What percentage of Colombo to Chennai flights are direct?

Across the trailing quarter, approximately 18.9% of flights from Colombo to Chennai have historically been direct. For journeys that include stopovers, travelers typically experience a median of 2 stopovers. This data reflects observed flight patterns over a 90-day period.

How long does it take to fly from Colombo to Chennai?

The direct flight time from Colombo to Chennai typically takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes, covering a distance of 647 kilometers. Flights with one stopover generally have a median duration of 10 hours and 35 minutes. These durations are based on historical observations for this route.

How often do cheap flights from Colombo to Chennai come up?

Historically, cheap flights from Colombo to Chennai are classified as frequent. This indicates that favorable prices for this route appear regularly. This assessment is based on pricing patterns observed over a 30-day period.

Flights From Colombo

To Chennai

Cheap Flights from Colombo to Chennai

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Deals from

Colombo

RatePunk searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Chennai

Prices updated today

456 airlines compared

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Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Aug 31, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Colombo to Chennai

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Colombo to Chennai

2026-09-10 – 2026-09-20
CMB - Chennai
38% AI deal score
$129
$188
Round trip
2026-09-12 – 2026-09-15
CMB - Chennai
39% AI deal score
$150
$195
Round trip
2026-09-24 – 2026-09-27
CMB - Chennai
38% AI deal score
$146
$196
Round trip
2026-09-08 – 2026-09-20
CMB - Chennai
37% AI deal score
$126
$197
Round trip
2026-10-01 – 2026-10-07
CMB - Chennai
37% AI deal score
$134
$198
Round trip
2026-10-02 – 2026-10-07
CMB - Chennai
37% AI deal score
$139
$198
Round trip
2026-09-12 – 2026-09-23
CMB - Chennai
38% AI deal score
$128
$199
Round trip
2026-09-14 – 2026-09-29
CMB - Chennai
38% AI deal score
$124
$199
Round trip
2026-09-10 – 2026-09-14
CMB - Chennai
37% AI deal score
$151
$203
Round trip
2026-09-14 – 2026-09-25
CMB - Chennai
38% AI deal score
$128
$203
Round trip

Colombo to Chennai: Overview

Insights for flights from Colombo to Chennai

Fares for cheap flights from Colombo to Chennai typically range from $301–$629, with a median of $424. Right now, current fares are above the typical level for this route. New deals appear almost daily, suggesting frequent opportunities to find better prices.

When is the cheapest time to fly from Colombo to Chennai? The most affordable months to fly are January, with a median fare of $142, followed by March at $144, and April at $171. These months offer significantly lower median prices compared to the overall typical fare.

A typical journey from Colombo to Chennai takes approximately 16h 0m, including connections. Most itineraries connect at least once, with the median number of stopovers for connecting flights being 2. Only 18.9% of recent fares were for direct flights from Colombo to Chennai.

The distance between Colombo and Chennai is 647 kilometers, classifying this as a short-haul route. This relatively short distance often means a quicker travel experience, though connections can extend the total journey time.

How much is a round trip from Colombo to Chennai

Regular price: $102 - $208

Prices for flights from Colombo to Chennai are currently within the regular range.

The regular price range for this route is between 102 USD and 208 USD. The current lowest deal is 188 USD with IndiGo for travel from Sep 10 to Sep 20.

now $188

Low $102

High $208

The cheapest time to fly from Colombo to Chennai

The cheapest month to fly from Colombo to Chennai is January, with a median price of $142. The most expensive month is November, with a median price of $470. Prices are generally lower from January to December.

January

Cheapest

Flights from $142

November

Most Expensive

Flights from $470

Jan

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Colombo to Chennai

SriLankan Airlines

Last-minute flights going from Colombo to Chennai

Tue, Sep 1

⌛ Last-Minute

CMB - Chennai

Colombo (CMB) - Chennai (MAA)

IndiGo

$340

$282

One-way

Fri, Sep 4

⌛ Last-Minute

CMB - Chennai

Colombo (CMB) - Chennai (MAA)

IndiGo

$151

$210

One-way

Tue, Sep 8

⌛ Last-Minute

CMB - Chennai

Colombo (CMB) - Chennai (MAA)

IndiGo

$137

$213

One-way

Thu, Sep 10

⌛ Last-Minute

CMB - Chennai

Colombo (CMB) - Chennai (MAA)

IndiGo

$143

$213

One-way

Fri, Sep 11

⌛ Last-Minute

CMB - Chennai

Colombo (CMB) - Chennai (MAA)

SriLankan Airlines

$133

$213

One-way

Sat, Sep 12

⌛ Last-Minute

CMB - Chennai

Colombo (CMB) - Chennai (MAA)

SriLankan Airlines

$132

$208

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Colombo to Chennai

1 night

Sep 1 - Sep 2

$340 → $282

17%

4 nights

Oct 2 - Oct 6

$142 → $198

40%

3 nights

Sep 18 - Sep 21

$151 → $209

39%

11 nights

Sep 4 - Sep 15

$151 → $210

39%

Popular Airports to fly from Colombo to Chennai

Colombo - Chennai route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

Recent fares for Colombo to Chennai are above the typical level at $424.

📅 Best time to fly

January offers the lowest median prices

Historically, January, March, and April show the lowest median prices for this route.

⏱️ Flight duration

Median flight time is 16h 0m

The median flight duration from Colombo to Chennai is 16 hours, with connecting flights common.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant

Only 18.9% of recent flights are direct, with connecting routes having 2 stopovers.

🏆 Airline highlight

SriLankan Airlines offers direct flights

SriLankan Airlines is one of the carriers providing direct flights on this route.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals appear frequently on this route

Deals for flights between Colombo and Chennai appear frequently, typically within 30 days.

Colombo main airports to depart from

Bandaranaike International (CMB)

Cheapest

Bandaranaike International Airport is a convenient departure point for flights to Chennai.

📍 ~30 km from Colombo city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$189

Chennai main airports to arrive at

Chennai International (MAA)

Cheapest

Chennai International Airport is a convenient arrival airport for flights from Colombo to Chennai.

📍 ~20 km from Chennai (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$189

Airports nearby Chennai used as alternative

Bengaluru International (BLR)

Bengaluru International is a major international hub, offering extensive global and domestic networks for your arrival.

📍 ~340 km from Chennai (requires approximately 5-6 hours of ground travel, heavy traffic can impact access time).

💸 Flights from ~$250

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Chennai

Discover luxury on the budget with premium cabin class on flights from Colombo to Chennai.

Elite

Best Elite deals to Chennai

Exclusive daily First Class, Business Class, and Premium Economy flight deals, refreshed every 24 hours.

From CMB

Elite

Nov 04

Chennai, India

29% AI deal score

$10,279

From CMB

Elite

Aug 28

Chennai, India

29% AI deal score

$11,141

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Chennai

Historically, the optimal booking window for flights from Colombo to Chennai is typically 7-13 days before departure. During this period, the average price observed was $502. Prices tend to be higher outside this window, with flights booked 0-6 days out averaging $641, and those booked 60+ days in advance averaging $666. These trends are based on pricing data observed across a trailing 90-day period.

Based on historical data from the trailing 90 days, a good price for a flight from Colombo to Chennai is considered to be around $301 or less. The median price for this route has been observed at $424. Prices can range, with 75% of observed fares being $629 or less.

Historically, January has been one of the cheapest months to fly from Colombo to Chennai, with a median price of $142. March also typically offers lower fares, with a median price of $144. In contrast, April has historically been observed as the most expensive month, with a median price of $171. The annual median price for this route is $424, based on data from the trailing 270 days.

Colombo to Chennai: Overview

Insights for flights from Colombo to Chennai

How much is a round trip from Colombo to Chennai

Regular price: $102 - $208

Prices for flights from Colombo to Chennai are currently within the regular range.

The regular price range for this route is between 102 USD and 208 USD. The current lowest deal is 188 USD with IndiGo for travel from Sep 10 to Sep 20.

now $188

Low $102

High $208

The cheapest time to fly from Colombo to Chennai

January

Cheapest

Flights from $142

November

Most Expensive

Flights from $470

Jan

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec