Travelling from London to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB): What you need to know
When planning your flight from London to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), you'll have your pick of airports to jet out of. Check out London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) for your departure options. Other possibilities include Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY).
Around 10 hours 35 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct London to Bandaranaike International Airport flight.
Bandaranaike International Airport is located in Colombo. The city operates on the UTC+5:30 timezone and is five hours 30 minutes ahead of London.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is the most popular route, with 8 direct services each week. Get from LHR to CMB on SriLankan Airlines's 12:35pm flight.
To ensure you catch your flight from London to CMB, leave plenty of time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
Peak season means busier airports, so plan to arrive even earlier. Give yourself at least two hours before a domestic flight and four hours for international journeys to stay on schedule.
Airports in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) offers an easy route to your destination. Nonstop flights from London to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) operate out of this terminal.
When jetting out of LHR, you can take a direct flight from London to Bandaranaike International Airport with SriLankan Airlines.
The preferred choice for passengers flying between LHR and CMB is SriLankan Airlines.
SriLankan Airlines is the top-ranked carrier for punctuality on this route.
A stopover is the ideal opportunity to take a travel break and perhaps even explore another city. When searching for cheap flights from London to CMB leaving from London Heathrow Airport (LHR), uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to find all potential stops. Some popular options include:
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM)
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH)
The journey from central London to LHR takes around 1 hour by public transport. If you ride-share, drive or take a cab, you'll cover the 31 kilometres in 55 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Looking for a convenient hotel close to London Heathrow Airport? If you're catching an early flight from London to Bandaranaike International Airport, these stays will have you sleeping conveniently close to check-in:
68.18% of flights leaving from London Heathrow Airport land at their destination on time.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Make the most of your holiday with a stopover on your flight from London to Bandaranaike International Airport. Here's where you can connect between London Gatwick Airport and CMB:
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
You can arrive at LGW from central London in about 1 hour 20 minutes by car (depending on traffic conditions). The ride on public transport takes roughly 30 minutes to travel the 80 kilometres or so.
Start your holiday early with an extra night away from home. Before your London to CMB flight, stay in one of these hotels close to London Gatwick Airport:
Looking at how often flights stay on schedule, London Gatwick Airport has an on-time arrival rate of 69.26%.
Stansted Airport (STN)
When organising your plane ticket from London to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) out of Stansted Airport (STN), you have stopover options to choose from. Consider making a detour to Dubai Airport (DXB), one of the busiest connection points on this route.
The journey time to STN from central London is around 1 hour 25 minutes by public transport. If you're in a car, it'll take you about 1 hour to cover the 64 kilometres or so.
Skip the rush on your departure day — stay close to Stansted Airport and know you'll reach your gate with time to spare. Get settled at one of these hotels the day before if you have an early London to Bandaranaike International Airport flight:
Flights departing from STN arrive at their destination within the scheduled time frame 64.73% of the time.
About Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
Have a late flight from London to Bandaranaike International Airport? Don't let your travel day stretch into tomorrow. Stay at one of these hotels near CMB and give yourself a well-earned lights-out:
Follow your own route with a Bandaranaike International Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Sr Rent A Car, Green Motion or Sixt and find adventure across Colombo and beyond.
For the best deal, book your vehicle around two weeks in advance of your London to Bandaranaike International Airport flight.
Getting from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to central Colombo
Bandaranaike International Airport to the centre of Colombo is around 27 kilometres. If you're getting a cab or renting a car, plan ahead to make your trip as smooth as possible. Journey times will vary based on traffic conditions and the time of day.
It takes around 1 hour 30 minutes if you're travelling on public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
R 3,464 is currently the best price for a one-way ticket from London to Bandaranaike International Airport. A return flight starts from R 7,833. These fares can change depending on demand and availability.
To snag cheap flights from London to CMB, book your ticket 11 months ahead of your planned departure.
Plan your trip for April. That's the best month for landing a great bargain on London to Bandaranaike International Airport tickets. If you're flexible with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across every month.
Locking in a cheap plane ticket from London to CMB is a breeze with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know when prices go down.
Filters make it easier to scoop up a deal on your flight from London to Bandaranaike International Airport. Choose the departure times, airlines and number of stops that line up with your plans. Then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to find the most affordable option fast.
The best time to fly from London to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
August is the most popular month for flights from London to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). Plan your visit to Colombo in April if you prefer a quieter experience.
When booking your London to CMB plane ticket, consider the weather you're most comfortable in. March is the warmest month in Colombo, with temperatures ranging from 24ºC (75ºF) to 33ºC (91ºF).
Search for cheap tickets from London to Bandaranaike International Airport in January if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 22ºC (72ºF) and 32ºC (90ºF).
More about Colombo
Start your Colombo trip right by choosing the perfect place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from London to Bandaranaike International Airport, check out our range of hotels including:
There are so many things to see and do in this city, it can be hard to figure out where to begin. Mt Lavinia Beach, Elephant House and Sri Gangaramaya are highlights which should feature on any well-planned Colombo itinerary.
Explore more of Sri Lanka
Colombo has its own special appeal, but there are so many other corners of Sri Lanka just waiting to be discovered. About 209 kilometres north-east of Colombo, a trip to Trincomalee will keep you on the move. Start with leading sights like Nilaveli Beach, Sea View Point and Uppuveli.
Around 209 kilometres east of Colombo, Kalmunai is another favourite stop in Sri Lanka. No visit is complete without checking out Jamia Jummah Masjid (Kalmunai Town Red Mosque), Green Field Aasath Park and Iyanar Kovil.