Practical tips
- If you are flying to Colombo from abroad, you will most likely land at its main international airport—Bandaranaike International Airport
CMB, located about 30 km(18 miles) north of the city.
The second airport in Colombo — Ratmalana AirportRML— has resumed flight operations in 2022 after being closed for 54 years. It currently serves limited routes and airlines. Due to its relatively smaller runway compared to the CMB airport, RML is likely to focus on flights to neighboring countries like Maldives and India, using smaller aircraft.
There are several transport options available for passengers arriving at CMB airport, including metered and fixed-rate taxis (around 45 min to the city center), ride-sharing services like Uber and PickMe (can be booked via smartphone apps using the airport's free Wi-Fi), public buses (routes 187 and 187E operate between the airport and Colombo Fort), airport shuttle (offered by several private companies), and car rental services.
CMB, located about 35 km (18 miles) north of Colombo's city center (in the town of Katunayake), and Ratmalana Airport RML, situated approximately 15 km (9 miles) south of the city.
Flights to Colombo
from United States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Colombo. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Colombo, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop.
- Colombo is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Colombo with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL, DallasDFW, DenverDEN, ChicagoORD, Los AngelesLAX, Las VegasDFW, MiamiMIA, SeattleSEA, HoustonIAH, New YorkJFK, and San FranciscoSFOin the United States and TorontoYYZ, VancouverYVR, CalgaryLAS, and MontrealYULin Canada. - The best airlines to fly to Colombo from the US and Canada are: SriLankan Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Malaysia Airlines, and Singapore Airlines. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
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What is the best time to book flights to Colombo?
The best time to book flights to Colombo is between 2 to 8 months before your travel date. The prime booking window (the most likely time to find the bargains) for Colombo flights is 4–6 months before takeoff. Book when you notice a significant drop in price.
Airfare prices for Colombo flights fluctuate due to demand, seasonal trends, and competition, causing numerous price drops and increases as your departure date approaches. The airlines use sophisticated revenue management systems to adjust pricing for optimal seat sales.
Generally, as seats are sold, prices tend to become more expensive.
Don’t book too early
Most airlines start selling their flights 9–12 months in advance. However, booking a ticket too early in that window can be an expensive mistake – airlines typically start by setting prices at a relatively high level to capture early demand from those willing to pay more to secure their seats.
Peak seasons are expensive
Peak travel seasons are always expensive – due to higher base prices set by airlines for dates they expect to be popular. Try to avoid the high season during summer and major holidays including holidays in Sri Lanka. If you must travel during peak times, book your flight well in advance.
Avoid last minute
Avoid booking flights to Colombo less than 30 days before takeoff. Prices spike sharply then, as airlines are taking advantage of any last-minute travelers who have no choice but to pay up.
Prime Booking Window
For long-haul flights to Colombo, the best time to book your ticket is around 4–6 months before departure. This is the “Prime Booking Window.” After some seats have already been sold, airlines start dropping prices to stimulate demand. They may also offer promotions and sales. This is the ideal time for bargain hunting.
Fly on weekdays
It makes a difference which day of the week you board the plane. Midweek travel (especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays) is less busy and likely cheaper than flying on weekends. Airlines charge higher prices for weekend travel due to the high demand from people going on short getaways or visiting family and friends.
Opt for early morning flights
To save on airfare, select a late night or early morning (1–5 a.m.) flight. Airlines often offer discounts on their first flight of the morning (up to 15-20%) simply because of lower demand—most people are not willing to go to the airport so early. Moreover, morning flights tend to have fewer delays, and airport queues are usually shorter.
Flights to Colombo from Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Colombo — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. Direct flights from Europe to Colombo are about 9-11 hours long. Only some of the largest European hubs have a nonstop connection to Colombo – among them are Frankfurt
FRA, LondonLHR, and ParisCDG. Those flights arrive at the main international airport in Colombo – Bandaranaike International AirportCMBand are operated year-round by only one airline: SriLankan Airlines. However, there are some seasonal direct flights via Edelweiss Air (from ZürichZRH), Air France (from ParisCDG), and Neos Air (from MilanMXP). - Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Colombo include SriLankan Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Air France, British Airways, Finnair, KLM, and Lufthansa.
- Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Colombo from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Leverage frequent promotions from European budget carriers like RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to reach a major hub; from there, take a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination, potentially saving hundreds of euros.
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Get your visa in advance
Most tourists visiting Colombo need to apply for a Sri Lanka tourist visa (only nationals of Singapore, Maldives, and Seychelles are exempt). This is easily done online, and your visa will usually be valid for 30 days, with an option to extend it to 90 days. We recommend applying around a week before the trip, as it usually takes 24-48 hours for the visa approval to come through.
Alternatively, you can obtain a Sri Lankan visa on arrival at the Colombo Airport (at a slightly higher price). The caveat is that during the peak travel season you could end up waiting in line for a long while.
The cheapest time to fly to Colombo
The best time to find the cheapest flights to Colombo tends to be during the low season – May to August. December is also an off-peak month if you don’t travel on dates around Christmas and New Year. With fewer tourists, flight prices to Sri Lanka are the cheapest, as airlines discount fares due to lower demand. Additionally, many hotels offer lower rates, and tourist attractions reduce admission fees.
Months between May and August mark the rainy season when the country experiences a Yala monsoon coupled with low humidity. It affects the southwestern part of the island, including Colombo, with heavy rainfall. However, this is the best time for trips to the north of the island or the east coast – an interesting option for travelers who are into the laid-back surf scene (a surfing mecca in Arugam Bay is particularly worth checking out).
Know your time zone
Sri Lanka has only one time zone – it observes India Standard Time (IST) all year, which is UTC+05:30 time zone. As a result, clocks in Colombo are 5 and half hours ahead of London and 9 hours and 30 minutes ahead of New York. IST does not have an associated daylight saving time.
When checking flights and airport transfer times, ensure you know the local time zones. The departure time on your plane ticket is always listed based on the time zone of the departure airport. We suggest resetting your watch during the flight – it will help your brain adjust to the new time zone and to deal with jet lag.
Duty-free rules
Sri Lanka is serious about the duty-free concession. There is a limit for bringing in certain items. Strong alcoholic drinks such as spirits cannot exceed 1.5 liters per person, and you can also bring 2 bottles of wine. Customs regulations of Sri Lanka do not permit any tobacco products to be brought into the country. In addition to personal items, you may carry items up to a value of $250.
Anything above those limits must be declared – at the Colombo Airport, head to the Red Lane to declare your goods.
Long waiting times when calling the helpline?
Social media is usually a faster way to reach the airline when a problem arises. Use Twitter or Facebook Messenger to contact the airline customer service and get a response and solution within minutes (see detailed guides for Air India, Emirates, GoFirst, and others).
When it comes to Twitter, there’s one more trick to get in touch with the airline faster: mention the airline in a tweet about your issue (add “@airline_handle”, for example: “@flysrilankan” for Sri Lankan Airlines). The customer care team will often notice it immediately, ask you for a direct message, and respond privately.
Avoid currency exchange kiosks at airports
Airports are infamous for making an exuberant amount of money from their currency exchanges due to the extremely high margins, and Colombo Airport is no exception. Airport kiosks usually charge higher fees which are sometimes hidden within the poorer exchange rates they offer – their business is based on charging extra for being a convenient, last-minute option.
It is always a good idea to bring cash with you to Colombo, as the country runs on cash and many places don’t accept card payments. Plan ahead and exchange some money for the Sri Lankan rupee at home, or use one of the many ATMs located at the airport and in the city.
Domestic flights from Colombo
Most domestic routes in Sri Lanka are operated by local carriers. When traveling to popular tourist destinations such as Dehiwala, Galle, Jaffna, Moratuwa, Negombo, Kandy, Kalmunai, Vavuniya, Dambullam, and Batticaloa from Colombo Airport , you’ll likely fly with one of these domestic airlines: SriLankan Airlines, Cinnamon Air, Helitours, Senok Air, and Fly Southern.
This is often the best transportation method, providing speed, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. Local airlines often offer multiple daily flights to key destinations, providing flexibility in scheduling and competitive pricing. They also serve smaller regional airports, enabling access to a wider range of Sri Lankan destinations.
Flights to Colombo
from Australia and New Zealand
- Australia and New Zealand are well-connected with popular Asian destinations, including Colombo. In addition to domestic airlines – Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand – routes from Australasia to Asia are operated by large international carriers such as ANA, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways.
Currently, there are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Colombo. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia. - Airfare costs can vary widely depending on the route and the airline’s pricing strategy. To find the cheapest flight to Colombo, compare ticket prices from various international airports in Australia – Sydney
SYD, BrisbaneBNE, MelbourneMEL, PerthPER, AdelaideADL, CairnsCNS, Gold CoastOOL, CanberraCBR, and in New Zealand – AucklandAKL, WellingtonWLG, ChristchurchCHC, QueenstownZQN, and DunedinDUD. - For optimal savings, consider flying from Australia or New Zealand to a key Asian hub, then connect to Colombo via a regional low-cost carrier. Among budget airlines that fly to Colombo are Air Arabia, AirAsia, Flydubai, IndiGo, SalamAir, Scoot, and SpiceJet.
For the first leg, use the budget carriers that fly out of Australian airports, leveraging sales and promotions they run frequently: AirAsia (connects with Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore), Cebu Pacific (Manila), Jetstar (Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo), Scoot (Singapore), VietJet Air (Ho Chi Minh City), Bamboo Airways (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing), and Batik Air (Jakarta, Singapore).
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Flights to Colombo
from major hubs in Asia
- Many airport hubs in the Asia Pacific region have direct flights to Colombo, including Bangkok
BKK, BeijingPEK, DhakaDAC, GuangzhouCAN, Hong KongHKG, JakartaCGK, Kuala LumpurKLM, MaleMLE, SeoulICN, ShanghaiPVG, SingaporeSIN, and TokyoNRT. - Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Colombo look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
- Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Colombo will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
- Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting Sri Lanka and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet, and VietJet Air. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
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Flights to Colombo dataset
