Cheap flights to Colombo
A trip to Colombo begins with arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport, which is located approximately 28 kilometers from the city center. This is the main air gateway to Sri Lanka, hosting regular flights from many regions across the globe. The most frequent air connections are established with major transit hubs: 160 weekly flights are operated from Dubai, 126 from Malé, and 120 from Kuala Lumpur. More logistical details can be found in the section on how to get to the capital.
A total of 55 airlines operate flights to this destination, providing excellent connectivity with Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The national carrier SriLankan Airlines and the low-cost carrier Indigo Air play a leading role, offering a wide network of routes. Before planning your trip, we recommend checking the general information in the travel guide or looking up the weather for your preferred dates. Below on this page, you will find convenient cards for searching tickets from the most popular departure cities.
Chennai — Colombo
Hyderabad — Colombo
Kuala Lumpur — Colombo
Mumbai — Colombo
Muscat — Colombo
Dammam — Colombo
Bengaluru — Colombo
Abu Dhabi — Colombo
Sharjah — Colombo
Manama — Colombo
Delhi — Colombo
Trivandrum — Colombo
When is the best time to book a flight to Colombo?
The price of a flight to Colombo changes depending on how far ahead you book. For the best chance of a lower fare, book around 23 days before departure, when the average ticket costs about $669. Fares also tend to climb as the departure date gets closer.
Flight insights to Colombo
Data-driven trends for direct flights to Colombo — how often airlines fly, where passengers come from, and typical fares and flight times.
Most frequent departure cities
The most frequent direct routes to Colombo come from Dubai, Male and Kuala Lumpur. Dubai leads with around 160 flights a week.
- Dubai160 flights/week
- Male126 flights/week
- Kuala Lumpur120 flights/week
- Chennai112 flights/week
- Doha98 flights/week
Top departure countries
Most direct flights to Colombo depart from India, United Arab Emirates and Maldives. India alone accounts for about 25% of all direct routes.
- Indiaavg $124
- United Arab Emiratesavg $156
- Maldivesavg $269
- Malaysiaavg $101
- Qataravg $184
Direct routes & fares
Popular non-stop routes to Colombo range from Chennai at $96 to Male at $190 — a quick way to compare direct-flight fares.
- Dubaifrom $154
- Malefrom $190
- Kuala Lumpurfrom $101
- Chennaifrom $96
- Dohafrom $184
Cheapest departure cities
The cheapest places to fly to Colombo from right now are Chennai from $96, Kuala Lumpur from $101 and Madurai from $110.
- Chennaifrom $96
- Kuala Lumpurfrom $101
- Maduraifrom $110
- Tiruchirappallifrom $111
- Hyderabadfrom $114
Longest direct flights
The longest direct flight to Colombo is from Sydney at about 11h 43m, followed by London (11h 40m) and Paris (11h 25m).
- Sydney11h 43m
- London11h 40m
- Paris11h 25m
- Melbourne11h 12m
- Frankfurt am Main10h 52m
Popular departure cities to Colombo
United Arab Emirates
Maldives
Malaysia
India
Qatar
Thailand
Singapore
India
India
Bangladesh
United Arab Emirates
Kuwait
India
United Arab Emirates
Turkey
India
India
India
China
Indonesia
United Kingdom
China
Saudi Arabia
China
Hong Kong
Australia
India
Saudi Arabia
Germany
Oman Sultanate Of
Russian Federation
Bahrain
Japan
Pakistan
Nepal
Pakistan
Australia
India
China
France
Maldives
India
Korea, Republic Of
Seychelles Islands
Poland
Israel
China
PolandFrequently asked questions
- Which cities have the most frequent flights to Colombo?
- The most popular routes are Dubai (160 flights per week), Malé (126 flights), and Kuala Lumpur (120 flights). Flights from Chennai and Doha are also in high demand, with around a hundred departures weekly.
- How many airlines fly to Colombo?
- There are 55 airlines flying to this city. The largest carriers are SriLankan Airlines, Indigo Air, FitsAir, Air India, and Qatar Airways, providing stable connections with key regions of the world.
- Which airports receive flights to Colombo?
- The main international hub is Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). It is located 28 kilometers from Colombo and handles the vast majority of international flights arriving in the country.
- From how many cities can you fly to Colombo?
- The list of most popular destinations includes 15 cities that provide direct or transit access to the capital. The route network covers major hubs in the UAE, India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Qatar.
- How to find great deals on flights to Colombo?
- It is recommended to book tickets in advance, at least 2–3 months before departure, and consider flights with layovers in major hubs like Abu Dhabi or Istanbul. Comparing offers from 55 airlines will help you choose the best option.