Flying from Los Angeles to Colombo: what you need to know
There are two main airports you can fly out of in Los Angeles. Check out your options leaving from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or Van Nuys Airport (VNY) when planning your flight from Los Angeles to Colombo.
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is the primary point of entry to Colombo.
Colombo's timezone is UTC+5:30, which makes Colombo 12 hours 30 minutes ahead of Los Angeles.
Allow plenty of time to catch your Los Angeles to Colombo flight. As a rule of thumb, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
If you're going away during a peak month like July, get to the airport even earlier. You'll want to arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours ahead of a domestic departure. Security lines will be longer during holiday periods like Christmas and New Year.
How to find the cheapest flights from Los Angeles to Colombo
Booking in advance is often the key to scoring a cheap Los Angeles to Colombo flight. Fares tend to rise as seats fill up, so the closer your departure date, the more you'll likely spend.
Getting cheap plane tickets from Los Angeles to Colombo is more likely if you're flexible with your dates. Use the 'Whole month' search tool to see the lowest fares across the month and land an awesome deal.
There's no need to search every day to find out if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll let you know the moment there's a better deal on cheap flights from Los Angeles to Colombo.
Pick your preferred arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Alternatively, sort your Los Angeles to Colombo flight results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Consider adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper Los Angeles to Colombo flight. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from Los Angeles International Airport. Break up your trip (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these airports:
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Changi International Airport (SIN)
Dubai Airport (DXB)
LAX is around 19 kilometres from central Los Angeles. If you're catching a cab, driving or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take you 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the trip time to be around 55 minutes.
After a leisurely start to your holiday? Stay near Los Angeles International Airport. Whether you're taking an early flight from Los Angeles to Colombo or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels have you covered:
Los Angeles International Airport gets top marks for its on-time performance. 81.05% of flights that depart LAX arrive at their destination on time.
LAX is located at One World Way.
Arriving in Colombo
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
Colombo Ratmalana Airport (RML) is approximately 13 kilometres from the centre of Colombo. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive takes roughly 40 minutes.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Book a hotel close to CMB if you have a late flight from Los Angeles to Colombo. Choose one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
As soon as your flight from Los Angeles to Colombo has hit the runway, you can make your way to the city centre in around 40 minutes by car. Central Colombo is roughly 27 kilometres from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).
If you travel by public transport, you'll get to the city centre in 1 hour 30 minutes or so.
Sr Rent A Car, Green Motion and Sixt make collecting a Bandaranaike International Airport rental car simple. These trusted companies are located around or in the terminal and will get you on your way in no time.
Lock in the lowest price by securing your ride from CMB two weeks in advance. You can also expect to have a wider range of vehicles.
Best time to go to Colombo
Plan your trip to Los Angeles during high season if you prefer a busy atmosphere, but remember that hotel prices are usually higher. Alternatively, book your flights from Los Angeles to Los Angeles in the off-season when prices are cheaper and it's less crowded.
When booking your Los Angeles to Colombo tickets, consider what kind of weather works for you. March is the warmest month in Colombo, with temperatures ranging from 24ºC (75ºF) to 33ºC (91ºF).
January sees average temperatures of between 22ºC (72ºF) and 32ºC (90ºF). Look for cheap flights from Los Angeles to Colombo around that time if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
More about Colombo
Start your Colombo trip off on the right foot by choosing the perfect place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from Los Angeles to Colombo, browse our range of accommodation options including:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be hard to figure out where to begin. Gangaramaya Temple, Independence Square & Independence Memorial Hall and Viharamahadevi Park are top sights which should feature on every Colombo itinerary.
Explore more of Sri Lanka
Moratuwa is just one of the many places in Sri Lanka waiting to be explored after you've seen Colombo. Around 18 kilometres to the south, top sights here include Boat House, Angulana Beach and Dilmah Conservation One Earth Arboretum.
Jaffna is another must-experience destination in Sri Lanka and is around 306 kilometres north of Colombo. No trip is complete without visiting Jaffna Fort, Dambakola Patuna Sangamitta Temple and Jaffna Public Library.
