Bandaranaike International Airport (IATA: CMB, ICAO: VCBI), commonly known as Colombo International Airport or Katunayake Airport, is the primary international airport serving Colombo, Sri Lanka, and the country’s main gateway. The airport is located in Katunayake, approximately 32.5 kilometres north of Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, and serves as the primary hub for SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier.
The airport began as a Royal Air Force airfield in 1944 during the Second World War, known as RAF Negombo. It was converted to a civil aerodrome in 1967, and all international services were shifted from Ratmalana to Bandaranaike International Airport. The airport was named after former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike in 1970. It was briefly renamed Katunayake International Airport in 1977 before reverting to Bandaranaike International Airport. The airport is a joint civil-military facility and is operated by Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited.
Bandaranaike International Airport is the second largest airport in the South Asian region by some measures and serves over 40 different air carriers. The airport connects to 45 destinations worldwide, with 28 airlines operating an average of 82 flights per day. The busiest route is to Dubai (DXB), followed by Male (MLE) and Chennai (MAA). India represents the airport’s largest international market. The airport features a single runway, 04/22, with a length of 3,350 metres, capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft.
In 2025, Bandaranaike International Airport handled approximately 9.9 million passengers, a significant increase from its nominal capacity of around 6 million passengers annually. The airport recorded 44,185 air traffic movements in the first eight months of 2025, a 14.4% increase over the same period in 2024. Sri Lanka recorded its highest-ever annual tourist arrivals in 2025, with the 2,333,797th visitor arriving at Bandaranaike International Airport. A major terminal expansion project, Terminal 2, is under development with Japanese assistance to accommodate future growth.