DALLAS — SriLankan Airlines (UL) and LCC flydubai (FZ) have launched a new interline partnership that allows them to market each others’ flights to their customers, such as select connecting flights and codeshares. 

Starting September 9, 2024, as part of this interline agreement, SriLankan’s passengers will be able to get the upper hand of the contract, allowing them to connect in Dubai (DXB) and fly with FZ to over 30 destinations in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Central Asia. Destinations include Naples, Tashkent, Bucharest, Zanzibar, and Krakow. 

In return, flydubai passengers will be granted 16 destinations to fly to on SriLankan’s network, including Southern Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, and Australia. Notable routes include Colombo (CMB) to Guangzhou, Bangkok, Seoul, Shanghai, Melbourne, Tokyo, Gan, and Singapore. 

Comments from Airline CEOs

SriLankan Airlines CEO Mr Richard Nuttal said that the partnership would allow passengers “seamless connections and greater convenience” and that the agreement reinforces UL’s strategy to broaden its “network and global reach.”

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, expressed optimism, saying he is “excited about our new interline agreement with SriLankan Airlines that will further strengthen trade and tourism relations between the UAE and Sri Lanka. Since the start of operations to Sri Lanka in 2010, we have seen consistent demand for travel between our two countries over the years.”

flydubai operates a pure Boeing fleet out of their hub at DXB, consisting of 88 737s, with the delivery of some 30 787-9 Dreamliners on the horizon in 2026. 

Meanwhile, SriLankan flies an all-Airbus fleet comprising the A330-200/300, A321neo, A320neo, and non-neo variants of the aforementioned types.