I’m calling it: Sri Lanka is set to be one of the hottest travel destinations for Australians in 2026. Famed as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, this island country in South Asia is best known for its stunning white sand beaches, ancient temples and thriving wildlife. Let alone the fact that it's home to eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Sigiriya rock fortress, the sacred city of Kandy and the ancient city of Anuradhapura. Soon, exploring these sights IRL will be easier (and cheaper), with Jetstar launching Australia’s only low-cost direct flights to Sri Lanka in 2026.
It’s a busy time of the year for Jetstar, which has just kicked off a mega Early Easter Sale with 115,000 discounted flights. Over the past two years, the low-cost carrier has introduced 26 new routes, with 14 more on the way – nine of them international. The latest addition is the Australia to Sri Lanka route, set to take off on August 25, 2026.
When it launches, Jetstar will be the first Australian airline to operate this route and the only low-cost direct service. The airline will fly three times a week – Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday – between Melbourne and the South Asian nation’s capital, Colombo, offering more than 100,000 low-fare seats annually.
Passengers will fly on Jetstar’s widebody Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which will be progressively upgraded from early 2026. The revamp will more than double the number of business class seats and install Wi-Fi so customers can stream entertainment to their own devices.
Jetstar’s 10.5-hour route from Melbourne to Sri Lanka is already on sale, with fares starting from just $355. So goodbye Bali, and Sri Lanka, here we come!