MAA - CMB

£79 Find Cheap Flights from Chennai to Colombo – Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest return flight
£154
Typical prices: £129-£162
SriLankan Airlines
Wed 7/2Fri 16/2
MAA - CMB • Direct
Cheapest one-way flight
£82
Typical prices: £60-£82
SriLankan Airlines
Fri 2/2
MAA - CMB • Direct
Direct flights
You can fly direct with IndiGo and SriLankan Airlines. Average duration is 1h 22m
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 21 weeks in advance save around 12% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 17% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top stopover airports
Cheapest • Avg £93 (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
Expert advice
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 Colombo

Sun, 7 Feb - Tue, 16 Feb
SriLankan Airlines Logo
09:50 - 11:10MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
1h 20mdirect
SriLankan Airlines Logo
07:25 - 08:45CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
1h 20mdirect
£155SriLankan Airlines
Mon, 8 Feb - Mon, 15 Feb
SriLankan Airlines Logo
09:50 - 11:10MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
1h 20mdirect
SriLankan Airlines Logo
13:30 - 14:50CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
1h 20mdirect
£155SriLankan Airlines
Sun, 7 Feb - Wed, 17 Feb
SriLankan Airlines Logo
15:55 - 17:15MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
1h 20mdirect
SriLankan Airlines Logo
07:25 - 08:45CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
1h 20mdirect
£155SriLankan Airlines
Mon, 8 Feb - Wed, 17 Feb
SriLankan Airlines Logo
09:50 - 11:10MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
1h 20mdirect
SriLankan Airlines Logo
07:25 - 08:45CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
1h 20mdirect
£155SriLankan Airlines
Wed, 23 Sep - Mon, 28 Sep
IndiGo Logo
01:20 - 02:40MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
1h 20mdirect
IndiGo Logo
09:45 - 11:05CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
1h 20mdirect
£162IndiGo
Tue, 29 Sep - Sat, 17 Oct
IndiGo Logo
10:00 - 11:30MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
1h 30mdirect
IndiGo Logo
12:30 - 13:45CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
1h 15mdirect
£162IndiGo
Thu, 24 Sep - Mon, 28 Sep
IndiGo Logo
01:20 - 02:40MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
1h 20mdirect
IndiGo Logo
09:45 - 11:05CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
1h 20mdirect
£162IndiGo
Mon, 8 Feb - Sun, 14 Feb
Multiple Airlines Logo
09:50 - 11:10MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
1h 20mdirect
Multiple Airlines Logo
17:15 - 18:40CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
1h 25mdirect
£197Multiple Airlines
Sat, 6 Feb - Sun, 14 Feb
Multiple Airlines Logo
20:55 - 22:15MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
1h 20mdirect
Multiple Airlines Logo
09:10 - 10:35CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
1h 25mdirect
£197Multiple Airlines
Sun, 7 Feb - Sun, 14 Feb
Multiple Airlines Logo
20:55 - 22:15MAA  Chennai-CMB Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
1h 20mdirect
Multiple Airlines Logo
17:15 - 18:40CMB  Colombo Bandaranaike Intl-MAA Chennai
1h 25mdirect
£197Multiple Airlines
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 from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport 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 start at £154. Prices are typical for this route right now, with typical return fares ranging from £129 to £162. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was £154 on SriLankan Airlines.

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

Sunday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport and is 5% cheaper than the average day. Monday is the most expensive day with flight prices 3% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

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

  • September is the cheapest month to fly from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport at £120 return.
  • May (£164) and June (£160) are the most expensive months.
  • The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 36% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

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

Flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport are cheapest 21 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 12% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Chennai to Colombo

 
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

Expert on Air India, SriLankan Airlines and CMB

An avid traveller and aviation expert who has visited 173 countries, all 50 states and seven continents, Ramsey Qubein flies nearly 400,000 miles a year. As a North Carolina-based freelance journalist for publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, USA Today and Bloomberg, among others, he explores the latest trends in aviation, hospitality, cruises and business.

Robert Schrader

Robert Schrader

Expert on IndiGo

One of the web's original travel bloggers, Robert launched his first site, Leave Your Daily Hell, in 2009. Since then, he's expanded into destination niche sites (one each for Japan, Thailand and Taiwan), in addition to having written for the inflight magazines of Singapore Airlines and Korean Air. Overall, he's visited nearly 100 countries, and flies business as often as possible.

Gabriel Leigh

Gabriel Leigh

Expert on MAA

Gabriel is a writer and video creator. As senior content producer for Flightradar24 and Monocle’s transport correspondent, he keeps a close eye on aviation in particular. He has also written travel articles for the likes of The New York Times. Born in New York but raised around the world, he now lives in Sweden. He’s been to 75 countries, flying 2.3 million miles on 113 airlines and through 234 airports in the process.

Key details for Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport flights

Low season

March

Cheapest flight

£82
Best time to beat the crowds (4% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 17% lower on average.
Flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport

When to book flights from Chennai to Colombo

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Chennai to Colombo 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 route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking questions.

  • Which airlines are available on the route from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

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

    • IndiGo
    • SriLankan Airlines

  • 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).

  • 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

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

  • 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 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 £93 return via New Delhi Indira Gandhi Intl (DEL), compared with £146 for direct.

  • 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.

  • 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

    Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Intl (BOM) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

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

    On the Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport route, being flexible with your departure day can save you up to 8%. Sunday is the cheapest day at £139 return on average, while Monday is the most expensive at £151 – a £12 difference. Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

  • 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 3 months, with delays averaging 1 hour 39 minutes.

  • 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%.

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

    Fort Railway Station is one of the most viewed places in Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport on KAYAK.

  • 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 02:02
    • Latest: departs at 21:15 and lands at 22:37.

    The flight takes about 1h 22m.

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

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 7% above the route average of £145. Book 21 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

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

    A direct flight from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport takes 1h 22m, covering 401 miles.

  • 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 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 £101, which is 42% above the typical average for this route.

  • How does IndiGo's on-time performance compare to other airlines on Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport flights?

    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.

  • How do delay rates compare for morning and evening flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

    Night flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.

  • 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).

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

    Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport (CMB) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around £15 for economy cars. Top options include:
    • GREEN MOTION
    • Ace
    • AcaRent
    • Xdrive Mobility
    • SR RENT A CAR

  • 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 £129 to £162, with an average of £145 over the past 12 months. Anything below £129 counts as a good deal.

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 instead of Monday. On this route, Sunday flights average £139 – about £12 less than Monday (8% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 21 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 12% 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 September. Fares historically average £120 return in that month – typically £44 less than the most expensive month, which is May (based on the last 12 months).
  • If arriving on time is high on your priority list, IndiGo is the strongest pick on this route. 93% of IndiGo flights from Chennai to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport arrived on time in the past 3 months, slightly above the route's average on-time arrival rate of 89%. When flights on this route do arrive late, the average delay is 1 hour39 minutes, so choosing an airline with strong on-time performance can make a difference on tight schedules.
  • 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 £93 return on this route – about £52 less than direct flights (based on the last 12 months).

Prefer to fly direct from Chennai to Colombo?

 
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

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

Wednesday

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

Thursday

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

Friday

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

Saturday

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

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

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

Wednesday

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

Thursday

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

Friday

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

Saturday

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

Sunday

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

IndiGo,SriLankan Airlines

See more direct flights

More options for your flight from Chennai to Colombo

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