# Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB)

> Colombo, LK · IATA: CMB · ICAO: VCBI · Large Airport · Cargo Hub

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| IATA | `CMB` |
| ICAO | `VCBI` |
| City | Colombo |
| Country | LK |
| Type | Large Airport |
| Elevation | 9 m |
| Cargo | ✅ |
| GPS | 7.18076, 79.88410 |

## Description

SriLankan Cargo is doubling its handling capacity at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB/VCBI), from roughly 250,000 to more than 500,000 tonnes a year, with a new cargo terminal that was slated for completion by the end of 2025. Sri Lanka's principal gateway sits at Katunayake, about 30 km north of Colombo, next to the export processing zone of the same name. Passenger traffic centres on SriLankan Airlines, while SriLankan Cargo runs both belly and freighter capacity for the group. Warehousing of about 8,690 m² across three terminals, plus cold and freezer rooms, supports temperature-sensitive consignments. Apparel and textiles from the surrounding industrial estates make up the bulk of outbound volume, alongside tea, cut flowers and fresh seafood. Customs clearance is handled by Sri Lanka Customs, with bonded warehousing and free-zone facilities easing re-export and value-added processing. The Port of Colombo, one of South Asia's busiest transhipment harbours, lies about 35 km away and enables combined sea-air routings — a combination that is positioning Colombo as a serious contender among the region's transshipment hubs.

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*Freight Academy — Airport Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/bandaranaike-international-colombo-airport-cmb](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/bandaranaike-international-colombo-airport-cmb)*

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*LLM-Summary (JSON): https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/airports/bandaranaike-international-colombo-airport-cmb/llm-summary*