Colombo to Istanbul (CMB–IST) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

CMB Airport Page →
3,912 mi airlines 10/wk
On-time Some delays Frequent delays
Flight Schedule 2 flights Verified 1d ago
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  Flight Airline AC Dep Arr Dur OTP Sched  
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TK731
TK Turkish
333
7:40 AM
+0530
2:05 PM
+03
8h 55m
—
M T W T F S S
Prices
✓
→
TK733
TK Turkish
333
10:30 PM
+0530
4:25 AM+1
+03
8h 25m
—
M T W T F S S
Prices

No flights match your filters.

No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.

✦ 1-STOP
✧ 2-STOP Loading...
Colombo to Istanbul
1 carrier, 10 flights/week nonstop.
1 Airlines 10 Flights/wk 3,912 mi 8h 25m nonstop -2.5h behind 20 1-stop hubs

CMB–IST is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. Turkish Airlines leads the route. The flight covers 3,912 miles in approximately 8h 25m. Beyond nonstop, 20 hubs offer 1-stop connections.

Also explore CMB Routes IST Routes CMB Live Flights IST Live Flights
Carriers on this route

Airline Landscape

All carriers operating nonstop CMB–IST service, compared side by side.
Airline Freq/wk Aircraft Duration Dep OTP Alliance Codeshares
TK Turkish Airlines 10 333 8h25-8h55 – Star Alliance –
Aircraft on this route
333 Airbus A330-300 – TK
Alliance coverage
Star Alliance: TK (10 flights/wk, 100%)
OTP based on airport-level delay snapshots. Duration ranges reflect seasonal/directional variation.
Schedule

Weekly Schedule Pattern

Nonstop flight frequency by day of week, CMB to IST direction.
Mon
1
flight
Tue
2
flights
Wed
1
flight
Thu
2
flights
Fri
1
flight
Sat
1
flight
Sun
2
flights
Departure time distribution
12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM
Morning departures
Afternoon/evening departures
2
Nonstop flights
10
Outbound / wk
0
Return / wk
Connections

Connection Landscape

Beyond nonstop. 1-stop and 2-stop options for CMB to IST.
1-STOP
One-Stop Connections
20
Hubs
~18h
Fastest
~31h
Longest
SHJ ~18h 10m DOH ~19h 10m BOM ~21h 15m FRA ~21h 47m MLE ~22h 6m
Verified with published schedule alignment and minimum connection time.
2-STOP
Two-Stop Connections
1,567
Candidates
Two-stop connections loaded in the connections tab above.
Connections computed from published schedules with minimum connection time verification. Use the interactive explorer above the fold to filter by airline, tier, and layover time.
Know before you go

Travel Essentials

Practical planning for this route.
Time Difference
-2.5h
Istanbul is 2.5 hours behind Colombo.
CMB: +0530 · IST: +03

When it's 6:00 PM in Colombo, it's 3.5:00 PM in Istanbul.
Distance & Flight Time
3,912 mi / 6,296 km
Nonstop flight time is approximately 8h 25m to 8h 55m.
Getting from IST

M11 Metro to Gayrettepe takes about 35 minutes (₺60–70 with Istanbulkart) with connections to M2 (Taksim) and M7. Runs from 5am to midnight. The metro bypasses O-7 motorway traffic, which is frequently heavy into the city.Havaist buses serve major destinations including Taksim, Kadıköy (European and Asian sides), and Sabiha Gökçen Airport (₺50–80). Taxis from arrivals are metered; insist on the meter. Journey to Sultanahmet or Taksim costs ₺400–700 depending on traffic. Rental cars available. Hotel shuttles common for business hotels near the city.

Istanbul Climate

The new airport sits 35km from central Istanbul on the European side, slightly inland and exposed to Black Sea weather systems. Winters (December–March) are cold (0–8°C) with fog, rain, and occasional snow. Snow on the exposed plateau is more likely than in the city. Ice on taxiways causes delays.

Summers are warm (25–32°C) with dry, reliable weather. Spring and fall bring heavy rain and strong northerly winds (Poyraz) that can affect smaller aircraft. Fog is the primary low-season disruption risk. The airport's elevated position makes it slightly windier than the Atatürk site it replaced.

Check current weather forecasts before travel.
Facts

CMB–IST Quick Facts

Key statistics for the Colombo to Istanbul route.
Route details
Distance3,912 mi / 6,296 km
Flight time8h 25m to 8h 55m
Time difference-2.5 hours
Airlines (nonstop)1
Weekly flights10 out
1-stop connections20 hubs
Origin: CMB
Full nameBandaranaike International Colombo Airport
IATA / ICAOCMB / VCBI
TimezoneAsia/Colombo
Passengers/yr8.8M
Elevation30 ft / 9 m
Destination: IST
Full nameİstanbul Airport
IATA / ICAOIST / LTFM
TimezoneEurope/Istanbul
Passengers/yr80.1M
Elevation325 ft / 99 m
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about CMB to IST flights.
Nonstop flights from Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport to İstanbul Airport take approximately 8h 25m to 8h 55m. The route covers 3,912 miles.
1 airline operates nonstop service: Turkish Airlines.
There are approximately 10 nonstop flights per week from CMB to IST.
Yes, 1-stop connections are available through SHJ, DOH, BOM, FRA, MLE, AUH, CAN, DXB, NRT, LHR, ICN, SVO, SIN, DAC, DEL, ZRH, PVG, HKG, BKK and KUL. These options provide additional schedule flexibility.
Istanbul is 2.5 hours behind Colombo.
Yes, return flights from IST to CMB are available. Use the direction toggle at the top to view the return schedule.
Click the 'Search Flights' button to check availability and prices on Google Flights. You can also compare airlines and schedules on this page to find the best option.
Route data is updated regularly from official airline schedules. On-time performance data comes from recent airport delay snapshots.

Flights from CMB to IST

Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB) and İstanbul Airport (IST) are connected by nonstop service from Turkish Airlines. With 10 weekly departures, this is a regularly served route.

CMB to IST Flight Duration and Schedule

Nonstop flight time from CMB to IST ranges from 8 hours 25 minutes to 8 hours 55 minutes. The route covers a distance of 3,912 miles (6,296 km).

Connecting Options and Alternatives

20 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 18 hours via SHJ. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.