircraft was 4R-ALH., though I'm not entirely sure.

AHH! Glad to know that Azur Air will be flying to HRI! Thought they cancelled the plan as per reports from Aviation Voice, but thanks for the clarification! I assume that they will start flights from other cities other than OVB? maybe VKO? Please update if possible

Thank you

A warm Sri Lankan welcome to the private charter flight from the Czech Republic! Operated by Smartwings Airlines, this exclusive journey brings 80 excited travelers to explore the heart of our island through the “Indian Ocean Program.” From the majestic Sigiriya to the ancient wonders of Polonnaruwa, it's four days of unforgettable cultural immersion.

Thanks for sharing the dates with us!

According to Novosibirsk Airport website, Azur Air due to fly HRI on the following dates in 2025/2026 Season:

NOV<>HRI - 25-Dec-2025, 23-Feb-2026 and 07-Mar-2026.

Thinking its 4R-ALH?

British Airways and Qantas focus on high-yielding routes with lots of business traffic that fill their premium cabins. CMB unfortunately is not one of those routes, Traffic to CMB is mainly tourists or VFR (visiting friends and relatives) passengers. Most of these travelers are happy to connect in the middle east (when coming from Europe) or Singapore/Malaysia when traveling from Australia, rather than pay a premium for a non-stop flight.
It is unlikely that we will see BA or QF in CMB in the near future. If Sri Lanka attracts more high-end tourists like the Maldives, a BA flight may become more likely. While a CMB service on QF metal is also unlikely in the near future, Jetstar, QF's low-cost subsidiary is considering direct flights from MEL to CMB next year?
I doubt that UL is reluctant to provide ground handling for any airline serving CMB - it is more revenue for that division.

Why do British Airways and Qantas not operate flights from airports like LHR, SYD, and MEL? I heard a rumour that UL doesn't like to provide ground services at Sri Lankan airports if the flight originates from one of those airports. Is that true?

VP-CRP is being tested several times a day and has been moved around the airfield and TK technic facility. I noticed test 1 and 2. test 3 is recent, and it is on a different side of the facility.
Probably extensive testing is being done to find any issues since it was in long term storage.

Surprised no one has taken a single photo of it to see what livery it is wearing.

Hello everyone, felt like sharing the dates of Enter Air's flights.

WAW-CMB (2025/2026)
NOV 20, NOV 30, DEC 11, DEC 21, DEC 23, DEC 30, JAN 1, JAN 6, JAN 11, JAN 13, JAN 20, JAN 21, JAN 22, JAN 26, JAN 27, FEB 1, FEB 3, FEB 8, FEB 10, FEB 12, FEB 16, FEB 17, FEB 22, FEB 24, MAR 3, MAR 5, MAR 10, MAR 15

GDN-CMB (2025/2026)
DEC 21, JAN 1, JAN 11, JAN 22, FEB 1, FEB 12, FEB 22, MAR 5, MAR 15

KTW-CMB (2025/2026)
NOV 20, NOV 30, DEC 11, DEC 21, JAN 1, JAN 11, JAN 22, FEB 1, FEB 12, FEB 22, MAR 5, MAR 15

KRK-CMB (2025/2026)
JAN 21, JAN 25, FEB 2, FEB 9, FEB 16,

POZ-CMB (2025/2026)
NOV 20, NOV 30, DEC 11, DEC 21, JAN 1, JAN 11, JAN 22, FEB 1, FEB 12, FEB 22, MAR 5, MAR 15

I will update you guys with the dates on Smartwing's Colombo service from Poland to Colombo via Muscat soon.

UPDATE ON AZUR AIR!!!!
AZUR air has clarified that it has no plans to operate flights to Sri Lanka during the upcoming winter season, contrary to earlier reports. The airline has officially confirmed that services to Sri Lanka are not scheduled!!!!!