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MEB to CMB: distance & flight time
Melbourne (Melbourne Essendon Airport) → Colombo (Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport)
5,198 mi
8,365 km · 4,517 nm
10h 40m
estimated nonstop flight time
-4.5h
time difference · heading west
See live MEB→CMB fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
5,198 miles nonstop takes roughly 10h 40m gate to gate, flying west. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 4.5-hour time set-back when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- MEB — Melbourne Essendon Airport · Melbourne, Australia
- CMB — Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport · Colombo, Sri Lanka
Distances are great-circle ("as the crow flies") — the same basis airlines use for frequent-flyer miles.
Alternate airports can cut this fare
Flying from or into a nearby airport is the #1 trick our agents use to beat online prices. Call and we'll compare every combination on one call.
Near MEB
- MEL · Melbourne International Airport5 mi away
- MBW · Melbourne Moorabbin Airport20 mi away
- AVV · Avalon Airport32 mi away
- GEX · Geelong Airport46 mi away
Near CMB
- RML · Colombo Ratmalana Airport25 mi away
- GIU · Sigiriya Air Force Base79 mi away
- ACJ · Anuradhapura Air Force Base86 mi away
- KCT · Koggala Airport87 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is MEB from CMB?
The flight distance from Melbourne (MEB) to Colombo (CMB) is 5,198 miles (8,365 km, 4,517 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from MEB to CMB?
A nonstop flight takes about 10h 40m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
What is the time difference between Melbourne and Colombo?
Colombo is 4.5 hours behind Melbourne.
What is the cheapest way to fly from MEB to CMB?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on MEB–CMB that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.