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SFO to RML: distance & flight time
San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport) → Colombo (Colombo Ratmalana Airport)
9,048 mi
14,561 km · 7,862 nm
18h 12m
estimated nonstop flight time
+12.5h
time difference · heading northwest
See live SFO→RML fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
9,048 miles nonstop takes roughly 18h 12m gate to gate, flying northwest. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 12.5-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- SFO — San Francisco International Airport · San Francisco, United States
- RML — Colombo Ratmalana 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 SFO
- SQL · San Carlos Airport10 mi away
- HAF · Half Moon Bay Airport10 mi away
- OAK · Metropolitan Oakland International Airport11 mi away
- NGZ · Alameda Naval Air Station12 mi away
Near RML
- CMB · Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport25 mi away
- KCT · Koggala Airport65 mi away
- HRI · Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport93 mi away
- GIU · Sigiriya Air Force Base97 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is SFO from RML?
The flight distance from San Francisco (SFO) to Colombo (RML) is 9,048 miles (14,561 km, 7,862 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from SFO to RML?
A nonstop flight takes about 18h 12m 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 San Francisco and Colombo?
Colombo is 12.5 hours ahead of San Francisco.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SFO to RML?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SFO–RML that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.