Zurich to Colombo (ZRH–CMB) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

ZRH Airport Page →
4,984 mi airlines charter/private 1/wk
On-time Some delays Frequent delays
Connecting Flight Schedule 17 1-stop flights Verified 1w ago
Nonstop Charter / private 1-Stop 2-Stop Hide separate tickets Hide overnight Hide codeshares
  Flight Airline AC Dep Arr Dur OTP Sched  
✈ Nonstop

No flights match your filters.

No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.

✦ 1-Stop connections via 10 hubs
MLE Malé 11h 50m WK → AICZEK Malé (MLE) to Colombo flights
IST Istanbul 12h 15m 6EGFOZ → TK Istanbul (IST) to Colombo flights
DOH Doha 12h 15m FBIBJL → ASATAY Doha (DOH) to Colombo flights
AUH Abu Dhabi 12h 20m EYGALX → AZETEY Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Colombo flights
DXB Dubai 12h 25m EKFILX → ACAZDE Dubai (DXB) to Colombo flights
DEL New Delhi 12h 25m AILX → 6EAIJL New Delhi (DEL) to Colombo flights
FRA Frankfurt am Main 12h 30m AZDEET → ACUL Frankfurt am Main (FRA) to Colombo flights
CDG Paris (Roissy-en-France, Val-d'Oise) 12h 44m AFG3KQ → ACUL Paris (Roissy-en-France, Val-d'Oise) (CDG) to Colombo flights
BKK Bangkok 16h 12m LXTG → 8MAYJL Bangkok (BKK) to Colombo flights
BOM Mumbai 16h 23m AILX → 6EAFAI Mumbai (BOM) to Colombo flights
✦ 1-STOP More options, longer trips
✧ 2-STOP Loading... Reach the hardest destinations
Zurich to Colombo
Connecting service available through multiple hubs.
1 Airlines 4,984 mi 9h 45m nonstop +3.5h ahead

ZRH–CMB had nonstop service from Edelweiss, last on the schedule in June 2026. There's no nonstop on it right now, so today you'd fly it with one stop. The connecting options below are sorted by layover. Nonstop, it's about 4,984 miles in 9h 45m.

Also explore ZRH Routes CMB Routes ZRH Live Flights CMB Live Flights
All flights from Colombo (CMB) Colombo to Zurich flights
Carriers on this route

Airline Landscape

Carriers that operated nonstop ZRH–CMB service, compared side by side.
Airline Freq/wk Aircraft Duration Dep OTP Alliance Codeshares
WK Edelweiss Also: LH, LX 1 – – – – LH, LX
Alliance coverage
Unaffiliated: WK (1 flights/wk, 100%)
OTP based on airport-level delay snapshots. Duration ranges reflect seasonal/directional variation.
Connections

Connection Landscape

1-stop and 2-stop options for ZRH to CMB.
1-STOP
One-Stop Connections
17
Hubs
~11h
Fastest
~40h
Longest
MLE ~11h 50m IST ~12h 15m DOH ~12h 15m AUH ~12h 20m DXB ~12h 25m
Verified with published schedule alignment and minimum connection time.
2-STOP
Two-Stop Connections
1,192
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
+3.5h
Colombo is 3.5 hours ahead of Zurich.
ZRH: CEST · CMB: +0530

When it's 6:00 PM in Zurich, it's 9.5:00 PM in Colombo.
Distance & Flight Time
4,984 mi / 8,021 km
Nonstop flight time is approximately 9h 45m gate to gate.
Visa & Entry

Swiss passport holders must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival. Apply through the official portal at srilankaeta.gov.lk. The ETA costs USD 50 for a tourist visit and allows stays up to 30 days. Processing is usually instant or within 24 hours. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry. Extensions up to 90 days can be obtained at the Department of Immigration in Colombo.

Verify entry requirements with official sources before travel.
Getting to ZRH

Direct SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) trains run from Zurich HB (main station) to the airport station in 10 minutes, departing every 10–15 minutes for CHF 6.80 with a standard zone 1–2 ticket. From other Swiss cities, intercity trains call at Zurich Airport station directly; Basel (65 min), Bern (90 min), Geneva (2h45) all have direct connections. The airport station is integrated beneath the terminal.Taxis from Zurich city centre cost CHF 55–75 and take 15–25 minutes via the A1 motorway. Driving is practical; the terminal has a large multi-storey car park (P1/P2/P3) with short- and long-term rates. Rental cars are on-site.

Facts

ZRH–CMB Quick Facts

Key statistics for the Zurich to Colombo route.
Route details
Distance4,984 mi / 8,021 km
Flight time9h 45m
Time difference+3.5 hours
Airlines (nonstop)1
1-stop connectionsAvailable
Origin: ZRH
Full nameZürich Airport
IATA / ICAOZRH / LSZH
TimezoneEurope/Zurich
Passengers/yr31.2M
Elevation1,417 ft / 432 m
Destination: CMB
Full nameBandaranaike International Colombo Airport
IATA / ICAOCMB / VCBI
TimezoneAsia/Colombo
Passengers/yr8.8M
Elevation30 ft / 9 m
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ZRH to CMB flights.
Nonstop flights from Zürich Airport to Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport take about 9h 45m gate to gate. The route covers 4,984 miles.
1 airline operated the nonstop from ZRH to CMB: Edelweiss. The last scheduled nonstop was in June 2026. There's no nonstop right now, so today you'd fly it with one stop. See the connection options above, ranked by layover.
Not right now. The last scheduled nonstop was in June 2026. You can still fly it with one stop, and the connecting options above are sorted by layover. Nonstop, the hop took about 9h 45m.
Yes, 1-stop connections are available, ranked by layover time. Common connecting points include Velana, İstanbul and Hamad.
Colombo is 3.5 hours ahead of Zurich.
Yes, return flights from CMB to ZRH 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.
Flight time is about 10 hours eastbound and 11 hours westbound on the 8,400 km route. The flight crosses Turkey, Iran, and the Arabian Sea before reaching Sri Lanka. Block time varies with routing, and some flights overfly the Middle East with slight path variations depending on airspace availability.
SWISS operates nonstop service from Zurich to Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport. Frequency is typically 3 to 5 times per week depending on the season. Equipment is the Airbus A330-300. SriLankan Airlines has also operated the route at times. One-stop options through Dubai, Doha, or Abu Dhabi are available on Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad.
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is in Katunayake, 32 km north of Colombo city center. The drive to Colombo takes 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on traffic on the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway. The airport has one main terminal with separate arrival and departure levels. A lounge is available for business class passengers. Currency exchange and SIM card vendors are in the arrivals hall.
The Colombo-Katunayake Expressway toll road is the fastest route, taking about 30 to 45 minutes by taxi to central Colombo. Taxi costs about 3,000 to 4,000 LKR. Airport bus services run to Colombo Fort railway station. Some hotels offer pickup services. For beach destinations like Negombo, the airport is actually closer (10 km north) than Colombo.
November through March is peak season, coinciding with dry weather on Sri Lanka's west and south coasts. This is also when Swiss holiday travel to Sri Lanka peaks over the Christmas and New Year period. Fares are highest in December and January. The monsoon season from May through September sees lower fares and reduced frequency on some carriers.

Zurich to Colombo Flights

ZRH-CMB covers 8,400 km in about 10 to 11 hours depending on direction. SWISS operates nonstop service 3 to 5 times per week with Airbus A330-300 aircraft. SriLankan Airlines has also served the route. One-stop alternatives through Gulf hubs on Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad add 3 to 5 hours but sometimes offer lower fares. Switzerland has a significant Sri Lankan diaspora community, driving steady year-round demand alongside tourism traffic.

Bandaranaike International Airport is 32 km north of Colombo, connected by the expressway toll road in 30 to 45 minutes. The beach town of Negombo is only 10 km from the airport, making it a popular first-night stop. Peak travel season is November through March when Sri Lanka's west coast has dry weather. Zurich Airport is Switzerland's largest, with SWISS using it as its main hub. Connecting passengers from German, Austrian, and Eastern European cities can reach Colombo through Zurich with a single stop.