SriLankan Airlines adds extra Mumbai Flights as demand surge for India–Pakistan match in Colombo

SriLankan Airlines has announced two additional flights from Mumbai to Colombo on Saturday and Monday to meet the sharp rise in travel demand for the much-anticipated India–Pakistan cricket match in Colombo.

The two teams will face off on Sunday in a group stage match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup. The high-profile encounter has triggered a surge in bookings from across India, particularly from major metropolitan cities.

According to Fawzan Fareid, Regional Manager for India, Bangladesh and Nepal at SriLankan Airlines, several leading corporate houses have made bulk bookings for their business associates to attend the match.

“Many key corporate houses joined hands with us to close multiple groups of their business associates heading for the game. We are delighted to cater to premier brands on board with us,” he told Business Standard.

He said most flights to Colombo from Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai are almost fully booked, reflecting strong advance demand and well-coordinated corporate travel plans.

Fareid noted that interest in the match began building immediately after the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the fixture. “India–Pakistan matches are global marquee events, and demand started building from the day the ICC announced the fixture. A significant portion of bookings were made well in advance at competitive market fares across our Indian network,” he said.

He added that after the initial spike in bookings, the sales pattern stabilised and remained steady until there was clear confirmation of match arrangements.

Flights departing between February 13 and the morning of February 15 are now nearly full. In several metro sectors, fewer than 10 seats remain available on select services, underlining the massive interest surrounding the high-stakes clash.

The additional flights from Mumbai are expected to help ease the pressure and accommodate last-minute travellers heading to Colombo for what is widely regarded as one of cricket’s most intense rivalries.