SriLankan Airlines, Sri Lanka’s national carrier, made the largest contribution to the country’s tourist arrivals in 2025, carrying 581,421 tourist arrivals, equivalent to 24.6% of total tourist arrivals, according to data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).
The figures highlight the important role played by international airlines in supporting Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, with strong contributions from the national carrier, Indian airlines, Gulf-based carriers and Turkish Airlines.
IndiGo recorded the second-highest contribution, carrying 265,582 tourist arrivals (11.2%), followed by Qatar Airways with 240,446 (10.2%), Emirates with 214,942 (9.1%), Etihad Airways with 165,708 (7.0%) and Air India with 119,918 (5.1%). Aviation Voice
Among the other major foreign carriers, flydubai contributed 83,645 arrivals (3.5%), while Air Arabia accounted for 80,239 arrivals (3.4%).
Turkish Airlines recorded 72,516 tourist arrivals, representing 3.1% of Sri Lanka’s total tourist arrivals in 2025.
Turkish Airlines: A European Connectivity Bridge
While Gulf-based carriers featured prominently among the leading contributors, Turkish Airlines stands out as an important non-Gulf carrier, particularly because of its strategic connectivity between Sri Lanka and Europe through its Istanbul hub. Aviation Voice
Through its Istanbul hub, Turkish Airlines provides Sri Lanka with one-stop access to a wide network of European destinations. With 72,516 tourist arrivals (3.1%) in 2025, the carrier made a notable contribution to Sri Lanka’s tourism while strengthening links with key European markets.
