LHR → CMB
London Heathrow to Colombo
- Route
- LHR → CMB
- Distance
- 5,415 miles
- Non-stop flying time
- around 11h 15m
- With one stop
- usually 15 hours–17 hours
- Arrive at
- Bandaranaike International Airport
- Local time
- UTC+5:30
Leaving from London Heathrow
The UK’s busiest airport, about 15 miles west of central London, reached by the Elizabeth line, the Heathrow Express and the Piccadilly line. Heathrow has the widest choice of long-haul flights in the UK, including direct services on many routes and one-stop connections with every major Gulf carrier.
Arriving in Colombo
Sri Lanka’s commercial capital; the airport sits north of the city, handy for the west-coast beaches.
Connections and timing
Typical connecting points on this route: Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Istanbul. Best time to go: december to March for the west and south coasts; the east coast is best from May to September.
Fares on this route are usually lowest when booked well ahead and outside UK school holidays, Eid and Christmas. Being flexible by a day or two, or flying mid-week, often helps — your consultant will tell you what moves the price on your dates.
Other UK airports to Colombo
Questions people ask
- How long is the flight from London Heathrow to Colombo?
- The two airports are about 5,415 miles apart. A non-stop flight, where one operates, takes around 11h 15m. With one connection, most journeys take 15 hours to 17 hours door to gate, depending on the layover.
- Are there direct flights from London Heathrow to Colombo?
- It depends on the season and the airline — non-stop services start, stop and change frequency through the year. Most travellers on this route connect via Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi. Call us and a consultant will check what is flying on your dates.
- Which airport will I land at?
- Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).
- How can I get the cheapest fare?
- Book early, avoid peak holiday weeks, and be flexible by a day or two if you can. Send us your dates and we’ll compare fares across the airlines for you — or call 020 3137 8781, open 24/7.