Travelling from New York to Colombo: what you need to know
You can choose from multiple airports when planning your flight from New York to Colombo. Check out your options for departing New York from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
Disembark at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), the chief entry point to Colombo.
Colombo is nine hours 30 minutes ahead of New York and follows the UTC+5:30 timezone.
For a stress-free start to your trip, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. That way, you won't have to rush to catch your New York to Colombo flight.
Flying over a peak time such as July? Public holidays and other popular seasons can lead to longer queues and delays at check-in and security. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from New York to Colombo
Don't wait until the last moment. You're more likely to find cheap New York to Colombo flights if you book in advance. Airlines often have some great early bird discounts.
If you're willing to be flexible with your trip dates, try using the 'Whole month' search tool. It'll give you the cheapest price across each month when looking for your plane ticket from New York to Colombo.
You don't need to check every day to see if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll update you when there's a better deal on cheap flights from New York to Colombo.
Save money on your New York to Colombo flight with the help of our filters. Select your preferred departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Flying from New York
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Consider adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper New York to Colombo flight. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from John F. Kennedy International Airport. Take a break (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these popular options:
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
JFK is about 19 kilometres from central New York. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take 50 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're using public transport, expect the journey time to be around 1 hour 20 minutes.
Looking for a handy hotel near John F. Kennedy International Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from New York to Colombo, these accommodation options will have you moments from your departure gate:
Of all flights leaving John F. Kennedy International Airport, 74.1% arrive as scheduled at their destination.
JFK is located at JFK Airport.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Break up your New York to Colombo flight with a stop so you can stretch your legs or perhaps go somewhere you've never been before. Some great stopovers between Newark Liberty International Airport and Colombo include:
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM)
Using public transport, you can travel from central New York to EWR in around 1 hour 10 minutes. The airport is roughly 14 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 30 minutes.
You're off on holiday, so why not book an extra night away from home? Think about checking in to one of these accommodation options near Newark Liberty International Airport the day before your flight from New York to Colombo:
Newark Liberty International Airport has an on-time performance of 73%. This figure gives an insight into how often flights that depart from this airport land on schedule.
You'll find EWR at Building 1, Conrad Road.
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
LGA is around 13 kilometres from central New York. The drive from the city centre to the airport takes about 25 minutes. If you're considering public transport, expect a journey of around 1 hour.
Set yourself up for a smooth departure — stay close to LaGuardia Airport and know you'll reach your gate with time to spare. Check in to one of these hotels the day before if you've booked an early New York to Colombo flight:
LGA has an on-time performance rate of 80.0%. This means the majority of its flights touch down as expected and your trip goes off without a hitch.
LaGuardia Airport is located at Hangar 7 Centre.
Arriving in Colombo
Colombo Ratmalana Airport (RML)
Colombo Ratmalana Airport (RML) to central Colombo takes about 40 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 13 kilometres away.
Getting there on public transport will take you roughly 1 hour 15 minutes.
Consider booking a hotel near RML if you're coming in on a late flight from New York to Colombo. Choose one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
The centre of Colombo is around 27 kilometres from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). After your flight from New York to Colombo has landed and you've made your way through the terminal, the drive should be around 40 minutes.
You can expect the journey to take about 1 hour 30 minutes on public transport.
Sr Rent A Car, Green Motion and Sixt make collecting a Bandaranaike International Airport rental car easy and quick. These trusted providers are located in or around the terminal and will have you ready to go in a flash.
Avoid potential price surges. Reserving your ride two weeks before your arrival at CMB will help you stay within budget.
Best time to go to Colombo
Have a think about your dates before locking in your flight from New York to New York. The city comes alive during high season, but hotel prices are often higher and top attractions can be busy. Plan your trip to New York in low season if you like a more relaxed vibe.
Lock in a New York to Colombo ticket departing in March if you're eager to experience the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Colombo to range from 24ºC to 33ºC.
If you like cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from New York to Colombo in January when temperatures average between 22ºC and 32ºC.
More about Colombo
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best stays in Colombo right here. Check out these options as soon as you've locked in your flight from New York to Colombo:
Gangaramaya Temple and Independence Square & Independence Memorial Hall are just the start of the top-rated attractions to add to your Colombo to-do list. Continue your sightseeing adventures at Viharamahadevi Park.
Explore more of Sri Lanka
You've done Colombo, now it's time to discover other corners of Sri Lanka. Journey around 18 kilometres south to Moratuwa to check off its must-visit sights. From Boat House to Angulana Beach and Dilmah Conservation One Earth Arboretum, you'll have a full itinerary ahead.
Around 306 kilometres north of Colombo, Jaffna is another essential stop in Sri Lanka. Get a taste of what this destination has to offer at Jaffna Fort, Dambakola Patuna Sangamitta Temple and Jaffna Public Library.
