Cheap flights from Johannesburg to Colombo from £348

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2 stops
Sun, Oct 18
Johannesburg JNBColombo CMB
£348
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2 stops
Tue, Oct 20
Johannesburg JNBColombo CMB
£364
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2 stops
Sun, Oct 18
Johannesburg JNBColombo CMB
£376
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1 stop
Wed, Oct 21
Johannesburg JNBColombo CMB
£479
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1 stop
Sat, Oct 17
Johannesburg JNBColombo CMB
£482
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1 stop
Mon, Oct 19
Johannesburg JNBColombo CMB
£486
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2 stops
Sat, Oct 17 – Thu, Oct 22
Johannesburg JNBColombo CMB
£654
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2 stops
Thu, Oct 22 – Mon, Oct 26
Johannesburg JNBColombo CMB
£656
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2 stops
Mon, Oct 19 – Sun, Oct 25
Johannesburg JNBColombo CMB
£670
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2 stops
Wed, Oct 21 – Sun, Oct 25
Johannesburg JNBColombo CMB
£670
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2 stops
Sat, Oct 17 – Thu, Oct 22
Johannesburg JNBColombo CMB
£670
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2 stops
Wed, Oct 21 – Mon, Oct 26
Johannesburg JNBColombo CMB
£671
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How much do flights to Colombo cost?

Cheapest one-way trip

£348

Cheapest round-trip

£654

Average round-trip

£831

Includes rare itinerary

Travel hack

Most popular airline

Emirates

Getting from Colombo airport to the city center

Fastest options: taxi or ride-hailing services. Best value: public bus or airport shuttle.

Colombo is served by Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), located approximately 32 km north of the city center. This is Sri Lanka's main international gateway, handling the vast majority of international flights. Various airport transfers to city center destinations are available, including taxis, ride-hailing services, airport shuttles, public buses, and private transfers. Journey times typically range from 45 minutes to over 2 hours depending on traffic conditions, which can be heavy during peak hours on the Colombo-Negombo road.

Transport Option

Typical Time

Typical Cost

Frequency

Best For

45-90 min

Rs 3,500 – Rs 4,500; fixed rate to Colombo Fort area (~$11–14 USD)

on-demand 24/7 (traffic dependent)

convenience and fixed pricing

45-90 min

Rs 2,500 – Rs 4,000; app-based pricing, varies with demand (~$8–12 USD)

on-demand 24/7 (traffic dependent)

budget-conscious travelers

60-120 min

Rs 150 – Rs 200; to Colombo Fort (~$0.50 USD)

every 30–60 min (traffic dependent)

lowest cost option

50-90 min

Rs 500 – Rs 800; air-conditioned service (~$1.50–2.50 USD)

every 30–45 min (traffic dependent)

comfort on a budget

45-90 min

Rs 5,000 – Rs 8,000; sedan; higher for larger vehicles (~$15–25 USD)

pre-booked (traffic dependent)

groups and families

45-90 min

Rs 2,800 – Rs 4,500; app-based pricing (~$9–14 USD)

on-demand 24/7 (traffic dependent)

familiar app experience

Notes:

  • Prices in LKR; table created in 2025 and subject to change.
  • Traffic between the airport and Colombo city center can be very heavy, especially during morning and evening rush hours. Allow extra time during peak periods.
  • Pre-paid taxi counters are located in the arrivals hall and offer fixed rates to various destinations.
  • Ride-hailing apps require local mobile data or WiFi to function.
  • We recommend checking official transport websites for your travel planning.

Updated: December 2025

Key info about flying to Colombo

Depart from
O. R. Tambo International
Arrive to
Bandaranaike International
Average flights per week
400
Flight distance
Worth visiting
Ancient City of Polonnaruwa - Galle Fort - Sigiriya - Sri Lanka - Tooth Temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka - World's End, Sri Lanka

Check-in for a flight from Johannesburg to Colombo

NameCarrier codeIATA CodePassport needed during booking
EmiratesUAEEKNo
Etihad AirwaysETDEYNo
SriLankan AirlinesALKULYes
Qatar AirwaysQTRQRYes
Fly DubaiFDBFZYes

Online check-in is not available for these airlines.

Weather in Colombo

Average Weather

MonthAverage monthly max temperatureAverage monthly min temperature
January30°C23°C
February31°C23°C
March31°C25°C
April31°C26°C
May30°C26°C
June29°C25°C
July29°C25°C
August28°C25°C
September29°C25°C
October29°C25°C
November29°C24°C
December29°C23°C
Hottest Month
31°C
March
Coldest month
23°C
January
Sunny days
171
days per year

14 day forecast

Sunday
11 Oct
83%
29°C26°C
18 Oct
77%
29°C28°C
Monday
12 Oct
63%
28°C26°C
19 Oct
19%
29°C28°C
Tuesday
13 Oct
83%
28°C26°C
20 Oct
80%
29°C27°C
Wednesday
14 Oct
83%
29°C26°C
21 Oct
62%
29°C27°C
Thursday
15 Oct
65%
29°C26°C
22 Oct
57%
28°C27°C
Friday
16 Oct
79%
29°C28°C
23 Oct
63%
29°C27°C
Saturday
17 Oct
67%
29°C28°C
24 Oct
24%
29°C27°C
Travelers usually depart from O. R. Tambo International, or Lanseria International when they travel from Johannesburg to Colombo. The most popular airlines for this route are Emirates, Etihad Airways, SriLankan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Fly Dubai. Johannesburg and Colombo have 400 direct flights per week. When you arrive at Colombo, consider visiting Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, Galle Fort, Sigiriya - Sri Lanka, Tooth Temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka, and World's End, Sri Lanka.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most popular routes to and from Johannesburg?

Travelers frequently search for route combinations, such as Johannesburg and Harare, London, Cape Town, Durban, Gaborone, São Paulo, Bulawayo, Nairobi, George, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Victoria Falls, Windhoek, Kimberley, Northern Cape, Hoedspruit, Limpopo, Lusaka, Nelspruit.

What are the most popular routes to and from Colombo?

Travelers frequently search for route combinations, such as Colombo and London, Manchester, Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai, Birmingham, Tel Aviv, Perth, Abu Dhabi, New Delhi, Bali, Malé, Kuala Lumpur, Bristol, Edinburgh, Denpasar, Vienna, Chennai, Bucharest, Istanbul.

Which airports are there in Johannesburg?

Johannesburg is mainly served by O. R. Tambo International. But there are other airports nearby, including Lanseria International.

Which airlines fly between Johannesburg and Colombo?

Currently, you can fly between Johannesburg and Colombo with Emirates, Etihad Airways, SriLankan Airlines, Qatar Airways, Fly Dubai.

When’s the best time to travel between Johannesburg and Colombo?

If you don’t have specific dates for your trip between Johannesburg and Colombo, you can enter a date range into the departure and return fields. Most carriers on the Kiwi.com website allow you to search and book up to six months from the day of your search. Order the search results by the best, cheapest, or fastest route, or find the cheapest outbound and return combination in the pricing table.

What flights operate between Johannesburg and Colombo?

Traveling between Johannesburg and Colombo, you can choose between direct (nonstop) flights or flights with one or more stops. You can select the number of stops on your journey, including an overnight stopover, and the duration of the stopover. What’s more, you can also select where you want to have your stopover. Want to say "Hi" to a friend in another city en route to your destination? Or fancy a quick round of shopping? Go Multi-City or Nomad and add places to your search that you wish to visit.

What time do nonstop (direct) flights between Johannesburg and Colombo depart?

This depends on the airline’s flight schedule. You can easily select your preferred departure time when you search on our website or mobile app. Choose the time of day you wish to depart from Johannesburg, such as morning, afternoon, evening, or night, or select the exact hours for departure.

What time do nonstop (direct) flights between Johannesburg and Colombo arrive?

This depends on the airline’s flight schedule. You can easily select your preferred arrival time when you search on our website or mobile app. Choose the time of day you wish to arrive at Colombo, such as morning, afternoon, evening, or night, or select the exact hours for arrival.

What time do flights between Johannesburg and Colombo depart?

This depends on the airline’s flight schedule. You can easily select your preferred departure time when you search on our website or mobile app. Choose the time of day you wish to depart from Johannesburg, such as morning, afternoon, evening, or night, or select the exact hours for departure.

What time do flights between Johannesburg and Colombo arrive?

Planning a trip? Thanks to our Virtual Interlining algorithm, we offer billions of route combinations between any origin and destination in the world by plane. Find the cheapest routes and best deals, as well as the best dates to travel.

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