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MEL to CMB: distance & flight time
Melbourne (Melbourne International Airport) → Colombo (Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport)
5,194 mi
8,358 km · 4,513 nm
10h 39m
estimated nonstop flight time
-4.5h
time difference · heading west
See live MEL→CMB fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
5,194 miles nonstop takes roughly 10h 39m 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
- MEL — Melbourne International 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 MEL
- MEB · Melbourne Essendon Airport5 mi away
- MBW · Melbourne Moorabbin Airport25 mi away
- AVV · Avalon Airport32 mi away
- GEX · Geelong Airport47 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 MEL from CMB?
The flight distance from Melbourne (MEL) to Colombo (CMB) is 5,194 miles (8,358 km, 4,513 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from MEL to CMB?
A nonstop flight takes about 10h 39m 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 MEL to CMB?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on MEL–CMB that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.