British Airways (BA) recommenced flights to the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on 15th April, 2013 following a lapse of fifteen (15) years. BA which operated regular flights through Colombo up until the late 1990s, suspended operations due mainly to the social unrest in Sri Lanka that continued till 2009.

With the resumption of operations, BA will operate flights to BIA thrice weekly on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday from London Gatwick through Male. The type of aircraft that will be used for London-Male-Colombo flights is Boeing 777-200.

The pictures below show the warm welcome accorded to the BA officials at BIA upon the arrival of the first BA flight after a long pause. Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development, was the Chief Guest at the welcome event with Deputy Minister of Civil Aviation Hon. Gitanjana Gunawardena, H.E. John Rankin, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Chairman, Hayleys, GSA for British Airways Mr.Mohan Pandithage, Mr. Prasanna J. Wickramasuriya, Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited; (AASL), and other airport officials also in attendance.