Demand High: SriLankan Airlines to Ramp up Melbourne Flights

‍DALLAS — SriLankan Airlines (UL) will add more flights to Melbourne (MEL) amid tensions in the Middle East, which are driving increased demand for services in South Asia.

Sri Lanka's flag carrier has announced it will expand service between Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) and Melbourne Airport (MEL).

The airline currently offers a daily service on the route, but it will increase this to 10 flights per week. Extra services will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. They will also be operated with an Airbus A330-300 aircraft. These flights will also offer connectivity to destinations in India, the Maldives, and Europe.

Expanded capacity to Melbourne

Melbourne Airport welcomed UL's expansion on the route. This move comes as demand for flights to, from, and within South Asia continues to rise. The additional flights are set to add more than 92,000 seats annually on the route.

“Amidst the current global uncertainty, it is pleasing to see SriLankan Airlines committing more capacity to Melbourne and increasing the opportunities for international connections,” Jim Parashos, the airport's Chief of Aviation, said.

Melbourne Airport recorded its busiest February on record for international travel, with passenger numbers boosted by increased capacity from China.

Melbourne is home to a growing number of Sri Lankan nationals. This contributes to the sustained growth in demand on this routing.