British Airways has restored direct connectivity between the UK and Sri Lanka with the launch of flights between London Gatwick (LGW) and Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), ending a ten-year absence from the city pair.
The inaugural service departed London Gatwick on 23 October 2026 and arrived in Colombo on 24 October. The route is scheduled to operate three times a week during the upcoming winter season. British Airways is offering World Traveller, World Traveller Plus and Club World cabins on the service.
Colombo returns to the network
The resumption gives the UK carrier a direct link to Sri Lanka from Gatwick, rather than adding capacity from its Heathrow operation. The launch forms part of a wider expansion of British Airways’ long-haul programme from its London hubs during the 2026/27 winter schedule.
| Carrier | Origin | Destination | Start date | Weekly frequency | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | London Gatwick (LGW) | Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) | 23 October 2026 | Three | Not stated |
Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, said: “The launch of our new Colombo service marks an exciting start to our winter schedule and reflects our continued commitment to offer customers more choice across our network.”
Further long-haul additions
Alongside Colombo, the airline has outlined new long-haul routes to Tokyo, San José, Bridgetown, Kingston and Cape Town. The announcement identifies the destinations as part of the wider winter schedule, but does not provide individual start dates or frequencies for those services.
British Airways will also add a connection to Melbourne from 9 January 2027. The service will operate via Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), rather than as a nonstop flight from London, and will include World Traveller, World Traveller Plus, Club World and First cabins.
- London Gatwick–Colombo began on 23 October 2026.
- The Sri Lanka service is scheduled three times weekly in the winter season.
- Melbourne via Kuala Lumpur is due to begin on 9 January 2027.
The schedule expands British Airways’ presence across Asia, the Caribbean, Africa, Central America and Australia while using both Heathrow and Gatwick as the bases for the announced additions. The Colombo launch is the only service in the announcement for which the published material gives a completed inaugural operation and a regular weekly frequency.
