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JAF Kankesanturai Airport

Reviewed & updated by יהב עטיה · About the team

Kankesanturai Airport (JAF) serves Jaffna, about 15 km northeast of Jaffna. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.

IATAJAF
ICAOVCCJ
ServesJaffna
From centre15 km
TimezoneAsia/Colombo
Elevation10 m

See on map ↗

The airport in numbers

Kankesanturai Airport — facts & history

We pulled Kankesanturai Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 1,214 passengers in 2020.

Passengers / year
1,214
as of 2020
Elevation
10 מ׳
above sea level
Operator
Sri Lanka Air Force

Figures: Wikidata (CC0)

Airport to city

Getting from Kankesanturai Airport to Jaffna

The airport is about 15 km northeast of Jaffna, about 32 minutes by road in normal traffic.

Train & bus: No rail to the airport (CMB) — it's near Negombo, about 35 km from Colombo. An express bus to Colombo, or a taxi.

Taxi & apps: PickMe and Uber (legal, cheap) are the easy way. A rank taxi with a price agreed first. Estimated fare to the centre: Rs1348–Rs2141.

Tipping: Round up; ~10%.

Way inTime to centreCost
Train / bus~22 mincheapestCHEAPEST
Taxi~32 minRs1348–Rs2141
Private transfer~32 minfixed upfront
Car rental~32 min + חניהfrom the terminal
Choose and book

Which way suits you from Kankesanturai Airport

Taxi

Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people. ~Rs1348–Rs2141 to the centre.

Private transfer

Fixed price upfront, driver with a sign. For a late arrival, bags, kids or a group.

Car rental

If you're touring the region. Desks in the terminal, booking ahead beats the counter.

Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.

Book your airport transfer in Jaffna ahead, no terminal surprises.

At the airport

Left luggage & lost and found at Kankesanturai Airport

Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.

Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.

Sleep nearby

Hotels near Kankesanturai Airport

For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.

Rates in Jaffna shift daily. See what your night costs now.

Reviews — Kankesanturai Airport

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Same country

Other airports in Sri Lanka

Q&A

Answers to your questions

How do I get from Kankesanturai Airport to the centre of Jaffna?
No rail to the airport (CMB) — it's near Negombo, about 35 km from Colombo. An express bus to Colombo, or a taxi. The airport is about 15 km northeast of Jaffna, about 32 minutes by road.
How much is a taxi from Kankesanturai Airport to Jaffna?
Roughly Rs1348–Rs2141 (at the local tariff). Many airports have a regulated flat fare — ask at the taxi desk.
Can I use a ride app from Kankesanturai Airport?
PickMe and Uber (legal, cheap) are the easy way. A rank taxi with a price agreed first.
What's the cheapest way from Kankesanturai Airport to Jaffna?
Train or bus, almost always — usually a fraction of the taxi fare. No rail to the airport (CMB) — it's near Negombo, about 35 km from Colombo. An express bus to Colombo, or a taxi.
Can I get from Kankesanturai Airport into town without a car?
Yes. No rail to the airport (CMB) — it's near Negombo, about 35 km from Colombo. An express bus to Colombo, or a taxi. For a late arrival or a lot of bags, a pre-booked transfer is easier.
Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Most large airports have a left-luggage service, and there are also in-city storage points near stations and sights that are usually cheaper with no size limit.
Where is Kankesanturai Airport's lost and found?
Items found in the terminal (not on the aircraft) are handled by the airport's lost-and-found office — usually near baggage claim or the information desks, sometimes one office per terminal. Anything left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Current contact details are on Kankesanturai Airport's official site.
Jaffna city guide← Sri Lanka travel guideAll airports

About this page

Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.

Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes · Getting-there notes: Around the World, checked 2026

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