According to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), Sri Lanka will not accommodate Russian charter flights during the off-season due to decreased demand and insufficient summer promotional efforts.
The suspension, which will last until October, comes after Red Wings Airlines ended its winter charter program to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) earlier in April. Consequently, passengers impacted by the change were redirected to alternative flights.
Red Wings Airlines has shifted its 412-seat aircraft, originally intended for Sri Lanka, to Egypt, a rising summer destination for Russian tourists. This move highlights Sri Lanka’s heavy reliance on charter flights, especially from Russia, to sustain its tourism. Without these flights, the country faces a sharp decline in summer visitors. Moreover, tour operators have yet to confirm any charter or block flight programs for Sri Lanka for the upcoming 2025 summer season.
Tourism plays a vital role in generating much-needed foreign exchange for Sri Lanka. As visitors spend on accommodations, meals, excursions, taxis, and shopping, they bring in foreign currency. This influx is especially crucial at this time, as the country continues to recover from a recent debt crisis and severe economic challenges, relying heavily on these funds to stabilize and rebuild.
In an effort to boost Russian tourist arrivals, Sri Lanka’s Deputy Tourism Minister announced plans to extend airport charge waivers at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport through the end of the year. The move aims to encourage more Russian charter flights. However, former Ambassador to Russia, Udyanga Weeratunga, raised concerns on social media, alleging that some officials are pushing to reinstate the charges to pave the way for the airport’s privatization. He called on the government to reconsider the decision.
In 2024, Sri Lanka aimed to increase tourist arrivals to three million in 2025, up from 2.1 million, with Russian visitors expected to play a key role. During the winter of 2024–2025, the resumption of Azur Air flights brought tens of thousands of Russian tourists. However, these flights were only planned for the winter period, and with no announcements yet for summer 2025, a gap in connectivity and potential tourist inflow remains.
Leading Russian tour operator Intourist emphasized the need for coordinated efforts by Sri Lanka’s Tourism Ministry to promote off-season travel and support charter programs. However, it warned that for summer 2024, such efforts may come too late, as bookings are usually made 1–2 months in advance.
Russia, Sri Lanka’s second-largest source market with 104,441 arrivals so far during this year, slipped to third place in the first 20 days of April.
