Bandaranaike International Airport
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is Sri Lanka's principal international gateway, situated in Katunayake, Western Province, roughly 35 kilometres north of central Colombo. Named after Prime Minister Solomon Bandaranaike, the airport has served as the country's primary point of entry since the 1960s and remains the dominant hub for both inbound tourism and outbound travel across the island nation. Its location on the western coastal plain, close to the Indian Ocean, places it within a few hours' flying time of major hubs across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, giving Colombo a natural role as a transit and connection point between these regions and onward destinations in Europe and beyond.
Overview
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is Sri Lanka's principal international gateway, situated in Katunayake, Western Province, roughly 35 kilometres north of central Colombo. Named after Prime Minister Solomon Bandaranaike, the airport has served as the country's primary point of entry since the 1960s and remains the dominant hub for both inbound tourism and outbound travel across the island nation. Its location on the western coastal plain, close to the Indian Ocean, places it within a few hours' flying time of major hubs across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, giving Colombo a natural role as a transit and connection point between these regions and onward destinations in Europe and beyond.
Bandaranaike International Airport is most useful when its route network, ground transport and terminal setup match the trip you are taking. Before booking, compare the scheduled departure time with the airport location, connection window and any baggage or check-in requirements attached to your airline.
Airlines
SriLankan Airlines operates Bandaranaike as its primary hub, connecting Colombo to a wide range of destinations across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The national carrier's presence shapes much of the airport's scheduling and terminal activity. FitsAir provides domestic and regional services. Beyond the national carriers, a substantial number of international airlines serve Colombo, particularly from Gulf hubs, reflecting the significant movement of Sri Lankan workers and travellers through the Middle East corridor. Carriers from South Asia, Southeast Asia, and select European cities also maintain regular services, underlining the airport's role as a multi-directional transit node rather than a purely point-to-point facility.
For any airport, the operating airline matters as much as the marketing airline shown in a search result. Codeshares, partner flights and regional affiliates can affect check-in desks, terminal use, baggage handling and support if a flight is delayed or changed.
Terminals and Transfers
The airport operates a single main passenger terminal complex that handles the majority of international arrivals and departures. A dedicated international departure area is separated from the arrivals hall, following a layout common to airports that have undergone phased expansion rather than wholesale redevelopment. Transit passengers connecting through Colombo should allow adequate time between flights, as the airport can experience congestion during peak departure windows, particularly in the late evening and early morning hours when many long-haul and Gulf-bound services operate. Facilities within the terminal include duty-free retail, food and beverage outlets, and currency exchange services, though travellers with specific requirements are advised to confirm availability ahead of travel.
Connections through CMB need more planning when flights are on separate tickets, when checked baggage is involved, or when the itinerary changes between domestic and international processing. Build a wider buffer if you need to collect bags, move between terminals or pass through security again.
Ground Transport and Trip Planning
Bandaranaike International Airport ground transport should be planned around your arrival time, luggage and final destination. Public transport can be efficient where available, while taxis, rideshare and private transfers may be easier for late arrivals, families or travellers with multiple bags.
If you are choosing between airports, compare CMB against nearby alternatives, total ground-transport cost and the reliability of the connection. A slightly higher fare can be worthwhile when it reduces transfer risk or shortens the total journey.
Practical guide
Using Bandaranaike International Airport without guesswork
Plan CMB around the terminal you use, the type of connection you are making and how predictable you need the trip into Colombo to be.
Confirm whether your flight uses a domestic, international or regional area at CMB. Airport layouts vary, and terminal assumptions are a common source of missed connections.
The airport operates a single main passenger terminal complex that handles the majority of international arrivals and departures. A dedicated international departure area is separated from the arrivals hall, following a
Leave extra time when changing terminals, travelling with checked luggage, or arriving during busy morning, evening, holiday or event periods.
Before you leave for CMB
- 1Confirm the terminal and operating airline before leaving for CMB.
- 2Check baggage cut-off times if you are travelling with checked luggage.
- 3Leave extra time for international processing or terminal changes.
- 4Compare ground transport options against traffic and arrival time.
- 5Recheck the flight status before travelling to the airport.
Start here
Terminal and transfer notes
Confirm whether your flight uses a domestic, international or regional area at CMB. Airport layouts vary, and terminal assumptions are a common source of missed connections.
The airport operates a single main passenger terminal complex that handles the majority of international arrivals and departures. A dedicated international departure area is separated from the arrivals hall, following a
Leave extra time when changing terminals, travelling with checked luggage, or arriving during busy morning, evening, holiday or event periods.
For Bandaranaike International Airport, the safest connection plan is based on the operating airline, the terminal shown on your booking and whether your baggage is checked through. If the itinerary uses separate tickets, choose a larger buffer.
Routes
Top routes from CMB
Use these route cards to scan popular destinations, estimated distance and flight time before checking live schedules and fares.
No routes tracked from CMB yet.
Official planning details
Transfers, fares, parking and passenger services at CMB
A source-linked planning layer for details that can change: terminal transfers, transport costs, parking, lounges and accessibility.
Terminal transfer links
TransfersBandaranaike International Airport transfer details can depend on airline, terminal, baggage handling and whether flights are booked on one ticket. Check the operating airline and airport website before relying on a tight connection at CMB.
Check airport transfer informationTransport fares and local access
FaresTransport costs to and from Colombo can vary by public transport, taxi, rideshare, private transfer, tolls and time of day. Confirm current fares before travelling, especially for late arrivals or peak periods.
Review transport informationParking and pre-booking
ParkingParking at Bandaranaike International Airport may vary by terminal, short-stay area, long-stay area and online booking rules. Compare official parking options with drop-off, pick-up and ground transport before choosing how to reach the airport.
Review airport parking optionsLounges and eligibility
LoungesLounge availability at CMB depends on airline, cabin, alliance status, membership or paid-entry rules. Check the operating airline before travel because access rules and opening hours can change.
Check lounge informationAccessibility and assistance
AccessPassengers needing mobility, sensory, medical or other assistance should confirm airport facilities and arrange airline assistance before travel. Airline-provided help is usually requested through the airline or booking channel.
Review accessibility informationTerminal and parking maps
MapsMaps are useful for finding check-in areas, arrivals paths, parking locations and ground transport pick-up points at Bandaranaike International Airport. Confirm the terminal before leaving for the airport.
Open airport mapBudget check
Useful cost notes
Prices can change, so use these notes to spot likely cost items before checking the official source.
Public transport, taxi, rideshare and private-transfer prices around CMB can change by time, distance, demand and local fees.
Parking prices often vary by car park, stay length and whether online pre-booking is available.
Seat selection, baggage, lounge access, tolls and late-night transport can change the real cost of a trip.
Nearby airports
Other airports in Sri Lanka
Nearby airport options can help when comparing fares, connection times, ground transport and alternate arrival points in Sri Lanka.
FAQ
Bandaranaike International Airport — frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the details travellers usually check first, from codes and locations to the practical basics that help with planning.
9 common questions
- Bandaranaike International Airport is located in Colombo, Sri Lanka (Asia), at coordinates 7.170°, 79.890°.
- Its IATA code is CMB and its ICAO code is VCBI.
- Bandaranaike International Airport serves Colombo, Sri Lanka. When comparing fares, check whether other airports also serve the same area — prices and transfer times can differ between them.
- Bandaranaike International Airport operates on Asia/Colombo local time. Departure and arrival times on tickets are always shown in each airport's local time, so double-check the offset when planning connections or pick-ups.
- Bandaranaike International Airport sits at latitude 7.170° and longitude 79.890°. The map link in the details panel on this page opens the exact location for driving directions.
- Originfacts does not yet track scheduled routes from CMB. Use the flight search on this page to see live airline options for your travel dates.
- Route coverage for CMB is still being added to Originfacts. Run a search from CMB on the flight search page to see every destination airlines currently sell for your dates.
- Its address is Canada Friendship Rd, කටුනායක, බස්නාහිර පළාත, ශ් රී ලංකාව, 11450, Sri Lanka, the phone number is +94 112 264 444, the official website is http://www.airport.lk/. For flight-specific questions (delays, baggage, rebooking), contact the operating airline directly rather than the airport.
- Yes — Originfacts lists 9 other airports in Sri Lanka. The nearby-airports section on this page links to each of them, which is useful when comparing fares or finding an alternative departure point.