About this flight
After a heavenly three-day, two-night stay in the Maldives, it was time to leave paradise behind.
From Malé Airport, we connected through Colombo Airport in Sri Lanka and continued our journey to Singapore.
After spending some time relaxing in the lounge at Malé Airport, we boarded a late-night SriLankan Airlines business class flight from Colombo to Singapore.
Malé Airport
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Airport Terminal
This is the departure terminal at Malé Airport.
You can catch a glimpse of the ocean in the distance, a reminder that even though Malé is the capital of the Maldives, it is actually a small town located on a tiny island. After all, the Maldives is a nation made up of countless small islands scattered across the ocean.
Departure Lobby
This is the departure lobby at Malé International Airport.
Boarding Pass and More
Here are some of the travel documents we received for this journey:
- • Boarding pass from Malé (Maldives) to Colombo (Sri Lanka)
- • Lounge access card for Malé Airport
- • Fast Track pass for business class passengers
Check-in Counter
This is the check-in counter at Malé Airport.
Departure Lobby (1)
This is part of the departure lobby inside Malé Airport.
You can see the “Passport Control” sign here — this is where we’ll go through immigration shortly.
Departure Lobby (2)
Another view of the departure lobby.
Flight Information Board
The flight information display just before immigration.
Currency Exchange Counter
This is the currency exchange counter of the Bank of Maldives.
Malé Airport Lounge
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Lounge Entrance
This is the entrance to the business class lounge at Malé International Airport.
Seating Area
A look inside the lounge’s seating area.
Food Corner
An overview of the lounge’s food corner.
Sandwiches and Cakes
This section of the food corner offers a variety of sandwiches and sweet cakes.
- (Sandwiches)
- • Cheese Sandwich
- • Tuna Sandwich
- • Egg Sandwich
Salad Bar
The salad bar inside the food corner. In the back, there’s a sign indicating that the dishes are Halal.*
*Halal food refers to dishes and ingredients permissible under Islamic dietary guidelines.
Rice and Noodles Station
The section serving rice and noodle dishes.
- • Spaghetti
- • Vegetable Biryani
- (An Indian-style dish made with long-grain rice, vegetables, and spices)
- • And more
Desserts
The dessert section and the refrigerated drinks area.
- (Desserts)
- • Tiramisu Cake, Walnut Cream Tart, Crème Brûlée, and more
Coca-Cola Zero
I enjoyed a refreshing glass of Coca-Cola Zero.
Seating Area
Another view of the lounge’s seating area.
Malé Airport
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Our Aircraft
This was our flight from Malé to Colombo for the day — an Airbus A330-300.
Just Before Boarding
A quick snapshot taken just before boarding the aircraft.
Apron View (1)
This view of the apron was taken from my business class seat window.
I could see a Saudia aircraft parked nearby and, just beyond it, the tail fin of an Etihad Airways plane. It shows how popular the Maldives resorts are among travelers from Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Apron View (2)
Another photo taken from my seat, showing the apron below.
Earlier, there was a Saudia aircraft in front of us, but shortly after, a Qatar Airways plane taxied in and parked nearby.
In-flight: Malé → Colombo
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Business Class Seat (1)
The business class seat for today’s flight.
Business Class Seat (2)
A view of the business class cabin from the front.
Each seat is designed as an individual pod, offering a private space where you can relax without worrying about your neighbors.
Business Class Seat (3)
The cabin view from my seat.
Thanks to the private partitions, I could enjoy the flight comfortably with plenty of personal space.
Business Class Seat (4)
A closer look at the side panel of the business class seat.
The private partition provides an added sense of seclusion.
Welcome Drink
After receiving the menu card, I was served a refreshing glass of water as a welcome drink.
Personal Screen
The personal entertainment screen at my seat.
Shortly After Takeoff
The stunning view of the Maldivian ocean right after takeoff.
Relaxing with Plenty of Space
Once the seatbelt sign was turned off, I stretched out my legs and relaxed in comfort.
In-flight Meal
The in-flight meal I enjoyed on this short flight.
- • South Indian-style Curry with Rice
- • Garlic Bread
- • Chocolate Cake
Colombo Airport Lounge
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Bar Counter
We arrived at Colombo Airport, the gateway to Sri Lanka’s capital city.
This is the bar counter inside the SriLankan Airlines business class lounge. A selection of wine, champagne, and various spirits is available for self-service — you can simply pour yourself a glass and enjoy at your leisure.
SriLankan Airlines Lounge
I enjoyed a light lunch here, pairing champagne with a selection of dishes from the buffet.
Information Board
This sign in the food corner indicated when the lounge was switching from lunch to dinner service.
Cakes and Fruits
The dessert and fruit section of the food corner offered a tempting variety.
- (Cakes) Swiss Roll, Caramel Pound Cake with Orange Cream, Fruit Cake, Cheesecake, and more
- (Fruits) Pineapple, Mango, and more
Salad Corner
The salad section offered a variety of fresh options.
- • Chicken Coriander Salad
- • Garden Green Salad
- • Thai Papaya Salad
- • Sliced Chicken Salad
- • Beef Salami
- • Seafood Cocktail
Hot Dishes (1)
The hot dishes section featured an international selection.
- • Chicken Piccata with Creamy Lemon Sauce
- • Seafood Mee Goreng (Indonesian-style stir-fried noodles)
- • Vegetable Biryani (Fragrant Indian-style spiced rice)
Hot Dishes (2)
Another selection of hot dishes included a mix of Sri Lankan specialties and international favorites.
- • Roasted Lamb with Mint Sauce
- • Ginger Pudding with Vanilla Sauce (a traditional British dessert)
- • Eggplant Moju (a Sri Lankan home-style dish of deep-fried eggplant simmered with vinegar, spices, and cinnamon)
My Meal
This was my selection from the buffet — a satisfying combination of dishes.
Desserts
I finished off with a selection of fruits and cakes from the dessert corner.
Colombo Airport
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Ceylon Tea Shop
This duty-free shop specializes in Ceylon tea, one of Sri Lanka’s most famous exports. After all, when you think of Ceylon, tea is the first thing that comes to mind.
Apron View
From Colombo Airport, we were about to board our flight to Singapore.
This photo captures an Etihad Airways aircraft from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), parked at the apron during our transit.
Boarding Gate
Waiting at the boarding gate, just moments before we boarded the aircraft.
Boarding Bridge
The view of the boarding bridge right before stepping onto the plane.
In-flight: Colombo → Singapore
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Business Class Cabin
The business class cabin features a stylish herringbone layout, with the seats angled diagonally toward the aisle for added privacy and comfort.
Business Class Seat
A closer look at one of the business class seats.
Herringbone Layout
This is the view from my seat while seated.
The cabin uses a herringbone-style configuration, meaning the seats are set at an angle to the aisle. The personal entertainment screen is also angled at first, but you can easily rotate it so it faces you directly.
The seat itself is long and spacious, though it does taper slightly toward the front, giving it a sleek, cocoon-like design.
Personal Screen
I adjusted the angled screen so that it faced me directly.
The display shows that we’ve just taken off from Colombo.
Arrival in Singapore
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Singapore Changi Airport
We arrived at Singapore’s Changi Airport, with a SriLankan Airlines aircraft visible in the foreground.
Arrival Lobby
A look at the arrival lobby at Changi Airport.
Airport Indoor Garden
After taking the inter-terminal train from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3, we stopped by the “Jewel,” a stunning shopping and entertainment complex with an indoor garden. At its center is the world-famous Rain Vortex — a breathtaking waterfall cascading from a round opening in the ceiling. The scale and power of it are truly impressive.
