Chennai to Colombo non-stop on SriLankan, IndiGo, Air India — a short 1h 30m hop. Fares, baggage, Sri Lanka ETA for Indians.
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Quick answer: Chennai to Colombo non-stop flights take about ≈ 1h 30m nonstop, operated by SriLankan Airlines, IndiGo, Air India, ≈ 4–5 non-stops daily. Indian passport holders should check the visa requirement summarised below. Use the live search above to compare today's cheapest MAA–CMB fare across every airline, OTA and travel agent in one place.
Last reviewed July 2026 by the FlightGPT flights desk · route facts cross-checked against DGCA and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) · how we collect fares · editorial policy · fact-checking · fares are live — verify the final price in search before booking.
Looking for cheap flights from Chennai to Colombo? FlightGPT compares live MAA to CMB fares across every connected source — Indian carriers, Gulf hubs, OTAs and trusted travel agents — and shows the cheapest options side by side. Whether you want a Chennai to Colombo non-stop tomorrow, a last-minute weekend deal or the lowest price three months out, every active Chennai-Colombo fare is one search away.
Three carriers fly MAA–CMB nonstop: SriLankan Airlines, IndiGo and Air India, giving roughly four to five nonstop departures a day.
On a flight this short, a connection makes no sense — nonstops dominate the route.
The nonstop MAA–CMB flight time is just 1h 30m (about 1h 20m–1h 25m in the air), covering roughly 650 km south across the Palk Strait that separates India from Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka shares the same IST time zone as India, so there's no time change. Because it's such a short sector, it can feel like a domestic hop with a quick passport stamp on arrival.
MAA–CMB fares are usually lowest in Sri Lanka's southwest-monsoon shoulder months — roughly May, June and September — when beach demand softens. The dry, sunny peak from December to March (ideal for the west and south coasts) and the December–January holidays bring the highest fares.
Booking about 3–6 weeks ahead generally lands good nonstop fares on this short, frequently flown route. Compare live fares in the FlightGPT search; with three carriers the cheapest option changes often.
Always confirm current pricing in the FlightGPT search before booking.
Chennai (MAA): international flights, including MAA–CMB, depart from the Terminal 2 international terminal at Chennai International Airport. If you're connecting from a domestic flight (Terminal 1 or Terminal 4), allow time to move between the domestic and international terminals.
Colombo (CMB): Bandaranaike International Airport is about 35 km north of central Colombo (near Negombo). It's a compact, single-terminal airport; pre-book a taxi or airport transfer, as the city is a 45–60 minute drive depending on traffic.
SriLankan Airlines and Air India include a checked allowance in the international fare plus cabin baggage. IndiGo includes cabin baggage but charges for checked bags — add the allowance when booking to avoid higher airport rates; see the IndiGo baggage guide. For Air India's allowances, see the Air India baggage page. Even on a short hop, weigh bags first to dodge excess fees.
Indian passport holders can now get a free 30-day tourist ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) for Sri Lanka — extended through 2026, with the no-cost scheme effective from 25 May 2026 — covering tourism, family visits and short business, with double-entry permitted. Apply online at the official eta.gov.lk portal before you fly (approval usually within 24–48 hours); visa-on-arrival is also available at Colombo but applying ahead speeds clearance. Carry a passport valid for six months, a return ticket and proof of accommodation. Verify the current rule on the official Sri Lanka ETA site.
Colombo is a lively coastal capital — Galle Face Green, colonial-era Fort, temples, markets and a growing food-and-bar scene — and the gateway to the whole island. Within a short drive or train ride you reach the historic Galle Fort, palm-fringed southern beaches, the tea-country hills of Ella and Nuwara Eliya, the cultural triangle (Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Kandy's Temple of the Tooth) and wildlife safaris at Yala. With a 90-minute flight, no time difference and a free ETA, it's an effortless international escape from Chennai.
The nonstop MAA–CMB flight takes only about 1h 30m (roughly 1h 20m in the air). Sri Lanka shares India's time zone, so there's no time change — it feels almost like a domestic hop with a quick passport stamp.
SriLankan Airlines, IndiGo and Air India fly nonstop, with around four to five departures a day combined. SriLankan offers the most frequencies and onward connections; IndiGo usually has the lowest base fare.
Indian passport holders need an ETA, but it is now free for a 30-day stay (extended through 2026, effective 25 May 2026) with double-entry allowed. Apply online at eta.gov.lk before you fly; visa-on-arrival is also available at Colombo.
About four to five nonstop departures a day across SriLankan, IndiGo and Air India. Given the short distance and frequent service, it's the most convenient air link between India and Sri Lanka.
Usually in May, June and September during the southwest-monsoon shoulder season. The dry December–March beach peak and the year-end holidays are the most expensive times to fly to Colombo.
MAA–CMB departs from Chennai's Terminal 2 international terminal. If you're connecting from a domestic flight at Terminal 1 or Terminal 4, allow time to move between the domestic and international terminals.
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is about 35 km north of central Colombo, near Negombo — roughly a 45–60 minute drive. Pre-book a transfer or use a metered taxi or ride app on arrival.
Very. With a 90-minute flight, no time difference, frequent nonstops and a free ETA, even a long weekend in Colombo, Galle or the southern beaches is easy from Chennai. Check live fares in the FlightGPT search.
FlightGPT is a natural-language flight search: ask the way you'd ask a friend, and it compares live MAA–CMB fares across every airline, OTA and travel agent. Try one:
What you pay on the Chennai–Colombo route hinges on timing: book roughly 3–8 weeks ahead, stay flexible on the day of week, and you usually land the better fare. Search Chennai to Colombo live to see how today's price compares to dates a month out — the gap is often 25–40 percent across SriLankan Airlines, IndiGo, Air India.
Last-minute Chennai to Colombo fares move fast, but they're rarely the same across every airline. Run your date through the search above and FlightGPT compares real-time Chennai Colombo prices across SriLankan Airlines, IndiGo, Air India — so you grab the cheapest seat still open, not the first one you see.
Most travellers prefer the Chennai to Colombo non-stop option. The direct Chennai-Colombo flight time is ≈ 1h 30m nonstop. If you are flexible, 1-stop alternatives through major hubs can be 15-30 percent cheaper. FlightGPT lets you filter by "Direct only" or compare both side by side — useful when you want the cheapest Chennai Colombo ticket but are open to a layover.
Expect Chennai–Colombo fares to vary by cabin, baggage and how the fare is bundled. A bare low-cost fare can end up dearer than a full-service SriLankan Airlines ticket once you add a bag and a seat. FlightGPT shows the all-in price for each option, so you're comparing like for like rather than misleading lead-in fares.