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SHA to CMB: distance & flight time
Shanghai (Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport) → Colombo (Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport)
3,144 mi
5,060 km · 2,732 nm
6h 38m
estimated nonstop flight time
-2.5h
time difference · heading southwest
See live SHA→CMB fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
3,144 miles nonstop takes roughly 6h 38m gate to gate, flying southwest. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 2.5-hour time set-back when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- SHA — Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport · Shanghai, China
- 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 SHA
- PVG · Shanghai Pudong International Airport28 mi away
- SZV · Suzhou Guangfu Airport55 mi away
- WUX · Sunan Shuofang International Airport57 mi away
- HGH · Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport86 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 SHA from CMB?
The flight distance from Shanghai (SHA) to Colombo (CMB) is 3,144 miles (5,060 km, 2,732 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from SHA to CMB?
A nonstop flight takes about 6h 38m 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 Shanghai and Colombo?
Colombo is 2.5 hours behind Shanghai.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SHA to CMB?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SHA–CMB that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.