At a glance
- Direct flights
- None. Most itineraries have one stop.
- Route code
- AKL to CMB (Auckland to Colombo)
- Usual stopovers
- Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Australia or other Asian and Gulf hubs
- Arrival airport
- Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), Katunayake
- From the airport
- Roughly an hour by road to central Colombo, depending on traffic
- Popular travel times
- Sinhala and Tamil New Year (April), Vesak (May), Christmas to New Year
- Before you fly
- Most visitors need an online ETA
Flying from Auckland to Colombo
Sri Lanka’s main international airport is Bandaranaike, in Katunayake north of Colombo. From New Zealand you’ll connect at least once, and the choice of connection shapes the trip: some routings are quicker, others are cheaper but add a long layover. SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier, is one of the options your consultant will check alongside other airlines.
If your family lives outside Colombo, tell us where. Roads and trains from the airport go in different directions, and we can help you think through the first day after landing.
When to go
Many families travel for Sinhala and Tamil New Year in April, for Vesak in May, or over Christmas and New Year. These dates are popular, so it pays to ask early. For beach weather, the south-west coast is generally driest from around December to March, while the east coast tends to be better from roughly April to September, though conditions vary year to year.
Student, one-way and extended stays
Going for a long visit or returning from study? One-way fares and open return dates are worth asking about. We’ll explain the change rules for each fare before you pay.
Airlines on this route
Airlines commonly used between New Zealand and Sri Lanka include SriLankan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, Qantas, Cathay Pacific and Emirates, depending on the connection. We compare what is available on your dates.
