Sri Lanka Aviation

It's good to hear EXR is going to stay! How long has the lease been extended for?

It is important for Sri Lanka that 8D expands its network. Which aircraft type will join as the third aircraft?

​UL has also recently reduced its CMB–DXB flights from 11 weekly to 7.​

Thanks. Sunday Airlines website states that flights will arrive at HRI on Wednesdays and Sundays and depart from HRI on Mondays and Thursdays. Will the aircraft remain parked for more than 24 hours, or will it operate to another city in Kazakhstan from HRI between those days?

Hey banu,
Aircraft type will be Boeing 737 MAX 9. And is supposed to commence on the 28th of October. This is actually operated by Sunday airlines, a subsidiary of SCAT airlines. I'm very pleased to see HRI getting attention.


Thanks

SCAT Air is due to commence operations to Astana-Mattala seasonal schedule flights in November 2026.

NQZ-HRI - VSV5245 - 03:00 - 10:30 - MON.THU
HRI-NQZ - VSV5246 - 14:25 - 20:55 - MON.THU

I wonder which aircraft will be deployed on this route? Good job Sri Lanka Tourism !

Azur Air returns to Sri Lanka: direct charters from 8 Russian cities

Russian carrier Azur Air, the country's largest charter airline, which is affiliated with tour operator Anex Tour, will resume direct charter flights to Sri Lanka for the Winter 2026/2027 season, significantly expanding its route network. After a one-year break, flights will restart on 2 November 2026 and will now be available from eight Russian cities, including five new departure points.

Notably, Azur Air is not the only Russian carrier expanding to Sri Lanka. Aeroflot and S7 Airlines have also announced flights to the island this season – though both will serve Colombo (Bandaranaike International Airport), rather than Mattala – as Russian Travel Digest reported earlier this month.

All Azur Air flights will be operated on Boeing 767‑300 aircraft and will arrive at Mattala International Airport in Hambantota, the island's second-largest gateway on the southern coast. Following a recent renovation, the terminal features expanded waiting areas and additional check‑in counters, with convenient road access to popular southern beach resorts – Bentota, Weligama, Hikkaduwa, and Galle.

Start dates and frequencies for each city (all dates preliminary, subject to minor adjustments):

- Moscow – first flight on November 3, 2026, with 3 flights every 12 days

- Samara – first flight on November 2, 2026, with 1 flight every 12 days

- Tyumen – first flight on November 2, 2026, with 1 flight every 12 days

- Kazan – first flight on November 4, 2026, with 1 flight every 12 days

- Novosibirsk – first flight on November 6, 2026, with 1 flight every 12 days

- Yekaterinburg – first flight on November 7, 2026, with 2 flights every 12 days

- Mineralnye Vody – first flight on November 8, 2026, with 1 flight every 12 days

- Ufa – first flight on November 10, 2026, with 1 flight every 12 days

Moscow will enjoy the highest frequency (three rotations per 12‑day cycle), followed by Yekaterinburg (two). All other cities will have one flight every 12 days.

The three tour operators – Intourist, Fun & Sun, and Anex Tour – have taken blocks of seats on these flights and have already put tours with Azur Air departures on sale.

Russian Travel Digest



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Hi Banu,

Not a permanent termination, 8D/EXV will resume DXB operations by 3rd week of November with 3 weekly frequency and by December, daily flights to DXB. (October and November are dead months for DXB)
but my personal opinion is : it is not wise decision to halt operations for 2 months and resume once the peak is back, to maintain its presence in the market, better to operate three or two weekly flights when it comes to commercial side and network. Unfortunately, 8D/EXV is focusing on point-to-point traffic instead of Network traffic. If 8D wants to grow, they have to rely on mix of point-to-point and network traffic.
Also, There is a possibility to have the Third aircraft by End of this year, which can be a wet-leased aircraft from another airline until 8D gets their dry-leased jets.

Hi Banu,

Apologies that I missed your reply.

Management has decided to continue the operation with 2 Jets, 4R-EXR and 4R-EXS. Will share the network soon.

Everyone says that Edelweiss is going to resume with A350. But they will operate to CMB with Airbus A340 as they're currently operating to MLE. Edelweiss operates A350 for Asian destinations only in April and May.

Is 8D planning to terminate DXB flights from next week (from 7 Sep)?

Smartwings Poland is scheduled to operate charter flights between Warsaw and Colombo for the Northern Winter 2026/27 season.
Key Details:

Route: Warsaw (WAW) – Muscat (MCT) – Colombo (CMB)
M
​Frequency: 1 weekly flight (starting December 22, 2026)
​Aircraft: Boeing 737 MAX 8 (7M8)
​Note: Muscat serves as a technical stop.

​Flight Schedule:

​3Z7648: Departs Warsaw (WAW) at 05:30 -> Arrives in Muscat (MCT) at 14:50 / Departs MCT at 15:40 -> Arrives in Colombo (CMB) at 21:10 (Tuesdays)

​3Z7649: Departs Colombo (CMB) at 22:10 -> Arrives in Muscat (MCT) at 01:05 (+1 day) / Departs MCT at 01:55 (+1 day) -> Arrives in Warsaw (WAW) at 06:05 (+1 day) (Tuesdays)



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Centrum Air Resumes Hambantota Service in NW26

Centrum Air is resuming its service between Tashkent (TAS) and Mattala/Hambantota (HRI) in Sri Lanka for the Northern Winter 2026/27 (NW26) season, effective October 28, 2026. This route was last served until January 2025.
Schedule Details

The airline plans to operate 2 weekly flights using Airbus A320neo aircraft:

​C6553 | Tashkent (TAS) to Hambantota (HRI)
​Wednesdays: TAS 10:30 – 17:10 HRI
​Saturdays: TAS 10:00 – 16:35 HRI

​C6554 | Hambantota (HRI) to Tashkent (TAS)
​Wednesdays: HRI 18:45 – 00:30 (+1 day) TAS
​Saturdays: HRI 18:00 – 23:40 TAS



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Hey guys,
According to Aviation Voice. Internal sources suggest that Vipul Misra, who currently serves as the head of engineering at Sri Lankan airlines, is poised to be appointed as the new CEO of Sri Lankan airlines.

Mr. Vipul Misra held higher management roles at Vistara, Air India, indiGo and SpiceJet.

Thanks

not sure about A20N due to parts demand and especially sanctions on RU.

I was surprised to see that SQ463 will no longer operate after the end of October 2026. I asked Singapore Airlines customer service why the flight was being discontinued, but they only mentioned it might be for "operational reasons" and could not confirm whether the service would resume. As a result, the only daytime arrival at CMB from SIN is on SriLankan Airlines (UL). It is very disappointing to see the overall SIN–CMB frequency drop from 28 to 21 flights per week starting late October 2026.

Has SQ463 been discontinued from October 26? I wanted to book for July 27 and can't find it? Any chance it might return?