Mumbai05 Jan 23 1 Traveller Economy
Showing International Flight from Ahmedabad
About Ahmedabad
The city of Ahmedabad is known to be the fifth largest in India and is quite the commercial hub of the state. It is easily one of the fastest-growing cities in India, which also plays a centre for education and various industries. Even though it is not the capital of the state, Ahmedabad has immense scope for development and has been rapidly growing. The city plays an excellent host to a traveller who wishes to experience more of the city's history, development and spirituality. While the development sphere continues to expand in the city, the authorities are further following the Swachcha Bharat campaigns to maintain a neat town.
Ahmedabad is impeccably connected with the rest of the major cities in India. Besides, the international flight connectivity from Ahmedabad is excellent. Reaching the city is easy from all means of transport. As for accommodations, abundant options are ranging from luxury hotels to hostels for all kinds of travellers. You can opt for a fun staycation by booking your hotels in Ahmedabad and make the most of your time in the city. The city also has some great educational institutions that one can consider. In fact, the student crowd in Ahmedabad is rising as the opportunities are immense.
Best time to visit Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad's summers can get pretty rough and hot, but the monsoon and winter are equally pleasant. Interestingly, the Gujaratis actually have specific dishes for every season. For summer, aam ras and dishes made from mango. As for winter, their famous undiyo takes over the kitchens and streets! The monsoon also has some cool street food that one can indulge in, when in the city.
Monsoons are typically dedicated to fun street snacks such as roasted corn, boiled corn and some essential roasted dishes. You can primarily find these on the streets as several vendors indulge in selling smokey flavoured street snacks. During this time, the city also welcomes festivals such as Raksha Bandhan and Janmashtami, which are celebrated with gusto.
Undoubtedly though, winter becomes the best season to visit Ahmedabad as it comes with a plethora of cultural relevance as well as sublime atmosphere. The temperature actually drops down to 5-20 degree Celsius, so do pack thermal wear for your trip. Not to mention how festivals such as Navratri, Diwali also take place during the winter months. This means you can actually indulge in some fun Garba as well as dress up for the occasion. Navratri food is another reason why you would want to take a trip to Ahmedabad during the winters.
Places to see in Ahmedabad
Gandhi Ashram
The Sabarmati Ashram, popularly known as the Gandhi Ashram is the place founded by Mahatma Gandhi. What makes this one of the major tourist attractions of Ahmedabad is the rich historical relevance it holds. The premise of the ashram has teachings of Gandhiji etched on the walls. Interestingly, the ashram continues to work with the principles set by the freedom fighter as the premise also contributes to the handicrafts market with their handmade products. In fact, the ashram also has a handmade paper factory and a spinning wheel factory located within the premise.
ISKCON
The Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and Lord Rama is prevalent in many parts of the country and even the world. The inspiring stories of the two deities as well as their teachings resonate with many followers. The temple is beautiful and has a festive air which will soothe your soul.
Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum
Established by Muni Shri Punyavijayi and Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai, the museum is a haven for a bibliograph as it is an abode to priceless book collections, manuscripts and text materials from a long time ago. From Vedic scriptures of Jainism to poetic verses written in ancient India, the manuscripts and published literary work would be of interest to you if you're an avid reader or someone interested in history.
Auto World Vintage Car Museum
At the Auto World Vintage Car Museum, you will find yourself in awe of some of the swanky rides owned by Shri Pranlal Bhogilal, who opted to convert his private collection to public viewing. Not only will you get to see some fancy rides such as Maybach, Cadillac, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Chrysler, Lincoln, etc. but will also get to take one for a spin! Of course, you'll have to pay a token to take one of the cars out for a drive.
Bhadra Fort
The Bhadra Fort was once a pristine palace with lush gardens and gorgeous sights. Built back in 1411, the fort vicinity also has a temple of Goddess Bhadrakali. The fort has some historical significance as well as some spiritual relevance. One can take up a stroll around the Bhadra Fort and learn more about the rich backstory.
Calico Museum of Textiles
Ahmedabad or rather Gujarat, in general, is known for their contribution to the textile industry. In fact, they are the frontrunners in the textile industry. Many might assume that credit goes to Mahatma Gandhi's Swadeshi movement, which enabled them to opt for handwoven khadi garments and produce the same. However, Ahmedabad's history with textiles dates back to the 1700s! Please take a tour through the Calico Museum of Textiles to learn more about their history and more.
Things to do in Ahmedabad
Drive-in theatres are a big hit here. You can probably rent a vehicle and head straight to Drive-In Road in the city but ensure to check the show timings before making a plan to watch a movie. Law Gardens is a bustling capital for the shopaholic in you. As long as you can handle some impeccable haggling, Law Gardens is the best place to shop Gujarati ensembles and clothes representing their culture. From glasswork on the fabric to shimmery outfits, you will have a lot of options to pick from at this shopping street.
A heritage walk is usually conducted in the city where you are taken through a tour of some of the historical streets of the town. The walk is organised by Ahmedabad's municipal corporation and happens daily. The walk starts at Swaminarayan Temple in Kalupur and stretches up to the Jama Masjid. You can choose a day of leisure by hanging out at the Victoria Garden. It is close to the Bhadra Fort.
Food and Restaurants in Ahmedabad
Gujaratis fondness towards food is no big secret. They love food and are always game to explore the variety. In fact, much recently, a man found fame for selling pineapple and rabdi sandwiches! Speaking of which, if you do wish to check out this melange of flavours then you should head to Manek Sandwich in the city's Manek Chowk. For lip-smacking Gujarati thalis, you should check out Vishala. Tadka Punjabi, Sankalp is also some famous food joints in Ahmedabad with impeccable cuisines. While you're here, you should undoubtedly visit Havmor ice cream parlours and get some of that action.
There is something known as Kathiyawadi Food which is an Ahmedabad speciality. In case you're in the mood for some adventure, this is an excellent way to go about your gastronomical journey. Visit Bardi at CG Road for the same. There are more options available at CG Road such as Choice Snacks, Mirch Masala, to name a few that you can check out.
How to reach Ahmedabad (Transportation)
By Air
Ahmedabad has impeccable flight connectivity as various domestic as well as international airlines have flights in and out of the city. The main airport is the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport located approximately 15 km from the city centre. The airport is looking at some significant expansion plans to bring in more space for international airlines. Some of the global flight connectivity from Ahmedabad is with cities such as Kuwait, London, Doha, Singapore and Muscat, to name a few. As for domestic destinations, the flight connectivity from Ahmedabad is brilliant as a majority of the domestic airlines have flights in the city. You can fly to a majority of the metropolitan cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Surat, Goa, Kolkata and more.
By Rail
The Ahmedabad Central Railway Station is also well-connected in terms of daily availability of transport. There are dedicated trains from Mumbai heading to Ahmedabad regularly with multiple connections to other major cities such as Rajkot, Pune , Delhi, Jaipur, Indore, Udaipur, Kolkata, Varanasi, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Chennai, etc. Other important junctions include the Sabarmati Junction and Maninagar Railway Station which connect to the central railway station.
By Road
Driving up to Ahmedabad is actually a fun ride as the roads are exciting and the highways are not risky. You can either book a bus ticket for yourself or rent a car or even drive yourself. People travelling from Maharashtra, Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh often opt for buses as the best option if railway tickets aren't confirmed. The buses are comfortable too as you have options such as semi seater and sleeper to choose from. You can easily reach Ahmedabad from any corner of the country.
About Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways Company QCSC primarily operates under the name of Qatar Airways, is the state-owned airline that is also the flag carrier of Qatar. Qatar Airways' headquarters is located in the Qatar Airways Tower in Doha. The airline operates as a hub and spoke network with domestic and international routes that connect to over 150 destinations. The airline has excellent flight connectivity with major international cities spread across Asia, Africa, America, Oceania and Europe. Qatar Airways' main hub is at Hamad International Airport, the newest airport to have taken over all the international operations from Doha International Airport. The airline is a member of the three alliance airlines groups, Oneworld. Qatar Airways joined the bandwagon of the airline alliances in 2013 and is touted to be the first Gulf carrier to be a part of the same. Akbar Al Baker is the newly appointed CEO of Qatar Airways who took his position in 2017. He is also a member of the Heathrow Airport board and has been serving the position since 1996.
The airline is wholly owned by the Qatari government and sees all its operations run under the control of the government. The movement took place in 2014 after a major buyout of 50 per cent took place from the former foreign minister and other shareholders. As of 2018, the Qatar Airways Group is known to employ about 45,000 people out of which 32,000 are directly employed for the airline. Qatar Airways is also recognised as one of the largest shareholders in the International Airlines Group, which operates British Airways and Iberia flights. The airline holds 25.1 per cent of shares in the company.
Qatar Airways came into existence in 1993 with its operations commencing in 1994. The airline served Jordan's capital Amman in the same year. Initially, the airline had only 75 employed staff as well as a fleet of two Airbus A310s that served the international routes of Abu Dhabi, Cairo, Kuwait, Bangkok, Madras, Osaka, Tokyo, London, Kuwait, Trivandrum and more. In the same year, two of All Nippon Airways' former Boeing 747s were bought from the aircraft company. Qatar Airways further acquired a second-hand Boeing 747SP in 1996 from Air Mauritius. Over the years, the airlines managed to reach more destinations including Bangalore, Bucharest, Copenhagen, Hanoi, Phuket, Nice, Kolkata, Medina, Oslo, Venice and more. Over the years, Qatar Airways has expanded its horizons in terms of investment by putting money in a slew of ventures and organisations. Primarily, some of the sponsorships include investing in Sky News, FC Barcelona (shirt sponsor), FIFA Partner in 2018 and the official sponsor for 2022 FIFA World Cups, official airline partner for FIA Formula E Championship and more.
Fleet size of Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways currently handles a fleet of 237 aircraft which only comprises of Airbus and Boeing aircraft. From Airbus A350s, A380s to Boeing 777s and Boeing 787s, the airline has worked to bring forth only the top big aircraft.
Qatar Airways Baggage Allowance
Qatar Airways' baggage allowance protocols are mentioned on the website of the airlines. For the first-class passengers, the airline allows two bags that should not exceed 32 kg and should be within the dimensions of 158 cm. The weight and dimension mentioned are the maximum that you can carry. These are only restricted to flights flying to and from Brazil, Argentina, Canada and the US. As for the other international destinations, a maximum of 50 kg with 300 cm dimensions are allowed. Business-class baggage allowance also follows 32 kg weight and the dimension of 158 cm. 2 pieces of bags are allowed for the passenger to carry. Once again, these are only restricted to the passengers flying to and from cities in Brazil, Argentina, Canada and the US. As for cities worldwide, the airline offers 40 kg weight for baggage with a dimension that should not exceed 300 cm. The economy class is also allowed to carry two pieces of baggage, but the weight should not exceed 23 kg. The maximum dimension should also not go beyond 158 cm, similar to the other baggage allowance. It is applicable for cities such as Argentina, Canada and the US.
The economy class allows passengers to carry 30 kg maximum with dimensions of 300 cm. As for bags that can be allowed in the cabin, the passengers can take about two bags weighing 7 kg in economy class while the first class and business class passengers can carry up to 15 kg of baggage.
Qatar Airways In-flight services
First-class - Qatar Airways' in-flight services are phenomenal as it is a boutique airline. The passenger legroom is over 6.5 ft with reclining seats that can be converted into flat beds with added feather duvets. The additional feature of Qatar Airways' first-class cabin is the functions the seats come with. These include massage functions as well as a dedicated entertainment deck within the private first-class suite. The features on Qatar Airways' A380 have a 90-inch seat pitch that can also be transformed into a full flatbed. A 26-inch television screen with personalised entertainment decks. The seat configuration of A380 is 1-2-1. Meanwhile, Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft also has a two-class configuration.
Business-class - The business class of Qatar Airways flights are quite exquisite as well. The comfortable seats can be turned into full flatbeds that have a seat configuration of 1-2-1. The seating arrangement is available on Airbus A380, Airbus A350, Boeing 777 and Boeing 787. The medium and long-haul flights have seats in the configuration of 2-2-2 which also offers flatbed seating that reclines to about 180 degrees and has massage functions too. Much recently, Qatar Airways also introduced new business class seats for their A320 aircraft. The airlines offer personalised entertainment decks on every seat as well as various other in-flight services. The business class is named Qsuite cabin which offers doors and offers window sides on single seats, middle section suites that can be converted into a quad room and allow four passengers to face each other and form a dining-room set.
Economy class - Skytrax named Qatar Airways' economy class as the best in the world for the year 2009 and 2010. The economy class has a seat pitch of 34 inches with individual TV screens for personalised entertainment. These are available on Airbus A350, A380 as well as Boeing 777 and 787. The airline has been making some alterations with better seats and less personal space. The LED monitor has the best in-flight entertainment services. You can also access the internet with the free WiFi, USB ports and power plug points. There are delicious meals available in-flight.
Popular routes and top cities for Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways has developed into one of the best airlines with respect to flight connectivity. In 2014, the official functions of Doha International Airport were shut down with Doha's Hamad International Airport becoming the new hub for flight operations. The airline has been providing flight services to several international destinations. The airline has excellent connectivity and follows a good range of domestic and international routes. In 2012, the airlines included new destinations such as Addis Ababa, Baghdad, Maputo, Mombasa, Yangon, Erbil, Kilimanjaro, Belgrade, Zagreb, Saint Petersburg, Warsaw and Perth, to name a few. Later in 2014, Qatar Airways also added a few more destinations worldwide and added 146 cities in total. The airlines previously also added more international routes to its network such as Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Haneda, Miami, Edinburgh, Djibouti, Turkey, Amsterdam and more. The airlines joined Oneworld in 2013 and became the first major Gulf carrier to be a part of alliance airlines group.
A decision to bar Qatar Airways flights from entering Emirati, Bahraini, Saudi Arabian and Egyptian airspace, following a 2017 diplomatic crisis surrounding these countries. In fact, airlines from these countries have also been banned from entering the Qatari airspace as well as airports. Qatar Airways launched its first flight to Davao, the Philippines from Doha in 2019. In the same year, the airlines also introduced flights to Langkawi with a view to expanding its plans in Southeast Asia. The international route is the airlines' third destination in Malaysia following Penang and Kuala Lumpur. The airline also has undertaken codeshare agreements with airlines such as Air Botswana, Comair, Asiana Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Finnair, IndiGo, Japan Airlines, American Airlines and Iberia, to name a few.
Why travel by Qatar Airways?
Qatar Airways, with its world-class in-flight services and tremendously good connection, is one of the best airlines in the world. The airline strictly caters to luxury travelling, which can be experienced in their flights. You can easily book Qatar Airways flights on the internet as they are available on almost all the travel portals. Not to mention how they have exemplary connections with their domestic routes and international routes. Further, the airline has made knowing more about flight status and Qatar Airways flight schedule easy and accessible. Provisions for web check-in are also available on the official website of Qatar Airways. Such convenient facilities make them an ideal airline.
About Ahmedabad Airport
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport serves as an international airport to the city of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar in the state of Gujarat. The airport is about 9 km to the north of central Ahmedabad. The airport has been named after the First Deputy Prime Minister of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It falls in the top ten list of busiest airports in India with respect to passenger traffic. In fact, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport stands at the seventh spot for being one of the busiest airports in India. According to reports received in 2018-19, the airport recorded a whopping passenger capacity of 11.17 million in a year. Ahmedabad Airport also serves as the focus city for GoAir airline.
The airport was originally set up in 1937 for domestic operations. However, the airport eventually received its international operations stature in 1991. In 2000, Ahmedabad Airport was added in the category of international airports in India. In the same decade, works to create a new terminal also commenced. In 2010, the airport's new terminal 2 came into existence, and it was inaugurated to handle international passengers.
Further, a towering 18 foot-tall statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was also erected at the airport. The airport has been recognised internationally for its world-class facilities and modern amenities. In fact, it also received an award in 2017 for being the 'Most Improved Airport' in Asia-Pacific, by the Airports Council International.
About Ahmedabad Airport terminals
Terminal 1 - Terminal 1 caters to domestic operations and comprises of two floors. The design and layout of the terminal are exquisite and is capable of handling 1400 passengers during peak hours. The terminal has also reserved spaces for parking cars which can accommodate 250 at one go. It comes with various facilities, including WiFi services and several food establishments. There are about 32 check-in counters as the terminal is sprawled over 480,000 square feet. Just recently in 2018, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport opened a new Plaza Premium lounge in the domestic terminal 1. The lounge is located right next to Gate 4 on the first floor of the terminal building. The lounge has world-class facilities and caters to Priority Pass. You can also use other select bank cards to get access to the lounge. Business-class passengers depending on the airlines that they fly from will also get access to the lounge.
Terminal 2 - Terminal 2, also known as T2, was inaugurated in 2010 and commenced operations the same year. Thanks to the exquisite Steel Structure built by the management, the terminal won accolades for the same at the 2009 edition of National Structural Steel Design and Construction Awards. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport's Terminal 2 accommodates four aerobridges with 32 check-in counters. The terminal's floor area sprawls across 41,000 square meters approximately.
With this, the terminal has the potential to accommodate over 1,600 passengers at all times. Similar to the terminal 1 lounge, terminal 2 also has a new Plaza Premium, which was opened in 2018. The new lounge at the terminal has been reserved for business class and first-class passengers. In fact, passengers who have special Priority Pass and other bank card are also given access to the terminal 2's lounge. Along with great facilities, the terminal also accommodates a 51,975 square metre long apron that enables parking bays for nine A-321 and four ATR-72 types of aircraft.
Terminal 3 - Terminal 3 is located next to terminal 1 and is used for domestic flight activities. The terminal is yet to start functioning, but as of 2019, the airport has managed to lay the foundation. Construction work has already commenced for the new terminal. The terminal building is set to accommodate a parking facility of 200 cars and will predominantly be used for Hajj season.
Terminal 4 - Terminal 4 is reserved for cargo activities. The airport has the capacity to accommodate about 51,637 tonnes of cargo, this includes gold and silver. Sixty per cent of the cargo is derived from various domestic sources. Presently, cargo airlines such as Blue Dart Aviation, Emirates SkyCargo, Ethiopian Airlines Cargo and Qatar Airways Cargo operate from Terminal 4 of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
About Airport Authority
Airports Authority of India is the owner and played as the operator of the Ahmedabad Airport. However, in 2015, they announced to privatise the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Until 2015, much of the airport's management and operations were handled by the Airports Authority of India. Following a bid to transfer the ownership or rather operations of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Adani Group has become the management now. Plans of expansion and upgradation under the operations of Adani Group have not been revealed yet.
Facilities at the Ahmedabad Airport
Lounge – The international and domestic terminals of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport have dedicated lounge services. Called the Plaza premium lounge, the two lounges have great hospitality and comfortable facilities.
Medical services – With a view to handle medical emergency cases, the airport has installed medical services and first aid rooms too. These are present in the domestic as well as international terminals.
WiFi – The airport offers free WiFi facilities for passengers. One can avail the free internet services without having to pay an extra tariff of any sort. Also, the internet connection is strong and can be utilised from various spots in the airport premise.
Currency exchange - Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is an international airport and hence has a foreign exchange counter available in the terminal. You can get your currencies exchanged for a decent rate and also get money transfers done.
Child care rooms – There are provisions for parents travelling with kids to relax at the child care room. These rooms have been installed specifically to help parents calm their kids and to cater to their needs. The rooms are private in nature and have facilities such as changing tables, comfortable chairs and more. They also have baby products such as powders and diapers, in case the parent runs out of these essentials.
Spa – Ever since the airport has undergone upgradation, they have installed some interesting new features. One of them is a spa service. You can avail the spa services at the airport's terminals and relax ahead of the flight. They are mostly present in the international terminal.
Restaurants – There are dedicated food courts available at both the terminals of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. You can find famous restaurants and food joints from around the world at the airport. Famous establishments such as McDonald's, Subway, KFC, to name a few, are also part of the airport terminals. Affordable food joints and beverage points are present at the airport as well. You can pick from the most upscale establishments to the cheap and affordable ones at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
ATMs – The airport facilitates various ATM kiosks of local banks at selected spots in the international and domestic terminals.
Top airlines flying from Ahmedabad Airport
As one of the most important airports in India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport accommodates several domestic and international airlines. The domestic airlines that operate from Ahmedabad Airport include Air India, AirAsia India, Air Deccan, Alliance Air, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Star Air, TruJet and Vistara. These airlines connect to major cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Varanasi, Pune, Nagpur, Visakhapatnam, Patna, Kozhikode, Kochi, Bagdogra, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Indore and Dehradun, to name a few. Meanwhile, the international airlines that operate from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport are Air Arabia, AirAsia X, Druk Air, Emirates, flydubai, Iraqi Airways, Kuwait Airways, Jazeera Airways, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai AirAsia and Thai Smile. These airlines connect to international destinations such as Sharjah, Kuala Lumpur, Paro, London, Baghdad, Kuwait, Doha Singapore, Jeddah, Dubai, Bangkok and Abu Dhabi, to name a few.
How to reach Ahmedabad Airport
By Bus
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is approximately 8n km away from the bus stand. From the bus stand, you can easily find taxis and private buses that will directly reach you to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. There are several prepaid taxi booths also available near the bus stand for you to reach Ahmedabad Airport. Reaching Ahmedabad Airport from the bus stand is quite convenient and comfortable. You can also find transportation facilities on Ola and Uber to reach Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. It would take approximately 20 minutes to reach Ahmedabad Airport. However, depending on the city traffic, the duration can vary.
By Rail
The railway station is also located about 8 km from the airport. If you have a flight to catch from Ahmedabad Airport and if you are travelling to Ahmedabad from other parts of Gujarat, it would be a comfortable journey. You can get various taxi cabs and other such vehicle services at the railway station to reach Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Private cabs are available at the station and would take you around 20 to 25 minutes to reach Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
