Best Airlines in Sri Lanka

Are you planning a trip to Sri Lanka? Get ready to immerse yourself in a land of ancient wonders, natural beauty, and vibrant culture. From the awe-inspiring Dambulla Royal Cave Temple to the breathtaking views from Pidurangala Rock, there’s something for every traveler to discover. So whether you’re seeking luxury, affordability, or convenience, there’s an airline to suit every traveler’s needs. And once you arrive in Sri Lanka, you’ll be greeted with warm hospitality and endless opportunities for adventure. Get ready to create unforgettable memories in this tropical paradise! But before you embark on your adventure, let’s take a look at some of the best airlines that can take you to this enchanting island nation.

Sri Lankan Airlines

It is the main airline of Sri Lanka, and it’s part of the Oneworld airline alliance.
They have a big network, with flights to over 120 destinations in 50 countries.
SriLankan Airlines is currently owned by the Government of Sri Lanka.
It has a fleet of over 23 aircraft, including Airbus A320s, A321s, A330s, and A350s.
It flies to a number of destinations in Sri Lanka, including Colombo, Kandy, and Galle. It also offers flights to a number of international destinations, including London, Paris, Dubai, and Singapore.

Unique Features:

SriLankan Airlines is the only airline that offers direct flights from Colombo to London Heathrow Airport. The airline offers a variety of cultural experiences on its flights, such as Sri Lankan music and dance performances.

Cinnamon Air

Cinnamon Air is a local airline in Sri Lanka, connected to Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts.
It started in 2012 and mainly flies within Sri Lanka to places like Colombo, Kandy, Trincomalee, and Sigiriya.
Their fleet includes small planes like Cessna Grand Caravans and Cessna C208B Caravans.
During your flight with Cinnamon Air, you can enjoy meals and drinks.
This airline is known for its good customer service and its efforts to be eco-friendly. They are carbon neutral and have plans to reduce their impact on the environment.

Cosmos Aviation

Cosmos Aviation was an airline based in Sri Lanka that operated from 2002 to 2016. It originally started as AeroLanka in 2002 but changed its name to Cosmos Aviation in 2010. Headquartered was in Colombo and used Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft in its fleet.

Flight History: Cosmos Aviation began in 2002 and initiated its operations in 2003.

Initially, the airline used Airbus A320 aircraft, later adding Airbus A330 planes in 2005.

Unfortunately, due to financial challenges, Cosmos Aviation ceased operations in 2016.

Fleet Details: At the time of its closure, Cosmos Aviation had a fleet consisting of a total of 10 Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft.

Route Information: Cosmos Aviation’s route network covered several Asian cities, such as Colombo, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Dhaka, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait City, and Bahrain. Additionally, they offered charter flights to locations in Europe, North America, and Africa.

Unique Features: Cosmos Aviation was recognized for its outstanding customer service and strong safety commitment, with an IOSA certification and a flawless safety record.

It’s important to note that Cosmos Aviation is no longer operational.

Malaysian Airlines

It fles daily from Colombo to Kuala Lumpur, with a flight time of around 3 hours and 45 minutes. Malaysia Airlines also has codeshare flights with SriLankan Airlines, which allows passengers to connect to different destinations in Sri Lanka, India, and the Maldives.

Air India

It started operating flights to Sri Lanka in 1947. The airline initially offered weekly flights between Colombo and Bombay (now Mumbai), but increased the frequency of its flights to daily in 1952.

Fleet Details: It operates a fleet of over 100 aircraft, including Airbus A320s, A321s, A330s, and A350s. The airline also operates Boeing 737s, 747s, and 787s.

Route Information: Direct flight is from Colombo to many Indian cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kochi & Pune.

Saudia

The airline started operating flights to Sri Lanka in 1963. It initially offered weekly flights between Colombo and Jeddah, but increased the frequency of its flights to daily in 1972.

Fleet Details: Saudia operates a fleet of over 150 aircraft, including Airbus A320s, A321s, A330s, and A350s. The airline also operates Boeing 777s and 787s.

Route Information: It has direct flight from Colombo to various cities of Saudi Arabia like
Jeddah, Medina, Riyadh and Dammam. Saudia also offers codeshare flights with SriLankan Airlines, allowing passengers to connect to a number of destinations in Sri Lanka, India, and the Maldives.

Emirates

Emirates is a popular choice for travelers to and from Sri Lanka. The airline offers luxurious cabins, excellent customer service, and a wide range of services. Emirates is also known for its unique features, such as its family lounge and chauffeur service.

Flight History – Emirates started operating flights to Sri Lanka in 1986, with weekly flights between Colombo and Dubai. The airline increased the frequency of its flights to daily in 1990. In 1998, it launched the first A380 service to Sri Lanka. The airline currently operates two daily A380 flights between Colombo and Dubai.

Fleet Details – It operates a fleet of over 260 aircraft, including Airbus A380s, A330s, and A350s. The airline also operates Boeing 777s

Route Information – It offers two daily flights from Colombo to Dubai. The flight time is approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes. It also offers codeshare flights with SriLankan Airlines, allowing passengers to connect to a number of destinations in Sri Lanka, India, and the Maldives.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways is a popular choice for travelers to and from Sri Lanka. The airline offers award-winning service, luxurious cabins, and a wide range of services. Qatar Airways is also known for its unique features, such as its Al Mourjan Business Lounge and chauffeur service.

Flight History: Qatar Airways started operating flights to Sri Lanka in 1997, with weekly flights between Colombo and Doha. It increased the frequency of its flights to daily in 2002. In 2014, it launched the first A380 service to Sri Lanka. The airline currently operates one daily A380 flight between Colombo and Doha.

Flight Details: Qatar Airways operates a fleet of over 200 aircraft, including Airbus A320s, A330s, A350s, and A380s. The airline also operates Boeing 777s and 787s.

Route Information: It offers one daily flight from Colombo to Doha. The flight time is approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes. Qatar Airways also offers codeshare flights with SriLankan Airlines, allowing passengers to connect to a number of destinations in Sri Lanka, India, and the Maldives.

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways is a popular choice for travelers to and from Sri Lanka. The airline offers award-winning service, luxurious cabins, and a wide range of services. Etihad Airways is also known for its unique features, such as its Etihad Pearl Business Lounge and chauffeur service.

Flight History – It started operating flights to Sri Lanka in 2007, with daily flights between Colombo and Abu Dhabi.In 2013, it launched the first A380 service to Sri Lanka. The airline currently operates one daily A380 flight between Colombo and Abu Dhabi.

Flight Details – It operates a fleet of over 100 aircraft, including Airbus A320s, A330s, A350s, and A380s. The airline also operates Boeing 777s and 787s.

Route Information – It offers one daily flight from Colombo to Abu Dhabi. The flight time is approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes.Etihad Airways also offers codeshare flights with SriLankan Airlines.

Conclusion

If you’re traveling on a tight budget, Air India will be your best bet. These airline often offer competitive fares without compromising too much on service or comfort.

For top-notch service and a comfortable travel experience, consider Sri Lankan Airlines or Emirates. Both airlines are known for their excellent customer service and luxurious cabins, ensuring a pleasant journey from start to finish.

If luxury and premiumness are what you’re after, Emirates or Qatar Airways are excellent choices. With their luxurious amenities and top-of-the-line services, you’ll feel like royalty every step of the way.

For extensive routes and destinations, Sri Lankan Airlines or Qatar Airways are worth considering. With their vast networks and numerous flight options, you’ll have plenty of choices when it comes to planning your itinerary.