Airport Transfers
Private airport transportation from Colombo Airport (CMB) to hotels, villas and homes in Negombo, Colombo Fort, Kollupitiya, Mount Lavinia and the rest of Colombo, booked before you land.
Pre-booked private transportation takes you directly from Bandaranaike International Airport to your hotel, resort or vacation rental.
After immigration, baggage claim and customs, continue outside the terminal to the meeting area named in your confirmation. Your vehicle is reserved only for the passengers on your reservation: unlike a shared shuttle, it makes no extra hotel stops for other travelers, and the price is per vehicle, not per person.
Our airport transportation in Colombo takes you from Bandaranaike International at Katunayake to the beach hotels of Negombo, to Colombo Fort, Kollupitiya, Cinnamon Gardens and Mount Lavinia, and to homes and guesthouses in Wattala, Ja-Ela and the rest of greater Colombo.
Colombo airport transfers start as you leave the arrivals hall at Terminal 1, after immigration, baggage claim and customs, where your driver waits with a sign showing your name and walks you to the car. We track your flight, so the pickup follows your real landing time, and the fixed price per vehicle is agreed before you fly, from a sedan for two to a van for a family or group with luggage.
Each transfer goes door to door to your hotel, villa, guesthouse or family home in Negombo or Colombo. Heading on to Kandy, Sigiriya, Bentota or Galle? Enter your address in the booking form to see whether a transfer is offered for that route.
Our Colombo airport shuttle is a private van for your party only, not the expressway bus that leaves from a stand away from the terminal. It sets off as soon as you reach your driver, with room for suitcases, surfboards and strollers, and suits families, groups and friends heading to the same hotel.
From private sedans to group vans. One fixed price per vehicle, whatever your party size.
Illustrative
Private Sedan
1 to 4 passengers
Private, non-stop transfer. All taxes included.
Illustrative
Luxury SUV
Up to 6 passengers
Comfortable VIP SUV with premium features.
Illustrative
Private Van
Up to 8 passengers
Ideal for families and groups with luggage.
Illustrative
Group Van
Up to 16 passengers
Our largest vehicle. Room for up to 16 passengers and their luggage.
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) stands at Katunayake, north of Colombo and next to Negombo. Every international flight uses its single passenger terminal, Terminal 1; a small separate domestic terminal handles Cinnamon Air's flights around the island.
Immigration comes first, where officers check your passport and Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA); lines are longest late in the evening and early in the morning, when many long-haul flights land. On the way to baggage claim you pass the arrival duty-free shops, then collect your bags and walk through customs into the arrivals hall, with bank exchange counters, ATMs and SIM card kiosks.
Sri Lanka runs on Sri Lanka Standard Time (UTC+5:30) all year, with no daylight saving time, and uses the Sri Lankan rupee.
Electronic Travel Authorization. Most visitors need an ETA, applied for online at eta.gov.lk before travel. Nationals of 40 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and much of Europe, pay no fee but must still apply; an ETA on arrival is possible but means a slower line.
Arrival card and documents. Keep your passport, ETA approval, onward ticket and hotel address at hand for immigration, and complete the arrival card, which can be filled in online in the days before you land.
Pickup rules. Vehicles may not be left unattended at the arrivals area, so your driver meets you on foot at the arrivals exit and walks with you to the car.
Driving on the left. Sri Lanka drives on the left, and the expressways from the airport toward Colombo and the south coast charge tolls.
Terminal, immigration and customs details for Bandaranaike International Airport
1
Immigration, baggage claim, then customs. Representatives can't enter those areas.
2
At the meeting point in your confirmation. Check the company name before getting in.
3
No other stops, no other passengers.
At CMB
All international pickups happen at Terminal 1, after immigration, baggage claim and customs.
At CMB
Meet as you leave arrivals
Pre-booked drivers wait in the meeting area at the exit of the arrivals hall, after customs, usually holding a sign with your name.
At CMB
Walk to the vehicle
Vehicles may not be left unattended in front of arrivals, so drivers park in the airport's parking area and walk you to the car or bring it up once you are ready.
At CMB
Allow time after landing
Immigration, baggage claim and customs can take an hour or more at busy times, so your driver expects you some time after the landing time.
Don't accept a ride from someone claiming to know your booking.
Check the company name and reservation details before getting in.
One-way arrival
CMB Hotel
From the airport to your hotel, resort or rental.
One-way departure
Hotel CMB
From where you're staying back to Bandaranaike International Airport.
Round trip
CMB Hotel
Both journeys on one reservation. Give both flights, the return pickup address and the passengers for each. Staying at more than one hotel? Give the full itinerary.
Transportation can also be booked from your hotel, resort or vacation rental to Bandaranaike International Airport. Your pickup time covers the drive plus check-in, security and border procedures, and your airline's instructions come first. Give the correct departure time and terminal when you book.
2 h
before a domestic flight
3 h
before an international flight
We monitor the arrival of the flight on your reservation, but can't find you on a different one. Tell customer service if any of these change:
About one checked suitcase and one carry-on each; the right vehicle depends on the total volume. Tell us about golf clubs, surfboards, bikes, strollers or extra bags.
Request them when booking, with the child's age and size. Availability and any fee are confirmed on your reservation.
Give the wheelchair's size, weight and whether it folds, so a suitable vehicle is assigned.
Ask for authorization before booking and tell us about the animal and its carrier.
ETA before you fly
Most visitors need Sri Lanka's Electronic Travel Authorization, applied for online at eta.gov.lk, even when their nationality pays no fee.
Arrival card
Have your passport, ETA approval, onward ticket and hotel address ready for immigration, and complete the arrival card, which can be filled in online in the days before you land.
Ignore touts
Use the official taxi counter, the app pickup point or your pre-booked driver rather than offers from people approaching you in arrivals.
Sri Lankan rupee
Sri Lanka uses the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR); bank exchange counters and ATMs are in the arrivals hall after customs.
Local SIM
Dialog, SLT-Mobitel and Airtel sell tourist SIM cards at kiosks in the arrivals hall, useful for ride-hailing apps.
Local time
Sri Lanka is on Sri Lanka Standard Time (UTC+5:30) all year, with no daylight saving time.
Traveling with a large group, planning a destination wedding, or organizing transportation for a corporate retreat or conference? We offer larger vehicles and multi-vehicle coordination for groups of any size, including multiple pickup points and scheduled transfers timed around your event. Contact us with your group size and itinerary and we'll put together transportation that keeps everyone moving together.
“Absolutely fantastic service! My driver was early, courteous, and the car was immaculate.”
Sarah L. · March 2026
“The ride was comfortable and quick. Quality service that's well worth it.”
James H. · February 2026
“I use airporttransportation.com whenever I travel. Consistently reliable, and their drivers are top-notch.”
William C. · February 2026
“Booking was simple and the price was clear. No surprises at the airport. Highly recommended.”
María G. · January 2026
24 h
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup, with a full refund. Later cancellations aren't refundable.
Changes
Contact us to change the flight, hotel or pickup time. Deadlines are in the reservation policies.
No-shows
Waiting time, no-shows and extra stops follow the reservation policies you accept at checkout.
Book your transfer online in a few minutes using the form above. If your plans change, contact us as soon as possible to modify your pickup details or cancel your reservation, response times and any applicable fees depend on how close to your pickup date the change is requested.
As you leave the arrivals hall at Terminal 1, after immigration, baggage claim and customs. Your driver waits in the meeting area with a sign showing your name, then walks with you to the car.
The airport is about 32 km (20 miles) north of central Colombo; the drive to Colombo Fort on the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. Negombo is much closer, about 10 km (6 miles) away, and most beach hotels there are a 20 to 30 minute drive.
Yes. We drive door to door to hotels, guesthouses and villas along Negombo's beach road, in the town center and around the lagoon.
Yes. We drive to hotels, apartments and homes across central Colombo, including Fort, Galle Face, Kollupitiya, Bambalapitiya and Cinnamon Gardens.
Yes. Mount Lavinia and Dehiwala are on the coast just south of Colombo, and we drive straight to your hotel or home there.
These are longer road journeys inland or down the south coast. Enter your address in the booking form to see whether a transfer is offered for that route.
Every international flight arrives at Terminal 1, the airport's only international passenger terminal. Cinnamon Air's domestic flights use a small separate domestic terminal.
Yes. Give the full address, a nearby landmark and a phone number the driver can reach, since some lanes and house numbers in Sri Lanka are hard to find.
Many long-haul flights land at Colombo late at night or before dawn. Enter your flight number and landing time when you book, and the booking form shows the vehicles available for that time.
There is no need. Booking ahead gives you a driver waiting for you and a fixed price per vehicle. If someone approaches you in arrivals offering a ride, check the company name against your confirmation before going with anyone.
We monitor the flight on your reservation, so your driver waits for the actual landing. If your flight number, date or airline changes, or your flight is canceled, tell customer service so the pickup can be moved.
Yes. Book a one-way departure or a round trip and give your flight number, so the pickup leaves time for the drive, the security check at the terminal entrance, check-in and immigration.
Most visitors need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), applied for online at eta.gov.lk before travel. Nationals of 40 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia, pay no fee but must still apply.
No. Airport Transportation is a private transfer booking site that arranges rides from CMB; we are not the airport or its operator. For terminals, airlines and other ways to get around, see our Colombo airport page.
We provide private transportation from any airport to any hotel at the best price, and we are licensed with complete insurance liability.
Airport Transportation provides private transportation only, in vans, luxury SUVs, or semi-buses.
Prices on our website are per vehicle, not per person, based on a range of passengers.
Regular vans carry up to 9 passengers, semi-buses up to 16, and luxury SUVs up to 6 passengers.
Walk all the way out of the airport. You'll see representatives holding boards. Look for the Airport Transportation logo or your name.
Commonly Toyota Hiace, Volkswagen Transporter, Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Crafter, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Chevrolet Suburban.
Yes. We carry insurance with complete liability for all passengers while using our services.
Baby seats are provided with prior notice, subject to availability, one seat maximum per vehicle.
You can book any time in advance; we suggest one week to one day ahead. Same-day reservations are available.
PayPal is our main payment method; a cash option is also available when booking through our website. Credit cards are accepted through PayPal.
Yes. For your comfort all our units have air conditioning.
During booking we ask for your airline and flight number so we can track delays and wait for you.
Yes, you can add an extra stop to your service during the booking process.
No. Prices are set per passenger range or per vehicle, not per age.
Yes. Cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before your pick-up and you are refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before service are not refundable.
Yes. While their English may not be native-level, drivers have the skills to communicate with passengers.
Tips are not mandatory but are highly recommended; drivers earn them through service quality.
All prices are in USD. Via PayPal you can pay in almost any currency; cash payments accept USD only.
We can transport domestic pets kept in cages that fit in a normal vehicle.
Yes. There is plenty of room for one suitcase and one carry-on per person.
Every private transfer includes a professional, licensed driver; an insured, well-maintained vehicle; real-time flight monitoring; meet-and-greet service at arrivals; and door-to-door service with no hidden fees added after booking. Your fixed price covers the full route to your destination.
Choose the vehicle for your party and luggage, add your flight, and review the full reservation before you pay.
Book a transfer