Delhi to Colombo non-stop on SriLankan Airlines and IndiGo — schedule, fare trends, baggage, CMB Bandaranaike airport, Sri Lanka ETA for Indians.
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Quick answer: Delhi to Colombo non-stop flights take about ≈ 3h 35m nonstop, operated by Air India, SriLankan Airlines, IndiGo (from 29 Mar 2026), ≈ 2–3 non-stops daily. Indian passport holders should check the visa requirement summarised below. Use the live search above to compare today's cheapest DEL–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 Delhi to Colombo? FlightGPT compares live DEL 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 Delhi to Colombo non-stop tomorrow, a last-minute weekend deal or the lowest price three months out, every active Delhi-Colombo fare is one search away.
Three carriers fly Delhi to Colombo nonstop. Air India operates a daily service (A320-family/B787 on some rotations) into Bandaranaike International (CMB). SriLankan Airlines, the flag carrier, flies daily (about 8 weekly) with onward connections across its network. IndiGo launched a six-weekly A320 nonstop on 29 March 2026 (operating most days), usually carrying the lowest fares.
Combined, the route offers roughly 2–3 nonstops a day. One-stop options via Chennai, Bangalore or a Gulf hub exist but are rarely needed given the daily nonstop choice.
Nonstop Delhi → Colombo is about 3 hours 35 minutes for roughly 2,400 km, tracking south down the length of the subcontinent and across the Palk Strait. The return CMB → DEL leg is similar. There is no time difference — Sri Lanka and India are both on UTC+5:30 (India IST; Sri Lanka SLST), so no jet lag at all on this route.
Sri Lanka's west and south coasts (including Colombo) are driest and busiest from December to March, which overlaps Christmas, New Year and the Indian winter holidays — the priciest window. The May–September southwest monsoon brings lower fares to Colombo (while the east coast stays dry). The cheapest months are usually May–June and September–October.
Book 3–6 weeks ahead off-peak and 8–12 weeks for the December–February high season. We don't quote fixed fares — check live prices in the FlightGPT search.
Delhi (DEL) — international flights depart from Indira Gandhi International's Terminal 3 (T3). Colombo (CMB) — Bandaranaike International is Sri Lanka's main gateway, about 35 km north of the city centre near Katunayake; allow around an hour by road to central Colombo. It has a single passenger terminal handling all international traffic, with an expansion underway. Pre-paid taxis and ride-hailing (PickMe, Uber) are the easiest way into town.
Air India and SriLankan economy typically include 30 kg checked + 7 kg cabin (SriLankan may use a piece concept on some fares). IndiGo international 6E fares usually include around 25–30 kg — see IndiGo baggage and Air India baggage for current rules. Basic/promo fares can carry reduced allowances, so confirm your fare class before you fly and pre-buy any extra weight online to save.
Indian passport holders enjoy visa-free entry to Sri Lanka for short tourism stays under the current free-visa scheme for several nationalities including India. You should still complete the online ETA / arrival authorisation via the official Sri Lanka portal before you travel, and carry proof of onward/return travel and accommodation. Your passport must be valid 6+ months. As entry rules can change, confirm the latest status on the official Sri Lanka immigration/ETA website before booking.
From Colombo you can reach the cultural triangle (Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa), the tea-country hills of Kandy and Ella, golden southern beaches at Mirissa and Galle, and wildlife at Yala and Udawalawe — all within a compact island. Whale-watching off Mirissa peaks December–April, and the food, from hoppers to seafood curries, is a highlight in itself.
The nonstop Delhi → Colombo flight takes about 3 hours 35 minutes for roughly 2,400 km. The return Colombo → Delhi leg is similar, and there is no time difference between the two cities.
Three carriers fly the route nonstop: Air India (daily), SriLankan Airlines (daily, about eight weekly) and IndiGo, which launched a six-weekly A320 nonstop on 29 March 2026. Together they offer roughly 2–3 nonstops a day.
Indian passport holders currently get visa-free entry for short tourism stays under Sri Lanka's free-visa scheme. You should still complete the online ETA/arrival authorisation before travel. Confirm the latest rules on the official Sri Lanka immigration portal.
No. Sri Lanka and India both use UTC+5:30 — India on IST and Sri Lanka on SLST — so there is no time change and no jet lag on the Delhi–Colombo route.
IndiGo launched a direct Delhi–Colombo service on 29 March 2026, operating six times a week with A320 aircraft on most days. It joins the daily nonstops already operated by Air India and SriLankan Airlines.
IndiGo's new nonstop often carries the lowest base fares, with Air India and SriLankan competitive. The cheapest seats are usually midweek departures booked a few weeks ahead. Compare all three in the FlightGPT search.
All Delhi–Colombo nonstops on Air India, SriLankan and IndiGo depart from Indira Gandhi International Airport's Terminal 3 (T3), which handles all of Delhi's international departures. Allow time for immigration during peak evening banks.
May–June and September–October are usually cheapest, coinciding with Colombo's wetter southwest-monsoon months. Fares peak December to March during the dry coastal high season and Indian winter holidays. Book 3–6 weeks ahead off-peak.
Bandaranaike International (CMB) is about 35 km north of central Colombo near Katunayake, roughly an hour by road. Pre-paid taxis and ride-hailing apps like PickMe and Uber are the easiest ways into the city.
FlightGPT is a natural-language flight search: ask the way you'd ask a friend, and it compares live DEL–CMB fares across every airline, OTA and travel agent. Try one:
There is no single "cheapest day" to fly Delhi to Colombo — the lowest fare is the one you find by comparing live. Open the search above to line up Delhi–Colombo prices across Air India, SriLankan Airlines, IndiGo (from 29 Mar 2026); booking ahead and avoiding peak weekends typically trims 25–40 percent off the walk-up fare.
Flying Delhi to Colombo at short notice doesn't always mean overpaying. Off-peak departures and unsold seats on Air India, SriLankan Airlines, IndiGo (from 29 Mar 2026) can surface real same-week deals. Put your date into the FlightGPT search above and we'll show every available DEL–CMB fare side by side in seconds.
Most travellers prefer the Delhi to Colombo non-stop option. The direct Delhi-Colombo flight time is ≈ 3h 35m 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 Delhi Colombo ticket but are open to a layover.
Delhi–Colombo pricing rewards comparison over loyalty: the best value rotates between low-cost and full-service carriers depending on the date. FlightGPT's grid surfaces every Delhi Colombo fare with baggage and meals counted in, so the genuinely cheapest all-in ticket is the one that rises to the top.