Skyscanner home

Cheap Flights from Shanghai (CSHA) to Colombo (CMBA)

Compare Shanghai to Colombo flight deals

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Colombo

Book the best Colombo fare with no extra fees

Flight deals from Shanghai to Colombo

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Shanghai to Colombo? If you want to travel next month, return fares start from £295. Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.
Colombo.£97 per passenger.Departing Tue, 2 Jun.One-way flight with AirAsia X.Outbound indirect flight with AirAsia X, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Tue, 2 Jun, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £97, select.
Colombo.£111 per passenger.Departing Wed, 19 Aug.One-way flight with AirAsia X.Outbound indirect flight with AirAsia X, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Wed, 19 Aug, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £111, select.
Colombo.£111 per passenger.Departing Mon, 19 Oct.One-way flight with AirAsia X.Outbound indirect flight with AirAsia X, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Mon, 19 Oct, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £111, select.
Colombo.£112 per passenger.Departing Wed, 18 Nov.One-way flight with AirAsia X.Outbound indirect flight with AirAsia X, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Wed, 18 Nov, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £112, select.
Colombo.£131 per passenger.Departing Sat, 9 May.One-way flight with AirAsia X.Outbound indirect flight with AirAsia X, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Sat, 9 May, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £131, select.
Colombo.£159 per passenger.Departing Sun, 20 Sep.One-way flight with Spring Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Spring Airlines, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Sun, 20 Sep, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £159, select.
Colombo.£165 per passenger.Departing Thu, 9 Jul.One-way flight with AirAsia X.Outbound indirect flight with AirAsia X, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Thu, 9 Jul, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £165, select.
Colombo.£183 per passenger.Departing Fri, 10 Apr.One-way flight with China Eastern.Outbound indirect flight with China Eastern, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Fri, 10 Apr, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £183, select.
Colombo.£195 per passenger.Departing Tue, 7 Apr.One-way flight with China Eastern.Outbound direct flight with China Eastern departs from Shanghai Pudong on Tue, 7 Apr, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £195, select.
Colombo.£247 per passenger.Departing Mon, 4 May.One-way flight with China Eastern.Outbound direct flight with China Eastern departs from Shanghai Pudong on Mon, 4 May, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £247, select.
Colombo.£249 per passenger.Departing Fri, 12 Jun.One-way flight with China Eastern.Outbound direct flight with China Eastern departs from Shanghai Pudong on Fri, 12 Jun, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £249, select.
Colombo.£250 per passenger.Departing Mon, 19 Oct.One-way flight with China Eastern.Outbound direct flight with China Eastern departs from Shanghai Pudong on Mon, 19 Oct, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £250, select.
Colombo.£254 per passenger.Departing Sun, 20 Dec.One-way flight with China Eastern.Outbound direct flight with China Eastern departs from Shanghai Pudong on Sun, 20 Dec, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £254, select.
Colombo.£304 per passenger.Departing Wed, 19 Aug.One-way flight with China Eastern.Outbound direct flight with China Eastern departs from Shanghai Pudong on Wed, 19 Aug, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £304, select.
Colombo.£304 per passenger.Departing Thu, 9 Jul.One-way flight with China Eastern.Outbound direct flight with China Eastern departs from Shanghai Pudong on Thu, 9 Jul, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £304, select.
Colombo.£514 per passenger.Departing Tue, 29 Sep.One-way flight with China Eastern.Outbound direct flight with China Eastern departs from Shanghai Pudong on Tue, 29 Sep, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £514, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Shanghai to Colombo

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Shanghai to Colombo flights are currently cheapest in June.
Apr
from £183
May
from £131
Jun
from £97
Jul
from £165
Aug
from £111
Sep
from £159
Oct
from £111
Nov
from £112
Dec
from £254
Jan
Find prices
Feb
Find prices
Mar
Find prices

Direct flights from Shanghai to Colombo

Alternative Shanghai to Colombo routes

Looking for the cheapest, fastest or easiest route from Shanghai to Colombo? You could fly into the following airports instead.

Kelaniya

6 miles from central Colombo
Closest
Search flights

Colombo Ratmalana

8 miles from central Colombo
Search flights

Colombo Bandaranayake

17 miles from central Colombo
Cheapest
from £97
Search flights

Bentota River

32 miles from central Colombo
Search flights

Katugastota

45 miles from central Colombo
Search flights

Shanghai to Colombo: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found£97
Cheapest month to flyJune
Average flight time7 hrs, 20 mins
Most popular airlineChina Eastern
Average flights per week8

Finding cheap flights from Shanghai to Colombo: Frequently asked questions

There are 5 airports in Colombo: Kelaniya, Colombo Ratmalana, Colombo Bandaranayake, Bentota River, and Katugastota.
The best price we found for a return flight from Shanghai to Colombo is £234. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
7 hours and 20 minutes is the average flight time from Shanghai to Colombo.
China Eastern flies direct from Shanghai to Colombo.
As of April 2026, there are 8 flights per week flying from Shanghai to Colombo.
The cheapest month to fly from Shanghai to Colombo is usually August.
If you're flying from Shanghai, the cheapest airport near Colombo is Colombo Bandaranayake – which is 17.1 miles away from the centre of Colombo. We've found flights into this airport from £234.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it is currently cheapest to fly from Shanghai to Colombo on Wednesday, 19 August 2026.
Yes – the average flight time is 7 hours and 20 minutes.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Colombo but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Colombo is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
In April, the average temperature is usually around 28°C. May is typically the warmest month in Colombo, when it usually averages around 29°C. You can expect the least rain in February. The coldest month is July, with temperatures averaging 25°C. The rainiest month is November.
The cheapest airline that flies to Colombo is AirAsia X. And the cheapest airline that flies to Colombo Ratmalana Airport is China Eastern.

Flying from Shanghai to Colombo: what you need to know

  • Shanghai is home to a couple of airports where you can kick off your trip. Explore your options for booking a flight from Shanghai to Colombo flying out of Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) or Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA).

  • Disembark at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), the chief entry point to Colombo.

  • Hop on a direct Shanghai to Colombo flight and you'll be in transit for an average of 7 hours 20 minutes.

  • Colombo is two hours 30 minutes behind Shanghai and observes the UTC+5:30 timezone.

  • The most popular route for flights from Shanghai to Colombo is from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). There are nine services every week between these two airports. If you want to take off at the first opportunity, the earliest flight from PVG to CMB is the 00:20 SriLankan Airlines service. If you prefer travelling later, the latest available service is at 14:25 with China Eastern Airlines.

  • Allow plenty of time to get on your Shanghai to Colombo flight. It's generally best to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.

  • During popular months such as July, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier than usual. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of an international flight whenever you're travelling during peak periods in general.

How to find the cheapest flights from Shanghai to Colombo

  • To snag cheap Shanghai to Colombo flights, book your journey four months before your planned departure.

  • July is the best month for scoring an amazing deal on a plane ticket from Shanghai to Colombo. If you want to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices across every month.

  • Snapping up a cheap flight from Shanghai to Colombo couldn't be easier with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch as soon as there's a better deal.

  • Tailor your travel plans using filters. Choose your ideal arrival and departure times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' Shanghai to Colombo flights.

Flying from Shanghai

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)

  • Take off from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) on a nonstop flight from Shanghai to Colombo. From PVG, you can fly straight to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).

  • Reserve your Shanghai to Colombo plane tickets with China Eastern Airlines. This airline is a popular choice for direct flights from PVG.

  • Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to take a travel break — and maybe even tour another city. When browsing Shanghai to Colombo flights departing from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Top options include:

    • Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)

    • Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)

    • Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

  • Central Shanghai to PVG is around 32 kms (20 miles). Depending on traffic, it'll take you about 50 minutes to get there if you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing.

  • Want a handy hotel close to Shanghai Pudong International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Shanghai to Colombo, these stays will put you moments from your departure gate:

  • 78.11% of flights departing from Shanghai Pudong International Airport land at their destination on schedule.

  • PVG is located at No.300 Qihang Road.

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)

  • Split up your Shanghai to Colombo flight with a stop so you can freshen up or cross a new place off your list. Some popular stopovers between Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Colombo are:

    • Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)

    • Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)

    • Tianfu International Airport (TFU)

  • SHA is about 13 kms (8 miles) from central Shanghai. It takes 20 minutes or so to get to the airport if you're driving from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 40 minutes.

  • Kick off your holiday early with an additional night away from home. Before catching your flight from Shanghai to Colombo, stay in one of these hotels near Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport:

  • The majority of flights that depart Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport reach their destination as planned. It maintains a high on-time performance rate of 86%.

  • The address for SHA is 700 Yingbin 1st Rd.

Arriving in Colombo

Colombo Ratmalana Airport (RML)

  • The distance from Colombo Ratmalana Airport (RML) to central Colombo is roughly 13 kms (8 miles). It takes around 40 minutes to get to the centre driving.

  • It typically takes 1 hour 15 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.

  • Book a hotel close to RML if you have a late flight from Shanghai to Colombo. Pick one of these accommodation options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:

Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)

  • Central Colombo is approximately 27 kms (17 miles) from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). Once your flight from Shanghai to Colombo has hit the runway and you've navigated your way to arrivals, the drive should be around 40 minutes.

  • You can expect the journey to take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes on public transport.

  • The fastest way to reach your destination is with a Bandaranaike International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Sr Rent A Car, Green Motion or Sixt and make a speedy getaway.

  • Avoid last-minute price surges. Booking your ride two weeks ahead of your arrival at CMB will help you stay within budget.

Best time to go to Colombo

  • Carefully consider your dates before securing your flight from Shanghai to Shanghai. The city buzzes during high season, but hotel rates are typically higher and attractions can be busy. Go to Shanghai in the low season if you prefer a more relaxed vibe.

  • The warmest month in Colombo is March, with temperatures ranging between 24ºC (75ºF) and 33ºC (91ºF). Lock in your Shanghai to Colombo ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.

  • January sees average temperatures of between 22ºC (72ºF) and 32ºC (90ºF). Look for cheap flights from Shanghai to Colombo around that time if you want to travel in cooler conditions.

More about Colombo

  • Start your Colombo trip right by choosing the ideal place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from Shanghai to Colombo, check out our range of accommodation options including:

  • All great holidays should include some sightseeing. Gangaramaya Temple, Independence Square & Independence Memorial Hall and Viharamahadevi Park are must-do's during your Colombo adventure.

Explore more of Sri Lanka

  • Moratuwa is just one of the many places in Sri Lanka waiting to be explored after you've experienced Colombo. Around 11 miles to the south, top sights here include Boat House, Angulana Beach and Dilmah Conservation One Earth Arboretum.

  • Jaffna is another favourite destination in Sri Lanka and is around 190 miles north of Colombo. No journey is complete without dropping by Jaffna Fort, Dambakola Patuna Sangamitta Temple and Jaffna Public Library.

Plan the rest of your trip from Shanghai to Colombo

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.