Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport (CMB) Flights & Flight Status

The largest and busiest airport in Sri Lanka is Colombo Bandaranaike Intl, which is the main hub for SriLankan Airlines. Named for the former prime minister of the country, the terminal is woefully outdated for the number of passengers that pass through it. Luckily, plans are in place to open a new terminal in the coming years that will ease the pressure on current operations and improve the traveller experience for all passengers. For now, here is how to make the most of a visit to or a transit through CMB.

Current terminals

At present, there are two terminals, and the long-awaited third terminal will open in 2025 to great fanfare. Colombo’s airport is laid out in an unusual fashion that puts security screening at each gate rather than at one central point.

This means that travellers must wait in the public areas until their flight is ready for boarding. Then, they must go through screening and wait to board in a holding room with no shops or amenities until the aircraft is ready. Not only does this mean people must head to their gate sooner than planned, but it also means they cannot bring liquids like bottled water aboard.

I don’t like this setup because it limits productivity if you are working (or resting) in the lounge because you need to head to the gate. There are often lines for security.

Terminal 1

This is the main international terminal and consists of one long pier with a central passageway that branches off to individual gates. There are several jet bridges, but some flights also require taking a bus to the plane where you board by stairs.

The terminal has limited seating options, but there is no shortage of places to shop. Famous for tea, the Sri Lankan capital’s airport has several fine tea shops, which make a great souvenir to bring home.

As is common in this part of the world, duty-free shops sell everything from the traditional perfumes and beauty products to electronics and even home appliances. You are just as likely to see someone shipping a flat-screen TV or washing machine to their destination as a TUMI suitcase.

Terminal 2

This is the “coming soon,” new international terminal and will offer modern jet bridges, more shops, better lounges and a more organised layout that is convenient to travellers. It will also have one gate that will be able to handle the Airbus A380, which is sure to attract attention from frequent airline visitors like Emirates and Etihad that have this plane.

When this terminal opens, it will double the capacity of the airport by adding 14 jet bridges and more transit space. Eventually, the airport wants to add a second runway.

Terminal 3

Just over a decade old, this is where domestic flights operate. For such a small country, the domestic network is limited, and this is the least busy area of the airport.

Where you can go from Colombo

While Oneworld member SriLankan Airlines is the hometown carrier and largest operator at the airport, its route map is limited to Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Its network also stretches to several cities in Australia as well as London, Paris and Frankfurt.

Major network airlines like Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines carry a lot of traffic to points across the globe when heading west. If flying east, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines handle a lot of passengers.

Given the normal traffic flow of several airlines, the busiest times at Colombo are during the evening and early morning hours. There are a lot of flights that leave after midnight.

Colombo is also a convenient transit airport to reach the Maldives. A travel hack I find notable is that if you are trying to use frequent flyer miles to reach the Maldives and cannot find space, consider searching for award seats to Colombo instead.

These are often more readily available. From here, you can purchase a cheap ticket on one of the many airlines that make the one-hour flight south to the Maldives. This advice also makes sense for purchase tickets with cash. Flights to and from Sri Lanka can often be cheaper than the Maldives.

Where to stay near CMB airport

If you find yourself with a long layover at Colombo’s airport, you may want to consider heading into town. Many nationalities will need a tourist visa so be sure to consider that before making any plans.

The Negombo area, which is closer to the airport than the city-centre, has a few reasonable hotels (although nothing in the luxury category). This will be more comfortable, especially if you want to do a little sightseeing or visit the beach, but also stay close to the airport.

Staying inside the airport is easy thanks to a transit hotel within the air-side section of the terminal. You can get off your flight and find yourself in a comfortable bed just minutes later. The rates are reasonable, but I recommend an advance reservation.

Otherwise, you will find yourself on the hunt for a seat in the terminal or reclining on one of the sofas in the lounges. When flying SriLankan, it is worth asking the transit desk if your ticket is eligible for a complimentary hotel.

Eligible tickets purchased from the airline with a connection between 8 and 24 hours (and no earlier flight is available) can receive a hotel stay and meal vouchers. If you do choose to go exploring, avoid exchanging money at the currency booths at the airport.

It is always wise to look for a bank-operated ATM instead because they tend to offer a more favourable exchange rate. You will probably need cash to visit some of the tourist sites or to buy drinks and snacks on the beach.

Lounges

Colombo is a lovely city with incredibly hospitable people, but its international airport’s lounges are not representative of that at all. In fact, they are ageing with poor furnishings, limited space and disappointing staff. At least, the hot food buffet is decent and tasty.

Serendib Lounges

The Serendib Lounges are the VIP spaces for SriLankan Airlines passengers and some, but not all, Oneworld elite status members. SriLankan is a member of Oneworld, but top-tier elite status members may be sent to independent lounges due to space constraints at the Serendib Lounges.

Two gold-painted doors lead to this main lounge, which has several armchairs lined up in rows by the windows. The natural light is a treat, but there are sadly very few power outlets within easy reach.

There is a bar with made-to-order drinks, but the staff is not always present. I do like the buffet of Sri Lankan food (there are also Western choices), but that is the only saving grace here. There are showers, but the wait time can be a while during busy periods.

A second Serendib Lounge is one level up, but it is meant more as an overflow lounge and welcomes elite status cardholders with Oneworld. It has no natural light, and I liken it more to a broom closet than a lounge for an airline in its hub.

Other lounges

There are several contract lounges at the airport, and these are accessible via Priority Pass. Many credit cards include a Priority Pass membership so check the fine print to see if you have access. While they may look different, the buffet menu is quite similar to what you will find in the Serendib Lounge.

All of the contract lounges here are looking worse for wear with old furnishings and stained fabrics the norm. I have curled up on one of the sofas before and slept for several hours, so at least they are comfortable. It is also possible to pay for access.

Oddly, the best lounge at CMB is not operated by the home carrier, but one of its major competitors: Emirates. When the new terminal opens with A380-capable gates, the carrier will probably boost capacity here.

A recent upgrade is renewing the furnishings and decor to elevate the Emirates lounge space even further. If you are travelling in economy and have a long layover here, I recommend paying for Emirates Lounge access. You can pay with cash or Emirates frequent flyer miles.

How to get to Colombo airport

Public transportation is not a strong suit in the region, and I recommend taking a taxi or car service organised via your hotel to reach the airport. During daylight hours, I usually order an Uber because they are cheap and plentiful.

If you are going beyond Colombo, taxis are available as another option. Be sure to agree on a price before getting in the car. I recommend pre-paying for a taxi in the terminal at official booths before heading outside.

While there is a public bus from the city-centre bus station to the airport, it is not frequented by tourists. With Uber being so cheap, that is a far more convenient way to get around.