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Vietnam Airlines launches direct flights to Sri Lanka

The new route comes amid a sharp increase in passenger traffic between Vietnam and Sri Lanka, particularly during the first months of 2026.

An aircraft of Vietnam Airlines (Photo: VNA)
An aircraft of Vietnam Airlines (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam Airlines has officially launched a direct route between Ho Chi Minh City and Colombo, Sri Lanka, becoming the first Vietnamese carrier to operate direct flights to the South Asian island nation.

The new route comes amid a sharp increase in passenger traffic between Vietnam and Sri Lanka, particularly during the first months of 2026.

Vietnam Airlines will operate it three times a week, with flights departing Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, while return flights from Colombo to Ho Chi Minh City will operate on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Travel demand between the two countries continues to grow rapidly. In the first quarter of 2026, the passenger number surged by more than 136% year on year. In 2025, over 38,000 passengers travelled between Vietnam and Sri Lanka, representing a 17.5% increase from 2024.

The Ho Chi Minh City–Colombo route is part of Vietnam Airlines' plan to expand its international network this year. The national flag carrier previously launched direct services between Hanoi and Amsterdam and between Ho Chi Minh City and Phuket. It also increased frequencies on a number of routes to Moscow, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan (China), Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore, and Manila to meet growing demand for travel and trade./.

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