Both Vietjet Air and Vietnam Airlines announced direct Ho Chi Minh City–Colombo services on May 8, 2026, during a state-level diplomatic forum in Colombo, marking the first non-stop air links between Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Vietjet’s four-weekly LCC service will launch in August 2026, followed by Vietnam Airlines’ three-weekly full-service operation in October, setting up an unusual parallel entry on a brand-new international city pair.
Key Facts At A Glance
- Announcement date: May 8, 2026, at the Vietnam–Sri Lanka Trade, Investment and Tourism Cooperation Forum, Colombo
- Vietjet launch: August 2026, four round-trip flights per week
- Vietnam Airlines launch: October 2026, three round-trip flights per week using Airbus A321 aircraft
- Route: Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport
- Both announcements made in the presence of Vietnamese President and Party General Secretary To Lam and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya
- Vietnam–Sri Lanka passenger traffic exceeded 38,000 in 2025, up 17.5% year-on-year; Q1 2026 growth surpassed 136%
- Sri Lanka is Vietnam’s third-largest passenger market in South Asia
- Vietnam Airlines signed cooperation agreements with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators, and the Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka
Two Vietnamese carriers announced competing direct air links to Sri Lanka on the same day, in the same room, before the heads of government of both nations.
On May 8, 2026, at the Vietnam–Sri Lanka Trade, Investment and Tourism Cooperation Forum in Colombo, Vietjet Air and Vietnam Airlines each separately disclosed plans to launch non-stop service between Ho Chi Minh City and Colombo. The dual announcement was made in the presence of Vietnamese President and Party General Secretary To Lam and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, reflecting both the diplomatic weight assigned to aviation connectivity and an unusually transparent display of market competition between carriers from the same country. The forum was held as part of To Lam’s state visit to Sri Lanka, during which the two countries also upgraded bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership and exchanged cooperation documents across multiple sectors.
Two Models, One New Route
Vietjet, described by the airline as a “new-age hybrid carrier,” will operate four round-trip flights per week from August 2026. Dinh Viet Phuong, First Vice Chairman of Vietjet, framed the service as part of the airline’s broader South Asia expansion strategy. Vietjet currently operates a fleet of 135 aircraft and carries approximately 600 additional aircraft on order, reflecting an aggressive long-term growth posture across international markets.
Vietnam Airlines, the national flag carrier, will follow in October 2026 with three round-trip weekly flights using Airbus A321 aircraft. Flights will depart Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, with return services from Colombo on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Vietnam Airlines Board of Directors, described the launch as an important step in aviation cooperation between the two countries, with the route expected to boost two-way passenger traffic and strengthen Vietnam’s South Asia connectivity network.
The gap between the two start dates, August for Vietjet and October for Vietnam Airlines, creates a two-month window in which the LCC will have the route to itself before facing direct competition from the full-service incumbent.
Demand Context
The route launches follow a period of rapid demand growth on the Vietnam–Sri Lanka travel corridor, despite the complete absence of non-stop air service until now. Passenger traffic between the two countries exceeded 38,000 in 2025, representing a 17.5% increase year-on-year. Demand accelerated sharply in early 2026, with Q1 growth exceeding 136% compared to the same period in 2025. Sri Lanka currently ranks as Vietnam’s third-largest passenger market in South Asia, behind India and the Maldives.
All existing travel between the two countries has required connections through Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, or Indian gateways, adding time and logistical complexity for both leisure and business travelers.
Trade And Tourism Alignment
Both carriers positioned the route as a catalyst for broader economic and cultural exchange. Vietnam Airlines signed cooperation agreements at the forum with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators, and the Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka, covering destination promotion, roadshow organisation, package tour development, and tourism promotion programmes. The carrier also signed a memorandum of understanding with Harleys Group, its general sales and service agent in Sri Lanka, to support commercial development of the new route.
For Sri Lanka, the entry of two Vietnamese carriers diversifies the country’s foreign airline base at Bandaranaike International Airport and extends the island’s reach into Vietnam’s domestic network, including Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc, as well as onward connections via Ho Chi Minh City to Northeast Asia, Australia, and other Southeast Asian markets.