Traveling India to Sri Lanka among favorite for Indian travelers with flying times short and direct services common, connections throughout both nations are growing in 2026 —whether you’re flying for leisure, business or a pilgrimage to holy sites across the sub-continent.
In this article we will address everything you need to know about flights from India to Sri Lanka: The present state of routes, airlines, fares, peak season demand and the best ways to book, which airports make sense for your trip, travel pre-requisites and what’s new in air connectivity right now.
The air links between India and Sri Lanka are among the busiest in the world, with many flights scheduled daily. Most routes are centered on Sri Lanka’s primary international gateway Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) near Colombo although direct flights to Jaffna Airport have opened up new possibilities recently.
Direct flights from Indian cities such as New Delhi, Chennai,Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad can take between 3–4 hours in flight an easily accessible length for a quick holiday or business travel.
There are more than 200 flights a week between India and Sri Lanka, according to flight aggregator data, with departures multiple times a day from the largest hubs.
India-Sri Lanka flights are operated by a combination of full-service and budget airlines from the two nations. These models enable to convenient choice of product mix, price, baggage weight allowance, flight schedule and onboard comfort.
If you’re looking for a less expensive short trip, or something a little more premium when it comes to time spent on the wings, there are several airlines vying for your dollar.
SriLankan Airline is a flag carrier of Sri Lanka and is one of the preferred airlines for Indian as they ply between India – Srilanka. It operates daily nonstop flights to/from Bandaranaike International Airport (Colombo) from cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi and Trivandrum among others in India.
Full-service carrier, luggage, meals and entertainment are all included in the price. This has the airline attractive to not only families, but longer stay holidaymakers and business travelers. The carrier is extensively networked beyond Colombo offering convenient connections to over 50 destinations in Asia and the Middle East.
IndiGo is the largest low-cost carrier in India, and one of the leading players in flights between India and Sri Lanka. It has multiple daily direct flights to Colombo from cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi. In recent years, even IndiGo began direct flights to Jaffna and is among the few airlines offering this service from India.
IndiGo [as having grown to become India's largest domestic carrier and] leading on-time performance, low fares and far reaching Indian network. It follows a no-frills model (fees for things like meals and baggage will be extra) but is the most economical option for travellers interested in spending less money on shorter trips. With regular sales and promotional fares, IndiGo is often one of the most inexpensive ways to fly from India to Sri Lanka.
National carrier Air India operates direct flights to Colombo from various Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. Air India also offers easy onward connections to other cities in India on its domestic network.
Air India is a FSC (full service carrier) and so you can expect checked bags, meals and a more ‘traditional’ flying experience. This is the airline that’s usually going to be appealing to folks who prioritize things like comfort and loyalty benefits, or those with connecting flights onto Air India’s global network. As the new service standards continue to be introduced, Air India has decided to back-fill some of its smaller international (eg Sri Lanka) routes with A320s.
Vistara, the best airline in India has so flights to Sri Lanka from major Indian cities including Delhi and Mumbai. It may operate fewer point-to-point services than some competitors, but it has a reputation for providing a more upmarket onboard experience — particularly in the Premium Economy and Business Class cabins.
Vistara customers receive a Premium Service that includes reading materials, comfort of seating and food prepared by the service providers. That makes it a solid pick for business travellers, and anybody who's content with something that boasts a touch more than standard fare.
In addition to the Indian and Sri Lankan carriers, few overseas airlines operate India–Sri Lanka flights on codeshare basis. Airlines such as KLM, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways and Emirates will market the tickets for flights on Air Seychelles or Indian carriers that will be part of a longer international trip.
These are great choices especially for travellers who plan to mix Sri Lanka with Europe, South East Asia (or the Middle East) in one trip itinerary. While they're not the cheapest on a point A to point B basis, the flights offer simplified baggage handling, premiums for frequent fliers and nigh-bottomless connection options worldwide.
These are some of the routes between India and Sri Lanka that Malaysia has inadvertently published, based on current schedule data:
These flight times make Sri Lanka an ideal destination for long weekend or short holidays to residents of India.
Most travelers prefer the direct flights because it takes up less time and do not require a layover. Non-stop flights Very good non- stop connections, especially to Colombo, but increasingly to Jaffna Airport with tourists interested in the north of Sri Lanka.
Depending on where you are coming from, or if you’re tacking a country like Sri Lanka onto neighboring destinations (Southeast Asia and Middle Eastern hubs say), there are still options of indirect / connecting flights being in budget. But you can generally expect the norm for regular India ↔ Sri Lanka to be direct services in practice.
Flights from India to Sri Lanka vary by season, booking date and travel days. Recent flight price trackers:
When you book a flight 2–4 weeks before departure you have a chance to get a discount compared to booking the last minute.
Seasonal demand also plays a part in rates peak holiday times such as Indian long weekends, school holidays and Sri Lankan festive periods will tend to have higher prices.
Data from flight search engines indicates that February and April are typically among the months with the lowest prices for India to Sri Lanka flights. These months also tend to be the time when airfares are offered at a discount in comparison to other times of the year, so budget travelers may find it very appealing.
You can save even more money if you’re flexible on dates of travel. Many flight search sites will allow you to compare prices for an entire month or different days of the week. This can be a good way to find the lowest fares and choose the least expensive days to fly.
Booking flights well ahead or opting for off-peak times like mid-week days or early-morning flights can also contribute to cost efficiency. And it can also pay off with cheaper options if you’re flexible about your return date as well. You can also establish price alerts to monitor fare reductions, so you can swoop in and score a deal when airfares drop.
In 2026, it's easier than ever for an Indian to fly to Sri Lanka. With many Indian cities now connected with more frequent direct flights to the Colombo and Jaffna airports in Sri Lanka, tourists have an array of options to choose from considering their budget and comfort level as well. Flight times are relatively brief, pricing can be low with some careful advanced planning and live tracking tools go a long way to tempering pre-travel anxiety.
Whether you’re jetting off on a beach vacation, cultural exchange, honeymoon getaway or business adventure, staying abreast of the latest flight options and trends will help you save money while also enjoying your travels. Book soon, compare airlines and update your flight status closer to departure, and let’s make sure your Sri Lankan getaway really is of 2026 vintage.
