More direct flights from Russia and the UK are set to expand air connectivity to Sri Lanka during the coming winter season.
Russian charter airline Azur Air plans to resume flights from November, with services scheduled from eight Russian cities. British Airways will also return to the market with direct London Gatwick–Colombo flights from October.
The expansion will give travellers more direct options while creating additional air capacity for the tourism industry. It also comes as other Russian carriers prepare to add or resume direct services to Colombo. These include Aeroflot and S7 Airlines, with services planned from Moscow and Novosibirsk.
Russian flights expand beyond Moscow
Azur Air will restart its Sri Lanka program for the 2026/27 winter season from November 2. The airline plans to operate direct charter flights from Samara, Tyumen, Moscow, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Mineralnye Vody and Ufa.
The flights will operate to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport using Boeing 767-300 aircraft. Moscow will receive the highest frequency, with three flights every 12 days. Yekaterinburg will receive two flights every 12 days, while the other cities will receive one flight during each 12-day cycle.
The planned dates remain subject to change as the airline finalises its programme with tour operators. Azur Air has also opened sales for tours using its flights through partner operators. This gives Russian travellers from several regions a direct route to the southern part of the island.
Aeroflot is also scheduled to operate direct Moscow–Colombo flights from early October. Current schedules show three weekly services between Moscow and Bandaranaike International Airport.
S7 Airlines will add another direct route from Novosibirsk to Colombo from December 20. The airline plans to operate the service twice a week during the 2026/27 winter season.
British Airways returns from London
The connectivity expansion is not limited to Russia. British Airways plans to resume direct flights between London Gatwick and Sri Lanka from October after an extended absence from the route.
The airline’s current route information lists Sri Lanka among its new routes for October 2026. British Airways says it will operate the London Gatwick service three times a week.
The return gives UK travellers another direct option for reaching the island. It also adds capacity from an important European tourism market during the winter travel season.
What the new flights could mean
More direct services can make travel easier by reducing the need for connections through other airports. For tourism businesses, additional routes can also widen access to travellers from markets that already have demand for the destination.
The Russian expansion is particularly notable because Azur Air is adding several regional departure points rather than relying only on Moscow. This could bring direct access closer to travellers living outside Russia’s main capital.
The new services also give Mattala a larger role in handling international tourist traffic. Azur Air’s programme will connect the airport directly with eight Russian cities, creating a wider network around the southern tourism region.
The wider increase in services will therefore be worth watching through the winter season. The key measure will be whether the additional flights translate into higher passenger numbers, stronger tourism demand and sustained routes beyond the initial seasonal programs.
Last modified: September 7, 2026
