MAA - CMB

₹ 9,865 Find Cheap Flights from Chennai to Colombo – Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest return flight
₹ 20,205
Typical prices: ₹ 17,880-₹ 22,048
IndiGo
Wed 14/2Sun 18/2
MAA - CMB • Direct
Cheapest one-way flight
₹ 10,340
Typical prices: ₹ 8,632-₹ 11,411
IndiGo
Sat 8/12
MAA - CMB • Direct
Direct flights
You can fly direct with IndiGo, SriLankan Airlines, and FitsAir. Average duration is 1h 20m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
Avoid delays
Most punctual • 93% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 20 weeks in advance save around 17% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 12% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top stopover airports
Cheapest • Avg ₹ 11,963 (return)
Shortest trip • 10h 28m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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We hope you enjoy your trip to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Chennai to Colombo (MAA-CMB)

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals from Chennai to Bandaranaike Intl

Fri, 29 Jan - Tue, 2 Feb
IndiGo Logo
00:40 - 02:00MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
1h 20mdirect
IndiGo Logo
03:00 - 04:25CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
1h 25mdirect
₹ 20,205IndiGo
Wed, 24 Feb - Mon, 1 Mar
IndiGo Logo
00:40 - 02:00MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
1h 20mdirect
IndiGo Logo
03:00 - 04:25CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
1h 25mdirect
₹ 20,205IndiGo
Sun, 14 Feb - Thu, 18 Feb
IndiGo Logo
00:40 - 02:00MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
1h 20mdirect
IndiGo Logo
12:30 - 13:55CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
1h 25mdirect
₹ 20,205IndiGo
Wed, 11 Nov - Sat, 14 Nov
SriLankan Airlines Logo
20:55 - 22:15MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
1h 20mdirect
SriLankan Airlines Logo
13:40 - 15:00CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
1h 20mdirect
₹ 21,153SriLankan Airlines
Sun, 11 Apr - Sun, 18 Apr
SriLankan Airlines Logo
21:15 - 22:40MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
1h 25mdirect
SriLankan Airlines Logo
07:25 - 08:50CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
1h 25mdirect
₹ 21,153SriLankan Airlines
Sat, 14 Nov - Sat, 21 Nov
SriLankan Airlines Logo
20:55 - 22:15MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
1h 20mdirect
SriLankan Airlines Logo
13:40 - 15:00CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
1h 20mdirect
₹ 21,153SriLankan Airlines
Mon, 1 Mar - Wed, 10 Mar
Multiple Airlines Logo
09:50 - 11:10MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
1h 20mdirect
Multiple Airlines Logo
09:10 - 10:40CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
1h 30mdirect
₹ 25,517Multiple Airlines
Thu, 5 Nov - Wed, 11 Nov
Multiple Airlines Logo
00:40 - 02:00MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
1h 20mdirect
Multiple Airlines Logo
18:35 - 19:55CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
1h 20mdirect
₹ 25,801Multiple Airlines
Tue, 27 Oct - Sun, 1 Nov
Air India Logo
21:05 - 08:40MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
11h 35m1 stop Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Intl
Air India Logo
17:05 - 08:55CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
15h 50m1 stop New Delhi Indira Gandhi Intl
₹ 40,599Air India
Tue, 27 Oct - Sun, 1 Nov
Air India Logo
10:45 - 08:40MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
21h 55m1 stop Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Intl
Air India Logo
17:05 - 10:20CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
17h 15m1 stop New Delhi Indira Gandhi Intl
₹ 44,204Air India
Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines, and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

How much is a return flight from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

Return flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport typically range from ₹ 17,880 to ₹ 22,048. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was ₹ 20,205 on IndiGo.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Sunday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport. It’s 5% cheaper than the average day, while Saturday is the most expensive, with prices 1% higher.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

•November is the cheapest month to fly from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport at ₹ 17,644 return.
•August (₹ 22,007) and May (₹ 21,248) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 24% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport the cheapest?

Flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport are cheapest 20 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 17% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Key details for Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport flights

Low season

March

Cheapest flight

₹ 10,340
Beat the crowds with an average 23% drop in traveller numbers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 18% increase in traveller numbers.
One-way flight from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport

When to book flights from Chennai to Bandaranaike Intl

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Chennai to Bandaranaike Intl based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price

Your Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking tips.

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

    These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport:

    • Earliest: departs at 00:40 and lands at 02:00
    • Latest: departs at 21:15 and lands at 22:35.

    The flight takes about 1h 20m.

  • Which cabin classes can I book on flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

    Two cabin classes are available on flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport:

    • Economy class
    • Business Class

  • How long is a flight from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

    A direct flight from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport takes 1h 20m, covering 1,040 km.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

    Yes, a valid passport is required for this international route. Many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Check your passport expiry well before booking.

  • How much should I expect to pay for a Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport flight?

    Return flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport range from ₹ 17,880 to ₹ 22,048, with an average of ₹ 20,097 over the past 12 months. Anything below ₹ 17,880 counts as a good deal.

  • How expensive are last-minute Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport flights?

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 8% above the ₹ 20,097 route average. Book 20 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

  • How much can I save by having a stopover when flying from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

    On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average ₹ 11,963 return via New Delhi Indira Gandhi Intl (DEL), compared with ₹ 20,109 for direct.

  • How does on-time performance compare across airlines flying from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

    IndiGo is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while Air India has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport flights are:

    • IndiGo: 93% on time
    • Air India: 84% on time
    • SriLankan Airlines: 84% on time

    On average, flights on this route are punctual 89% of the time.

  • Which aircraft model is used most often on flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

    The Airbus A320neo family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by IndiGo. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A320-100/200 variants.

  • How are flight departures from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport spread across the day?

    Morning is the busiest departure period on Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport flights, with 29% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 29%, Evening flights for 28%, and Night flights for 14%.

  • How are flight prices from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport looking right now?

    One-way fares from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport are currently higher than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about ₹ 19,636, which is 102% above the typical average for this route.

  • Which car hire options are available at Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport (CMB)?

    Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport (CMB) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around ₹ 1,998 for economy cars. Top options include:

    • GREEN MOTION
    • Xdrive Mobility
    • Ace
    • AcaRent
    • SR RENT A CAR

  • Which airports can I use when flying from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

    Flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport usually depart from Chennai (MAA) and arrive at Colombo Bandaranaike Intl (CMB).

  • What time of day has the fewest delays on flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

    Night flights have the fewest delays on this route, while morning departures tend to have the most.

  • At what point is a flight considered delayed on the route from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

    A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport route, 11% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 1h 39m.

  • Which airports do connecting flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport pass through?

    One-stop flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport most commonly connect through:

    • Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Intl (BOM) – 82% of one-stop connections
    • New Delhi Indira Gandhi Intl (DEL) – 6% of one-stop connections
    • Hong Kong Intl (HKG) – 6% of one-stop connections
    • Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL) – 6% of one-stop connections

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 7% on flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport. Sunday is the cheapest departure day at ₹ 19,161 return on average, while Saturday is the most expensive at ₹ 20,395, a difference of ₹ 1,233.

    Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

  • Which airlines fly from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

    3 airlines operate flights between Chennai and Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

    • IndiGo
    • SriLankan Airlines
    • FitsAir

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different stopover airport from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

    Flying via New Delhi Indira Gandhi Intl (DEL) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 9h 17m, compared to 10h 28m via Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Intl (BOM) and 16h 39m via Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL).

  • What popular places can I visit in Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

    Some of the most popular sights in Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport are Colombo World Trade Center, Dutch Hospital, and Pettah Market. These are among the most viewed places in Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport on KAYAK.

  • Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport flights?

    Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

    • SriLankan Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
    • IndiGo: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class

    Baggage allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.

  • What is a carbon-friendly way to fly to Colombo from Chennai?

    While there are many direct flights from Chennai to Colombo, if you want to reduce your carbon footprint, it may be wise to look at a flight on SriLankan Airlines. You can fly direct to Colombo on SriLankan, which will emit around 74% less CO2 than other airlines that operate this route.

  • How can I get from Bandaranaike International Airport to Colombo?

    Once you’ve arrived in Sri Lanka, you can either catch a bus or a taxi into the city. The public buses leave from just outside the airport and will reach the central bus station in Colombo in around 25 min depending on traffic. There is also the option to take a taxi from the airport; this can be booked at the airport taxi service counter, in the arrivals hall or just outside the arrivals terminal.

Your guide to booking Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly, and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Sunday departure and avoid flying on Saturday. On this route, Sunday flights average ₹ 19,161, about ₹ 1,233 less than Saturday fares (6% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 20 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 17% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport trip for November. Fares historically average ₹ 17,644 return in that month – typically ₹ 4,363 less than the most expensive month, which is August (based on the last 12 months).
  • For the best chance of arriving on time, fly with IndiGo. Over the past three months, 93% of IndiGo flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport arrived on time, slightly above the route average of 89%. When flights on this route arrive late, they're delayed by an average of 1h 39m, so choosing an airline with strong on-time performance can make a difference if you're on a tight schedule.
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through New Delhi Indira Gandhi Intl Airport (DEL) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest stopover option averages ₹ 11,963 return on this route – about ₹ 8,146 less than direct flights (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you happen to be landing in Chennai for a layover before your flight to Colombo and would like to catch up on some sleep, you could book one of the Snooze Pods. Located in the transit area, you can arrange to have the Snooze Pod representative meet you off the flight and show you where you can stow your luggage and have a sleep before taking off for Colombo.
  • If for any reason you need to seek medical assistance when you land at Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), you'll be pleased to know that there is a medical centre located in the luggage claim area of the arrivals hall. Here, there is a doctor as well as nurses who can attend to you and dispense any medicine you may need.
  • If you or your fellow travellers have reduced mobility, make sure you let your airline know your requirements at least 48 hours before your flight from Chennai International Airport (MAA). You can request assistance and this option will ensure that you are escorted through security and customs to the boarding gate and onto the plane.

Prefer to fly direct from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl?

 
Find which airlines fly direct from Chennai Airport to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl

Monday

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

Tuesday

FitsAir,IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

FitsAir,IndiGo, +1 more

Wednesday

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

Thursday

FitsAir,IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

FitsAir,IndiGo, +1 more

Friday

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

Saturday

FitsAir,IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

FitsAir,IndiGo, +1 more

Sunday

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Colombo Bandaranaike Intl to Chennai

Monday

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

Tuesday

FitsAir,IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

FitsAir,IndiGo, +1 more

Wednesday

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

Thursday

FitsAir,IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

FitsAir,IndiGo, +1 more

Friday

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

Saturday

FitsAir,IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

FitsAir,IndiGo, +1 more

Sunday

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

See more direct flights

More options for your flight from Chennai to Bandaranaike Intl

Complete your trip to Colombo with a hotel stay or car hire