British Airways Last Flew There Eleven Years Ago. Friday Changed That.

British Airways was scheduled to resume nonstop flights between London Gatwick and Colombo on Friday, October 23, restoring its presence in Sri Lanka after an absence of 11 years. The service operates three times a week on a Boeing 777 and runs as a winter route rather than year-round, so travellers should check which dates are on sale.

Flights land at Bandaranaike International Airport near Colombo. All three of the airline’s long-haul cabins are offered: World Traveller in economy, World Traveller Plus in premium economy and Club World in business. Exact seat layouts vary by aircraft, a common caveat on 777 routes.

Return fares were advertised from £620 including taxes and carrier fees when the route went on sale in March 2026. Those introductory prices may not be available on every date, and the cheapest seats on a newly launched route tend to sell first, particularly around school holidays and the peak winter beach season.

For Sri Lanka, a nonstop link from the UK’s second-busiest airport adds capacity on one of its key long-haul tourism markets. For British travellers, it removes the connection through a Gulf or Indian hub that has long been the usual way to reach the island, trimming total journey time on a trip that would otherwise involve a change of planes.

Sources: Rus Tourism News, Aviation Week