SriLankan Airlines is one of those carriers that Pakistanis love to use for transit flights, especially to Southeast Asia. But after recent incidents, the FIA has tightened security checks considerably. So when I finally boarded this flight from Lahore to Colombo, I experienced something that felt very familiar to any Pakistani traveller.
Watch the full flight review on the Salman Travel Diaries YouTube channel.
The Journey
Getting to the gate took longer than expected thanks to enhanced security screening at Lahore Airport. The FIA staff were thorough, perhaps overly so, but you can't really blame them given the circumstances. Once I made it to the boarding bridge and found my seat, though, I discovered something that felt very Pakistani: a full-blown argument over seats.
Passengers were confused about their assignments, overhead bin space was contested, and the cabin crew had to eventually threaten to deny boarding to someone just to restore order. It's a scene you see repeatedly on Pakistani carriers, and honestly, it's exhausting. But once everyone finally settled down, I could actually appreciate what SriLankan had to offer on this four-hour journey.
The legroom was genuinely good. I'm not a huge person, but I always notice seat pitch, and this felt spacious. The seats themselves were surprisingly comfortable for a short-haul flight, with decent padding and recline. What really impressed me was the individual entertainment screen on the seatback. I spent most of the flight tracking our route on the moving map, watching us fly over the Indian Ocean toward Sri Lanka.
Meal service started after takeoff. The airline serves halal food on this route, which is great for Muslim passengers, and they offered a seafood alternative as well. The meals were decent, and I appreciated that they used actual metal cutlery instead of plastic. This is something PIA often gets criticized for, so props to SriLankan for that choice.
During the flight, we hit some notable turbulence. The rainy season meant the weather was a bit rough, and visibility wasn't great outside the windows. But as we began our descent toward Bandaranaike International Airport, the clouds cleared enough to give us stunning views of the Negombo Lagoon below. Those final moments before landing reminded me why I love flying.
Touchdown was smooth, and we were soon taxiing toward one of the busiest airports in South Asia. For a Pakistani traveller, SriLankan got me from A to B safely and on time.
The Airline: Honest Review
SriLankan Airlines operates modern aircraft on the Lahore-Colombo route, and the cabin configuration reflects decent comfort standards. The aircraft appeared well-maintained, with clean seats and functional systems throughout. However, the overall experience is hampered by operational inconsistencies, particularly around boarding procedures and crowd management.
The airline does tick several boxes: metal cutlery instead of plastic, halal meal options, individual seatback screens, and reasonable legroom. Service quality from cabin crew was professional, though they clearly had their hands full managing the chaotic boarding process. Punctuality appeared solid during my journey.
Where SriLankan struggles is in the ground operations and passenger management side. For a carrier that positions itself as a regional hub, the boarding experience felt disorganized. Value for money is decent if you catch sales, but at full price, you're paying premium rates for a somewhat inconsistent product. The airline works best as a transit option rather than a standalone choice, which probably explains why most Pakistani passengers treat it that way.
Ratings
- Excellent legroom and comfortable seat padding for a short-haul flight
- Individual seatback entertainment screens with moving map tracking
- Metal cutlery service and halal meal options with seafood alternatives
- Smooth landing and modern aircraft maintenance standards
- Chaotic and disorganized boarding process with passenger confusion over seating
- Poor ground operations and crowd management requiring crew to threaten denial of boarding
- Turbulence was notable, though weather-dependent
- Service quality inconsistent due to operational stress during boarding
The Verdict
SriLankan Airlines works best if you're using it as a transit option or catching a sale fare. The aircraft and cabin are solid, the meal service is respectable, and legroom is good. However, be prepared for boarding chaos and manage your expectations around ground operations. Pakistani travellers familiar with our own carriers will feel right at home with the madness that unfolds before takeoff.
