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About Chandigarh
Located on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, is the gorgeous city of Vancouver. It is famously known to be one of the most densely populated cities in the country. Not just the population but even the ethnic diversity sets the city apart from the others. Vancouver has a plethora of gardens and parks, along with museums and galleries. The city has managed to find fame amid travellers in recent years. Owing to the landscape scenery and thriving food establishments, Vancouver has grown into becoming one of the most important cities in Canada. It is easy to connect flights to Vancouver as well.
Best time to visit Chandigarh
Vancouver is predominantly a cold city with temperatures barely exceeding 22 degree Celsius. However, the spring, summers and fall are pleasant in Vancouver, giving way to tourists. Since summer is the peak season in Vancouver, often you will find a plethora of tourists from around Canada to flock over for some fun. The city's thriving culture and lifestyle, topped with the slew of amazing festivals such as TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Vancouver Pride Parade & Festival, Vancouver Folk Music Festival and Bard on the Beach, further make people want to head to the city. With so many events and lovely weather to take in, the hotel prices and flight tickets also tend to get expensive. Plus, with the crowd, it might be difficult for you to enjoy a quiet and quaint environment. The cruise port also gets busy as the travellers need to be accommodated. However, the spring season will get your spirits high and your pockets happy. From March to May, the city turns lively as the cherry blossoms bloom and the whales pass through the Vancouver waters. It is a beautiful sight and certainly comes with great perks.
There are some fascinating events such as the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival and Vancouver International Dance Festival that take place during spring. It is certainly the kind you shouldn't miss as the streets turn carnivalesque. Autumn is just as favourable as spring as the city prepares for the winters. It is easier to book hotels in Vancouver during this season as people are departing from the summer fun, reducing the demand for the city. Just as the temperatures go down, even the hotel prices and flight ticket costs drop, making it easier for tourists with a strict budget to traverse. While the city folks continue with their fairs and events, a new wave of budge tourists come over to be entertained by what the city has to offer. The temperatures would require you to carry jackets and coats along with you. It can get super cold, especially if you're from a hot country and are not used to the drop in temperatures. The experience of autumn in Vancouver is just as beautiful with the city streets turning crimson red as maple leaves flood the streets.
Places to visit in Chandigarh
Life in Vancouver is on the outside and not indoors. The city bustles and brims with opportunities for tourists to engage in. The Stanley Park is one sweet place from where you can begin your Canadian tour. Granville Island is the one place that will give you trendy restaurants, theatres and alluring galleries. All you've got to do is to hitch up a ferry ride and ho to the island. Another lovely place to visit would be Queen Elizabeth Park, a famous outdoor attraction in Vancouver. Famously known as the Kitsiklano 'Kits' Beach, the stretch of shores finds itself in the lines of an LA or Venice beach, thanks to the pristine water it touches. Spanish Banks Beach is another thrilling spot that would make you happy, especially if the water is something you love. The city has far too many gardens so you will never be tired of the greenery around you. The VanDusen Botanical Garden also deserves to be visited as it is one of the pretty places. It's not just gardens and beaches though, the city also has Yaletown, a chic neighbourhood to indulge in some upscaled lifestyle.
Things to do in Chandigarh
One of the best things to do in Vancouver is easily the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge. It is 450 ft long, and 230 ft elevated from the ground that offers a stunning view of the river flowing under. It is quite thrilling and definitely poles apart from the feeling the gardens in Vancouver invoke. You can indulge in some leisure sightseeing and shopping at the Lonsdale Quay Market. Another fun thing to take up in Vancouver would be to indulge in a food tour. As the city does brim with a vast opportunity for lip-smacking food, you will not be disappointed with the establishments the city has. Sailing is another activity that you can take up in the city. It would be fun, and you will get to learn something new. Plus, for the outdoorsy kind, you can visit Grouse Mountain for some adventure fun.
Food and Restaurants in Chandigarh
Vancouver is nestled along the Pacific coast, making seafood as it's the staple food. In fact, much of their food has fish and other aquatic life as the base. That includes the classic fish and chips too, which is otherwise a London speciality. These can be found in the city's markets such as Granville Island. The place is ideal for you to explore their seafood delicacies. While Granville has some of the basic but delicious street meat, Yaletown upscales the whole experience, which would be ideal for you if you're on a romantic rendezvous. The setting at Yaletown is formal and posh. Some of the food establishments that you should visit during your trip are Rodney's Oyster House, Blue Water Cafe, to name a few. These are the best seafood restaurants in the city which you will surely like. You can also check out YEW Seafood + Bar, which is located at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver. Their speciality includes Sidney Island venison and Qualicum Bag scallops. These are a big hit in the city, and something many would recommend.
A little away from Vancouver is Richmond (in British Columbia), where you'll find more seafood with wild salmon, tuna, mussels, crab and halibut too. What makes this place special is how the fish are fresh catch of the day which the fishermen get from the docks. These you can find at Steveston Village. Not just seafood but Vancouver also has its own version of Chinatown where you will find some of the best Asian dishes. In fact, you can also experience the little India that is settled in Vancouver. There is a Punjabi Market which is basically an Indo-Canadian neighbourhood located in the South Vancouver. Rest assured, all your cravings for Indian curries and delicacies shall be fulfilled here.
How to reach Chandigarh
There are no direct flights from Indian to Vancouver. However, the flight connectivity to Vancouver from India is exceptional. Canada, in general, receives a lot of tourists and potential residents from India. Due to this, the popularity of flights to this route is quite high. In fact, every second day, there are people travelling to Vancouver or other parts of Canada. Since there are no direct or nonstop flights to Vancouver from India, many airlines do have services to reach with layovers in other international cities. Airlines such as Delta Air Lines, Air France, Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, United Airlines, British Airways have some dedicated flights flying to Vancouver. As there are no direct flights, many have layovers in their origin countries. For example, Air France has flight connectivity to Vancouver from Paris, so there is a layover in the city. Similarly, other cities with layovers are in Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Newark, Istanbul, to name a few. The most popular route for flights to Vancouver is from Paris and Frankfurt. However, some of the flights need a second layover which either takes places in Montreal, Toronto or Newark.
To fly to Vancouver from India, you will require to apply for a transit visa. Since the international routes connecting Vancouver and India are from cities like Paris and Frankfurt, they require a transit visa from the passenger. To make things easier, the Canadian Embassy has allowed for online applications. All you need to do is fill up the application online and submit the same. The process is easier and less time-consuming. Besides, the status of the application is received promptly. The flight tickets to Vancouver are considerably on the expensive side. The distance is quite a lot and travelling through certain airlines is why the prices are steep. However, you can always find exceptional flight deals online. There are provisions of miles as well which enable the ticket prices to reduce. You can find cheap flight tickets to Vancouver online, especially if you book them well in advance. Simultaneously, you can make your hotel reservations too. Booking in advance always comes with its perks and booking your hotels in Vancouver will also be cheap if you do it beforehand.
About Air France
Air France, popularly stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the flag carrier of France and has its headquarters in Tremblay-en-France. The airline also has a subsidiary which is a merger between Air France-KLM Group. The airline is one of the founding members of SkyTeam, one of the top global airline alliances. Air France serves about 36 destinations in its domestic routes and also caters to about 175 cities in the international routes. This further includes the 93 French-administered overseas territories of France. In 2019, the airline recorded to carry 46,803,000 passengers. Charles de Gaulle Airport along with Orly Airport is the primary hubs of Air France. The corporate headquarters of the airline was previously located in Montparnasse. However, it has been relocated to be on the grounds of Charles de Gaulle Airport, situated in the north of the city Paris. Air France came into existence in 1933 following a merger of Air Union, Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Aérienne, Air Orient, Compagnie Générale Aéropostale and Société Générale de Transport Aérien took place.
The airline played a significant role during the Cold War between 1950 to 1990 as one of the main three Allied airlines. It operated from Germany's Tempelhof and Tegel airports. Air France acquired operations of France's domestic carrier Air Inter and Union de Transports Aériens, international rival UTA. In 2003, the airlines had a merger with KLM, after seven decades of being the primary carrier of France. Air France also has offices in various other international cities such as in Midtown Manhattan, New York City as well as in Plesman House in Hatton Cross. Air France primarily adopted a seahorse logo from its predecessor, Air Orient. The logo is known as hippocampe ailé, also called la crevette or popularly referred to as shrimp by the employees. In the past, before Air France and KLM merged, the hippocampe ailé was on the nose section of the aircraft, painted right next to the Air France title. However, the logo was substituted following the merger and put to the engine nacelles.
Currently, Air France's livery comprises of white fuselage with the blue Air France title as well as design. It follows a Eurowhite scheme with its tail being white with parallel red and blue lines. The same is painted on the tail at a certain angle, to represent a small European flag. The livery has been used since the 1970s and has Air France painted on the fuselage, written in blue.
Fleet size of Air France
Presently, Air France operates a whopping fleet of 216 aircraft. The airline's narrow-body fleet has all the four Airbus A320 variants while its long-haul operations are only served by Boeing 777, 787, Airbus A330 and A350 XWB wide-body aircraft. The airline has a 100 per cent Airbus-Boeing fleet, for better productivity.
Wide-body fleet - In 2011, Air France-KLM made an announcement that they have ordered for 50 Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s that would be operated by both the airlines. The two airlines have a commitment for Boeing 787s out of which, 25 are direct, and 12 are leased. The first Boeing 787-9 to enter operations for KLM took place in 2015 while in 2017, Air France received its first Boeing 787-9. The two airlines also have orders for 28 A350s to join their fleet. Much recently, the group announced a revision in the original order, making Air France as the sole operator of Airbus A350. At the same time, KLM became the only airline operating Boeing 787s, including the six aircraft that were initially earmarked for Air France.
Narrow-body fleet - Air France's fleet consists of all four variants of the Airbus A320 aircraft while the narrow-body fleet has a total of 114 jets. The contracts for Airbus A318 and A319 fleet are set to retire soon, and the airline has announced that 60 Airbus A220-300s would be replacing them in 2021. Further, on the same, Air France plans to add more Airbus A220 in its domestic routes to cut back on emissions.
Boeing 747 - Originally, Air France and KLM collectively started operating Boeing 747 which started from 1971. However, the flights were replaced by Airbus A380s and Boeing 777-300ERs starting 2016.
Airbus A380 - Airbus A380-800 "superjumbo" kicked off in 2001 by Air France. The airline became the first in all of Europe to accommodate and operate the A380. As per recent announcements by Air France-KLM though, the group has planned on replacing all their Airbus A380 fleet and instead plans to add more Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s. The plan might go on floors sooner than one can estimate as the airline has been working on eliminating all the aircraft from its fleet.
Baggage Allowance
Air France's baggage allowance protocols are quite universal as many top airlines also follow the same terms and conditions. For hand baggage that can be taken to the cabin, the passenger of the Premium Economy, Business or La Première cabins can take two hand baggage. This is exclusive of one accessory bag which could be a laptop bag or a handbag. Meanwhile, the Economy cabin passengers are allowed to take only one hand baggage along with one accessory bag. The size for the hang baggage should not exceed the dimensions of 55 x 35 x 25 cm, including the wheels, handles and pockets. You can check if your baggage fulfils this criterion at the airport as facilities to measure the size of the baggage is available. The weight for the baggage should be 12 kg and not more than that. For Premium Economy, Business or La Première ticket holders, the weight cannot exceed 18 kg. The weight is combined for all the baggage that you plan to take on board. Make sure to peruse through the official website of Air France to know the prohibited items that you cannot take with you on board.
As for checked baggage, you are not allowed to carry more than 23 kg for Economy cabin passengers and Premium Economy cabin too. Business-class and La Première cabin passengers can carry about 32 kg. Beyond the stated weight, passengers are allowed to purchase extra baggage weight at the airport. You can intimate the airlines about the same on their website too. The dimensions of checked baggage should not exceed 158 cm in total. If it does go beyond the stated dimension, then you will have to pay an extra sum at the airport.
In-flight services
Air France's in-flight services are world-class thanks to the fleet only operating Airbus and Boeing flights. The services are top-notch, especially for the premium cabins. Air France's La Première menu has been curated by Michelin-starred restaurant Le Grand Vefour's chef, Guy Martin. The exquisite menu includes hors d 'oeuvres, entrées, cheese and break basket topped with a dessert cart that comprises of pastries, tartlets and petit fours. Air France also serves complimentary champagne to passengers in all cabins. The airlines also offer a slew of in-flight entertainment with its Audio Video on Demand (AVOD) which is present in all cabins of long haul aircraft. The airline's magazine, Air France Magazine is also part of the in-flight entertainment, as is Air France Madame. Much recently, Air France also enabled WiFi connectivity for their fleets. La Première, Business, and Premium Economy passengers can avail the luxury lounges Le Salon, prevalent in various international airports.
There are four diverse cabins that Air France's fleets are divided into in terms of their cabin. These are majorly for the long haul international routes. They feature La Première, Business, Premium Economy and Economy. The perks of Air France is how every cabin has recliner seats that stretch up to a decent amount in long-haul flights. Along with this, there are other in-flight services on Air France flights that range from personalised entertainment decks to woollen blankets as well as plug points to charge phones, tablets, laptops and more.
Popular routes and top cities for Air France
Air France is known for its exceptional flight connectivity. The airline's domestic route network connects to over 36 destinations while the international routes have 175 destinations connecting to 93 countries. Some of their biggest domestic cities include Paris, Lyon, Nice, Toulouse and Marseilles, to name a few. Many international cities include Brussels, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Vienna, Toronto, Vancouver, Beijing, Wuhan, Havana, Prague, Copenhagen, Berlin, Munich, Mykonos, Hong Kong, Budapest, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Milan, Tokyo, New York, Kuwait City, Kuala Lumpur, Mexico City, Amsterdam, Muscat, Doha, Los Angeles, Seoul, Stockholm, London, Bangkok, Manchester, Chicago, San Francisco and more.
Why travel by Air France?
Air France is easily known to be one of the best airlines in the world thanks to its excellent facilities and connectivity to major cities worldwide. The airline has a slew of services and perks to offer that make it the most sought-after choice. Take booking an Air France flight, for instance. They are available on all portals plus, you can get access to Air France's flight schedule and flight status as well. Moreover, you can do web check-ins too that would be very convenient.
About Chandigarh Airport
Chandigarh International Airport is a custom airport that also serves as a passenger airport to the Union Territory Chandigarh. Along with the city, the airport also serves Panchkula, Mohali and other cities in the states of Punjab, Haryana and a few southern districts of Himachal Pradesh. The airport runway is situated in the Union Territory of Chandigarh. In contrast, the international terminal falls on the south side of the runway, close to the village of Jhiurheri in Mohali, Punjab. The international airport has all its civil and commercial operations conducted from the civil enclave of the Indian Air Force Station. In the 1970s, the airport witnessed tremendous flight activity and operations from Indian Airlines. There were regular flights connecting Chandigarh to Delhi.
Following the construction of a new airport building in the civil enclave in 2011, all operations were diverted to the new terminal. This special air terminal was announced as a customs airport in 2011, giving it the international stature. Although it became an international airport, the terminal never witnessed international flight activities operate from its premise. In 2008, the Government of Punjab acquired a land area of 304.04 acres to construct the new international terminal. Over its completion in 2015 and a few Public Interest Litigation case hearings that took place at the Punjab High Court and Haryana High Court, the airport finally witnessed international flight activities from 2016. IndiGo and Air India Express became the first airlines to commence international flights to fly to Dubai and Sharjah from Chandigarh International Airport.
About Chandigarh Airport Terminal
The new international terminal came into existence in 2015 and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The new terminal has been built in an eco-friendly manner with several features validating the same. Larsen and Toubro constructed the airport's new terminal. The airport's interiors have an abundance of plants which gives a rather botanical garden feel. The earlier domestic terminal now caters to VIP flights and is also reserved for flying club. Meanwhile, the new terminal includes two link taxiways that connect to the terminal as well as the cargo complex. There are four aerobridges apron reserved for parking of four in contact, and eight remote parking stands for aircraft. The terminal is divided into two levels with the first level taking care of all departures while the ground level has arrivals. The first phase of the airport terminal has the capacity to handle about 1,600 passengers at a time with a parking space to accommodate 150 vehicles. Although the airport is not a greenfield airport, it does use the runway of the current Indian air force base. The departure section of the terminal has relevant facilities such as ATMs, WiFi and a duty-free shop. Much recently, the terminal's check-in counters have also been expanded from 24 to 26.
About airport authority
Chandigarh International Airport is jointly owned by the government of Punjab, the government of Haryana and the Airports Authority of India. In fact, they have formed a consortium as the airport's operations are handled by Chandigarh International Airport Limited. In the consortium, Airports Authority of India holds a maximum stake with 51 per cent equity while the Government of Punjab and Government of Haryana hold 24.5 per cent of shares respectively. Chandigarh International Airport Limited is responsible for all the management, maintenance and other such operations of the airport terminal. Ever since the airport's genesis, CHIAL has been working towards expanding the airport's premise and providing world-class facilities to attract more flights and passengers. After quite a lot of struggle with cases going up to the high courts of both the states, Chandigarh International Airport finally even received international flight operations. Currently, the airport caters to a slew of domestic airlines, some of them catering to Indian as well as international cities.
Facilities at the Chandigarh Airport
Food court - Chandigarh International Airport may not have a slew of fancy restaurants installed in its vicinity; it does have a dedicated food court. Passengers can avail lip-smacking dishes from the airport's food courts. They have local and globally recognised food joints available. From burgers to chole bhatures, you can find all kinds of cuisine.
Trolleys and wheelchairs – Trolleys and wheelchairs are available at the airport. While the trolleys can be found at every junction of the airport's arrivals and departure section, wheelchairs need prior intimation. You will need to speak with the airlines and inform them about the requirement for a wheelchair at the entrance of the airport's departure gates. Following the same, the airport will send trained staff to help out the passenger in need of the wheelchair.
Baggage – The baggage system and services at the Chandigarh International Airport include trolleys, baggage wrapping services, storage facilities and more. There are dedicated reclaim baggage conveyor belts located in the arrivals section from where passengers can get access to their checked luggage.
ATMs and currency exchange – As an international airport, Chandigarh International Airport has installed currency exchange booths in the arrivals section of its international terminal. International travellers can get their currencies exchanged and also make money transfers at the forex counters. Plus, there are ATM kiosks also available in the airport premise. Passengers can withdraw money if needed, especially if they are travelling within any liquid cash.
Medical facilities – The airport also has medical facilities available for emergency cases. It is essential to have medical experts on the airport campus at all times. Hence, the airport has ensured to keep a team of dedicated medical professionals. There are medical rooms also available at the airport. You can avail these services for free. There are pharmacies also available at the airport. They provide medicines as well as toiletries that you can purchase.
Child care room – Parents travelling with infants can avail the child care room facility. These rooms have been reserved for parents to help tend to their infant babies. Activities such as breastfeeding and changing diapers can be done in these rooms as it offers privacy. Simultaneously, the child can be put to sleep in the room while they wait for boarding. These rooms are kept well-sanitised.
Smoking zones – Chandigarh International Airport does not allow smoking in public. Hence, they have provided special smoking zones for passengers. These can be found at the departures and arrivals of both the domestic and international terminals. It is essential for passengers to adhere to these rules and smoke within the premise of the smoking lounge provided by the airport.
Special assistance – The airport caters to special assistance for disabled travellers. Prior intimation needs to be given to the airlines by the traveller if they wish to avail these services. You can also specify the requirements for the traveller to the airlines, and the airport will make the necessary accommodations for the same.
International SIMs – For travellers who are visiting Chandigarh and do not have a local SIM number, you can get hold of the same at the airport. There are dedicated counters at the arrivals section of the international terminal where counters have been installed to provide temporary SIMs. Mobile phones are also available, in case you need one.
Top airlines flying from the Chandigarh Airport
Chandigarh International Airport currently enables operations of seven domestic airlines and caters to connect two international destinations. Presently, the airlines that operate from Chandigarh International Airport are AirAsia India, Air India, Alliance Air, Air India Express, GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara. These airlines have excellent connectivity with various Indian cities along with designated international destinations. Chandigarh International Airport connects flights to cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Dharamshala, Pune, Jammu, Chennai, Kullu, Dubai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Srinagar, Ahmedabad, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, Patna and more.
How to reach Chandigarh Airport
By Bus
The new terminal of Chandigarh International Airport is close to 14 km away from the main city of Chandigarh. The city of Chandigarh has excellent bus transport facilities that help connect to various parts of Punjab, Haryana and parts of Himachal Pradesh too. Chandigarh Transport Undertaking has AC buses that operate from the main city to the airport's new terminal. The buses take Route 38 and 36 to reach Chandigarh International Airport. It is easily one of the most sought-after ways to reach Chandigarh International Airport. The ticket fare is also quite affordable and ideal for travellers. Besides, the buses have been designed in such a way that they offer a comfortable journey to the airport. The transport service also has a mobile app from where you can book tickets and get details about the bus schedules and routes to reach Chandigarh International Airport.
By Taxi cabs
Taxicab services are also present within the city to reach the Chandigarh International Airport. You can hail a taxi cab from anywhere around the city or the other surrounding states to reach Chandigarh International Airport. It might be challenging as you will need to communicate with the drivers and ensure that they don't make you pay an exorbitant amount for the journey to reach the Chandigarh International Airport.
