Cheap Flights from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranayake

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Flight deals from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranayake Airport

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranayake Airport? If you want to travel next month, return fares start from R 11,554. Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranayake

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranayake flights are currently cheapest in August.

Direct flights from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranayake

Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranayake: Alternative routes

Compare routes from Melbourne to Colombo below. You may find an airport to fly into that's cheaper, faster, or easier than Colombo Bandaranayake.

Melbourne to Colombo: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight foundR 4,107
Cheapest month to flyAugust
Average flight time10 hrs, 34 mins
Most popular airlineSriLankan Airlines
Average flights per week34

Finding cheap flights from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranayake: Frequently asked questions

The best price we found for a return flight from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranayake is R 8,266. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
10 hours and 34 minutes is the average flight time from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranayake.
SriLankan Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines and Air Seychelles fly direct from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranayake.
As of March 2026, there are 34 flights per week flying from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranayake.
The cheapest month to fly from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranayake is usually November.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it is currently cheapest to fly from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranayake Airport on Saturday, 7 November 2026.
Yes – the average flight time is 10 hours and 34 minutes.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Colombo Bandaranayake but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Colombo is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
The cheapest airline that flies to Colombo Bandaranayake is Jetstar .

Travelling from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB): What you need to know

  • Melbourne's main base, Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL), is where countless incredible trips begin. Explore your departure options from here for your flight from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).

  • Expect to be travelling for 10 hours 40 minutes. That's the average duration of a direct Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport flight.

  • Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport is located in Colombo. The city follows the UTC+5:30 timezone and is five hours 30 minutes behind Melbourne.

  • Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is the most popular route, with 7 direct services each week. You can travel from MEL to CMB on SriLankan Airlines's 4:10pm flight.

  • Arrive at the airport on time so you don't miss your flight from Melbourne to CMB. Be there at least two hours ahead for international flights and an hour early for domestic departures to avoid any last-minute rush.

  • During popular months like July, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for international flights when you travel during high season in general.

Airports in Melbourne

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)

  • Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is a convenient option for travelling directly to your destination. Nonstop flights from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) depart from this terminal.

  • When jetting out of MEL, you can catch a direct flight from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport with SriLankan Airlines.

  • SriLankan Airlines is the airline with the highest passenger demand for flights from MEL to CMB.

  • The carrier with the top on-time arrival rate on this route is SriLankan Airlines.

  • We make it a piece of cake to book cheap flights from Melbourne to CMB with a stopover. To explore all the options departing from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL), deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, pick a flight with a stop long enough to tour your chosen city. Some popular stopovers between MEL and CMB include:

    • Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)

    • Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK)

    • Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)

  • Located around 24 kilometres from the centre of Melbourne, MEL can be reached in about 25 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey by public transport will take roughly 35 minutes.

  • Planning to catch an early flight from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by choosing one of these hotels near Melbourne Tullamarine Airport:

  • Of the departures from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, 63% land on schedule at their destination.

Avalon Airport (AVV)

  • Think about building a stopover into your journey at Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD). It's a key transfer point for flights from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) leaving Avalon Airport.

  • AVV is about 56 kilometres from central Melbourne. It takes 1 hour 5 minutes or so to get to the airport in a car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 1 hour 20 minutes.

  • It's your holiday, so why not spend another night away at a hotel near Avalon Airport? Before your Melbourne to CMB flight, drop your bags at Corio Bay Motel.

  • Avalon Airport has an on-time performance of 76%. This figure shows how often flights that leave from this airport make it to their destination on time.

About Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)

  • If you're arriving on a late flight from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport, nothing tops the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your bags from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing soon after at one of these options near CMB:

  • To secure the lowest price, book your ride around two weeks in advance of your Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport flight.

Getting from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to central Colombo

  • Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport is around 32 kilometres from the centre of Colombo. It takes around 40 minutes or so to drive to the city.

  • It'll take around 50 minutes if you're using public transport.

How to find the cheapest flights from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)

  • The cheapest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport is R 4,107. For a return flight on this route, the best price is R 8,266. Depending on when and how early you book, these fares may change.

  • Don't leave things to the last moment. You're more likely to walk away with cheap flights from Melbourne to CMB if you book early. Airlines often offer some amazing early bird deals.

  • If you have some flexibility with your travel dates, try using the 'Whole month' search tool. It'll show you the cheapest price across the month when searching for your Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport ticket.

  • Finding a cheap plane ticket from Melbourne to CMB is a breeze with Price Alerts. Simply create one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know when a better deal is available.

  • Find a cheap flight from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport by using filters. Select your preferred times, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.

The best time to fly from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)

  • It's time to decide your travel dates for your flight from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). February is when most people travel to Colombo. If crowds aren't your thing, think about going in November.

  • Book a Melbourne to CMB plane ticket departing in March if you want to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Colombo to range from 24ºC (75ºF) to 33ºC (91ºF).

  • January has temperatures of between 22ºC (72ºF) and 32ºC (90ºF). Look for cheap tickets from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.

More about Colombo

  • Start your Colombo trip right by choosing the ideal place to stay. After booking your flight from Melbourne to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport, browse our selection of hotels including:

  • Mount Lavinia Beach and Sri Gangaramaya are just a couple of the big attractions to add to your Colombo must-do list. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out Independence Square & Independence Memorial Hall.

Explore more of Sri Lanka

  • Trincomalee is just one of the many cities in Sri Lanka waiting to be discovered once you've seen Colombo. Around 209 kilometres away to the northeast, well-known attractions include Nilaveli Beach, Sea View Point and Koneswaram Temple.

  • Have time for another stop? Journey to Kalmunai. It's about 209 kilometres east of Colombo and features highlights including Jamia Jummah Masjid (Kalmunai Town Red Mosque) and Kannaki Amman Kovil.

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.