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About Chennai
Chennai falls in the top 10 cities of India with an illustrious history and thriving heritage. The 369-year-old city is one of the most developed cities in India and stands proudly as the capital of Tamil Nadu. Formerly known as Madras, the city of Chennai is known for its glorious history, arts and culture and its ardent enthusiasm towards automobiles. The city is also known as India's health capital as attracts the highest number of foreign tourists with 45 percent catering to health. The thriving city's melange of a modern vibe and traditional roots makes it one of the best urban cities in the world. The airport has excellent flight connectivity to and from Chennai and other domestic and international cities. You can make your flight bookings to Chennai as well as find a range of hotels to book from in the city.
Best time to visit Chennai
As Chennai is a tropical city located by the coast, the temperatures are incredibly high. Even the seasons are binary. The summers in Chennai are between April to June but is hot for the rest of the year too. The monsoon season in Chennai takes place twice in a year. While it receives scanty rainfall between June to September (as opposed to the rest of the country, which receives bountiful rain), the months from October to December see heavy rain in the city, owing to the north-east monsoon. The climate is hot and humid all-round the year, but December is the most pleasant time in the year to visit Chennai.
Places to visit in Chennai
Beaches
As Chennai rests comfortably on the coastal parts of Tamil Nadu, the city has some pristine beaches to check out. Touted to be the second-largest urban beach in the entire world, the Marina Beach is the jewel of Chennai with a shoreline of 12 km long. The sandy shores of the beach teamed with the exquisite Colonial buildings on the street-side make for quite a spectacle.
While Marina Beach is more on the populous side, to enjoy the serenity of a quieter beach, you can visit Edward Elliot's beach and Breezy Beach, to name a few. These beaches are quaint and attract individuals who need to step away from the city's bustle. The peaceful ambience of these beaches has turned into quite the tourist attractions in Chennai.
Temples
The temples in Chennai are centuries old and found aplenty. Every corner of the street has at least one temple. These temples have fascinating stories and exquisite architecture. The temples are known to have a specific structure in South India with detailed gopurams, enormous water tanks in the back of the temple, domestic animals such as cows and dogs, hawkers selling toys and snacks, quaint ponds and shrines of several deities. Some of the famous temples in the city that you can visit are the Kapaleeswarar Temple, the Parthasarathy Temple, Sri Ramakrishna Math-Universal Temple, Kumaran Kundram and Karaneeswarar temple.
The city is also home to a bunch of churches and mosques. In fact, the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Thomas can be found in Chennai. The shrine is believed to be built over the tomb of St Thomas the Apostle, who had visited India in 52 AD. After his death, the saint's body is said to have been buried under the same spot where the Basilica now stands. Other notable churches and mosques include St. Thomas Mount, St. Mary's Church, Big Mosque (Wallajah Mosque) and more.
Museums and Monuments
Chennai's rich culture is reflected not just from the slew of temples and coastal delights but also the monuments and museums in the city. Since the city was also under the direct influence of the British East India Company, much of the architecture, culture and infrastructure have an English vibe. Visit the National Government Museum to learn more about the city's history. You can further go on an artistic voyage by visiting the National Art Gallery, which is more than 100 years old.
Ecological parks
Another major highlight of the city is the number of ecological parks and gardens that can be explored. The city runs a crocodile preservation park as well as a snake park called the Guindy Snake Park. Sprawled across 280 hectares of land is the Guindy National Park which is known to be the smallest national park in India. While the national park is inhabited by very few flora and fauna, it does hold a dedicated space to preserve reptiles and other amphibian species. Besides these two, one can opt to visit the Arinjar Anna Zoological Park, also known as Vandalur Zoo, which is located in the outskirts of the city.
Things to do in Chennai
Chennai is heavily invested not just in the automobiles but also the literary, arts and culture fields. To them, dance and music play a significant role in their daily lives. In fact, the city also observes a bunch of festivals such as Madras Music Season, Madras Day, The Hindu Lit for Life and Chennai Book Fair to commemorate some of their indulgences. These events are a rage and definitely worth attending. You can visit some of the music and dance functions held by the Nungambakkam Cultural Academy Trust, The Music Academy in TTK Road, Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha and Indian Institute of Music and Arts to name a few.
Another fun activity to take up would be to watch a movie of a South star at one of the single-screen or even a multiplex. The fervour of fandom during the release of their favourite celebrity's movie release is euphoric and definitely worth experiencing. As for bibliography enthusiasts, you can visit the Theosophical Society to explore the library set by Anne Besant. There are various malls with high-end fashion brands that you could check out. Or you can always go to Pondy Bazaar in T Nagar to shop silk ensembles and golden accessories.
Food and Restaurants in Chennai
T Nagar and Anna Nagar in Chennai are known market places with many food and restaurant options too. In fact, some of the best joints in the city can be found here. One of the most popular restaurants, Saravana Bhavan, is a must-visit to get the best of South Indian vegetarian food. Sri Anandam Hotel, Geetha Cafe in Pondy Bazaar, Rathna Cafe in Triplicane and Karpagambal Mess in Mylapore are some of the best restaurants that will you give quite the experience of the delicious South Indian cuisine. Dakshin and Southern Spice also offer tasty food.
However, if you do wish to explore a little more, Mansuk's shop in T Nagar is known to emulate Mumbai-chaat and Gujarati Thali. For sweets and desserts, you must let your tastebuds acquaint with Mysore Paks, Tarti Paal and other such sweets, which you will find at Sri Krishna Sweets and Aavin corners. DOJO Kulfis is also a famous hub for traditional ice creams such as kulfi, faloodas and smoothies.
How to reach Chennai
By Air
After Delhi airport and Mumbai airport, the Chennai airport is the third most active airport in India for domestic as well as international departures and arrivals. The airport is divided into two terminals, the Anna Terminal reserved for international flights and the Kamraj Terminal for domestic flights. Located in the same long stretched airport, the flight connectivity to and from Chennai is excellent.
Not just domestic but even international cities are well-connected with Chennai. Major international flight routes from Chennai to cities such as London, Frankfurt, Singapore, Malaysia, the Middle East, New York, Hong Kong, etc. can be reached as flights are available from Chennai Airport. Since Chennai is one of the busiest cities in India, the flight demands are also quite high. Make your flight bookings to Chennai months in advance to avoid high ticket costs.
Another perk of the Chennai airport is how it is well-connected with the city too. While it is located in the outskirts, the airport has a Metro which directly connects with the main city, making travelling far more convenient.
By Rail
There are two central stations which connect Chennai to other major cities in the country. Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore are the two central stations with regular trains entering and exiting the city from different parts of India. While Chennai Central is known to connect the city to other cities, Chennai Egmore has intercity trains that run regularly. Interestingly, both the stations are well-connected with the Chennai airport.
Chennai Central sees trains coming in from cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Madurai, Ahmedabad and Coimbatore daily. Since the rail connectivity is so good, it is often considered by travellers. You must book your rail tickets well in advance as the demand is always high to travel to Chennai.
By Road
The city's bus station is touted to be one of the largest in Asia. Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) is a state-owned property and provides transport services to a plethora of destinations in the South of India. Located in the main city, there are several direct buses to the airport as well as the Egmore station. Considered to be a cheap and affordable means of travelling, you can visit Chennai as long as your location is in the neighbouring states. The travel time to Pondicherry, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Tirupati, Trivandrum, etc. is considerably low.
About Air Canada
Air Canada is perceived to be the largest airline in Canada and is also the flag carrier of the country. The stature is with respect to fleet size and passenger traffic. Founded in 1937, Air Canada provides a scheduled air transport as well as cargo to about 207 international destinations. The airline is recognised as one of the founding members of Star Alliance. The airline's headquarters is located in Montreal, Quebec. Meanwhile, its hub is at Toronto Pearson International Airport. A subsidiary of Air Canada to cater to domestic routes of the country is Air Canada Express. Originally started as Trans-Canada Airlines (TCA), the airline was founded in 1936 by the Canadian federal government. The first transcontinental flight operations of TCA commenced in 1938. Much later, in 1965, Trans-Canada Airlines was renamed to Air Canada, after the airlines received a government approval for the same. Although it was wholly owned by the government, in the 1980s, with the deregulation of the Canadian airline market, Air Canada was eventually privatised in 1988.
In 2000, Air Canada obtained the airline's largest competition in the aviation market, Canadian Airlines. The airlines filed for bankruptcy protection back in 2003, following which it once again emerged after some reorganisation of the management. After Air Canada's privatisation in 1989, the airlines are now listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Air Canada Public Participation Act (ACPPA) limits the ownership of Air Canada's voting interests, especially by non-residents of the country. To ensure that Air Canada's articles sustain its Canadian roots, the Canada Transportation Act has added some restrictions in terms of voting interests for licensed Canadian carriers.
Over the years, Air Canada has further expanded its operating divisions which include subsidiaries such as Air Canada Cargo, Air Canada Jetz, Air Canada Express, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Vacations. These subsidiaries also include private jet charters and leisure flights. Not to mention how there is a specific airline under Air Canada that only works towards vacation packages. Air Canada Jazz, Air Canada Tango and Zip were formerly part of Air Canada. However, they are not marketed under the airline anymore. The regional partner further adds to the airline's revenue. Along with the regional partners who are part of the fleet, the airline collectively operates about 1,613 scheduled flights on a daily basis.
Fleet size of Air Canada
Air Canada currently handles a total of 173 fleets operational from the airline's hub at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Part of their fleet majorly operates Airbus and Boeing types of aircraft. Some of the fleet combinations include 19 Boeing 777-300ER (77W), 12 Airbus A330-300 (333), 29 Boeing 787-9 (789), eight Boeing 787-8 (788), 15 Airbus A321-200 (321), 24 Boeing 737 MAX 8 (7M8), six Airbus A220-300 (223), 35 Airbus A320-200 (320) and 16 Airbus A319-100 (319).
In the past, Air Canada's Douglas DC-8-63 fleet was restrained from passenger services in 1983. In fact, out of the total, six of them were converted to DC-8-73F freighters in 1984 and reused as a cargo freight for Air Canada. Eventually, the aircraft were sold off around 1990 and 1994. Similarly, Douglas DC-9-15s were used by Air Canada in 1968. Out of these, the DC-9-32CF was used for commercial cargo flights that operated until 1977. Meanwhile, McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32s were utilised by the airline from 1967 to 2002, until they were finally suspended. Airbus A340-500s were used by Air Canada but were later replaced with Boeing 777-200LRs in 2007. It has been recorded that Air Canada was the only airline in North America to operate the A340. The Airbus A340-300s also retired in 2008 and were replaced to add Boeing 777-300ERs by Air Canada. More aircraft from Air Canada were retired, including Boeing 767-200ER fleet that bid farewell to the airline by the end of 2008. many aircraft from the subsidiary fleet were also retired, and the newer fleet was added.
Baggage Allowance
When it comes to baggage allowance in Air Canada flights, it is essential for you to know exactly how much would be ideal for carrying in the cabin as well as for check-in. For overhead bin baggage, the standard dimension is 55cm x 23 cm x 40 cm. The weight could differ depending on the cabin class that you have opted for. For business class and first-class passengers, the weight that can be carried is different from the economy class. As for a personal bag that is also allowed for the passenger to carry, the dimension cannot exceed 33 cm x 16 cm x 43 cm. The contents of the baggage are also specific, so you will need to check the airline's website for all specifics on the same. An additional bag for infant products can also be carried if you are travelling with a child. A complete list of items that can and cannot be carried in flight have been mentioned, which you can peruse through to be certain.
Passengers who are members of the Star Alliance group have the liberty to add extra free baggage that they can carry along with them. The perks of Star Alliance members can also be found out at the official website of Air Canada. The check-in baggage should not weigh more than 32 kg and should have a total linear dimension of 292 cm. Baggage allowance in Air Canada for check-in baggage also comes with some rules and regulations that need to be followed. Certain items are restricted and cannot be carried during travel. For passengers who have taken the codeshare flights which are associated with Air Canada, it would be best to go through the diverse baggage policies that have been applied by the said carrier. A thorough perusal through the website of Air Canada will help you gain better insights.
In-flight services
There are three classes of facilities that Air Canada's in-flight services offer, such as Business/Signature, Premium Economy and Economy. For most of the long-haul international routes for Air Canada, all the three classes are offered. However, for short-haul domestic routes, only business class and economy class are featured in the aircraft.
Signature class (Business class) - Air Canada's in-flight services for business class are available on all the widebody aircraft. They comprise of the executive pod and classic pod to provide privacy, noise cancellation headphones and features AVOD )Audio Video on Demand). The reclining seats can be stretched into flatbeds that extend up to 6 ft 7 inch. The services also include complimentary meals with alcoholic beverages for passengers along with other services such as free WiFi, plug points for laptops and other gadgets.
Premium economy class - The premium class is present in all Airbus A330 along with Boeing 777and Boeing 787 aircraft. The features of the premium economy include larger seats, recliner seats and a seat which can stretch up to 37 to 38 inches. The premium economy class also comes with personalised entertainment decks that can be availed. There are AVOD services available and sent by XM Satellite Radio. The airline also offers in-flight meals and WiFi services. You can even ask for blankets from the cabin crew.
Economy - Compared to the business class and premium economy class, the economy class seats are smaller and have decreased seat pitches that recline up to 4.5 to 6 inches. Personalised AVOD is available for all the passengers, as are other features such as in-flight meals, WiFi services, complimentary non-alcoholic beverages, to name a few.
Popular routes and top cities for Air Canada
Air Canada is quite popular as it is not only one of the founding members of Star Alliance but also has an excellent connection with a plethora of domestic and international routes. International routes include Sydney, London, Dusseldorf, Paris, Munich, Berlin, Zurich, Vienna, Delhi, Manchester, Brussels, Madrid, Prague, Singapore, Mumbai and Lisbon. These are the top cities that Air Canada caters to and see excellent services as most of the aircraft used are Boeing and Airbus.
Why travel by Air Canada?
As one of the most popular airlines in the world, Air Canada gives travellers many reasons to pick them over the other airlines. Some of the highlights include the same terminal connection. The airline's hub has one linear terminal connection that makes it easier for passengers to reach for their connecting flights. The airline also offers customs pre-clearance to avoid standing in long queues. You can book Air Canada flights without any hassle as it is available on all travel platforms, including the website of the airlines. Further, you can download the official app of Air Canada on your phone to get flight status as well as flight schedules. Not to mention how web check-in is also possible through their mobile app and website. This makes the procedures simpler for a traveller. Air Canada's in-flight services are also a testament to why it should be chosen over the other airlines for travel. The domestic and international routes taken by Air Canada make their flight connectivity excellent. The airline caters to all your need and hence should be considered.
About Chennai Airport
Chennai International Airport serves as the international airport to the city of Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu. The airport is situated in Tirusulam, which is about 21 km away from the city centre. It has been recognised as the third busiest airport in the country in terms of international traffic as well as cargo capacity. The airport falls behind New Delhi and Mumbai to be on the list of the busiest airport. The Chennai International Airport is also the fourth busiest in India, with respect to passenger traffic and follows New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. In India, the airport falls in the top five list of busiest international and domestic airports. The Chennai International Airport has also been acknowledged as the 49th busiest on the Asia level, becoming one of the four top cities to be on the top 50 Asia list. The airport is perfectly connected with Chennai Metro as well as Tirusulam railway station, which falls in the Chennai Suburban Railway line.
About Chennai Airport Terminals
The airport has two terminals which have been named after the state's former chief ministers. The domestic terminal is also known as K. Kamaraj while the international terminal is named C. N. Annadurai. They are interconnected by a building. The building now serves as an older international block that deals with administrative offices, along with a restaurant. The whole stretch is one linear structure that was built additionally as Anna terminal (T3) was brought about in 1988 to align with the Kamaraj terminal (T1). The first domestic terminal that was built at the Chennai airport had two aero-bridges. This was considered a milestone as the Chennai airport became the first one in the country to have aerobridges in the domestic terminal. Terminal 1 and 2 are not used for passenger traffic any more. They have been reserved for cargo. Meanwhile, the newly built Terminals 3 and 4 serve the international departures and arrivals. Annadurai terminal deals with international passengers. The terminal has about 45 check-in counters, 38 immigration booths with 16 at the departure terminal and 22 at the arrivals and 18 customs counters which are at the departure as well as arrival terminal.
About airport authority
Earlier, the Civil Aviation Department handled the Chennai Airport in 1952. However, the operations were later taken over by the Airports Authority of India in 1972. Since then, there have been extensive infrastructural development plans and schemes that have been conducted. Much recently, the airport underwent some extensive construction to modernise the amenities prevalent in the airport. The new international terminal (T4), was built just while ago. Simultaneously, the existing international terminal (T3) was renovated, and a second runway was extended. The parallel runway also includes new taxiways, parking bays as well as a cargo terminal. The Airports Authority of India is responsible for working on the designs, maintenance and management of the airport. Not to mention how AAI brings forth funds to expand the development projects and schemes for the airport. The statutory body has also introduced two sustainable gardens which have been installed within the airport premises. Along with this, they have worked towards many other expansions.
Facilities at the Chennai Airport
Child care rooms: The Chennai airport has reserved specific rooms for mothers with infants. The space is perfect for feeding, changing table and other such activities to take care of the kids. The room is perfectly maintained and is regularly sanitised.
Wheelchair services: The airport also has wheelchair services that have been reserved for senior citizens, expectant mothers and passengers with medical ailments. You can find these services at the departure and arrival gates of both the terminals.
WiFi: WiFi services have also been provided at the airport. There is free WiFi that is available for close to 45 minutes in the premise. You can also find paid services of WiFi for better connectivity and longer duration of access. You will need an Indian phone number to get hold of the services.
Medical aid: The airport also has special medical kits and rooms available for emergencies. To ensure that emergency cases are tended to with prompt medical assistance, there are kits and services available at close intervals. There are health scan facilities also available at the airport to get a better understanding of the medical concern if need be.
Prayer rooms: Multi faith rooms have been reserved for passengers. The prayer rooms are open for people of all faith as there are religious books also present in the hall. These rooms can also be used as meditation halls.
Lost and found: Lost and found facilities are also available at the airport premise. Details of the same can be received at the information desk. A few dedicated spaces have been allotted at close intervals for lost and found desks.
ATMs and Forex: The airport has a slew of ATM kiosks and foreign exchange counters at regular intervals to help passengers. In case you are running short of cash or need to exchange some currency, you can find counters at the airport.
Post Office: One of the cool facilities that the airport has is postal services. There are courier services and post offices in the airport vicinity. You can find them at both the terminals. This can be ideal for last-minute mails and documents that need to be sent out.
Restaurants and cafes:
Chennai airport has a bunch of hotels and famous food establishments. The airport cafeteria has many options to choose from for food. From Indian cuisine to dishes from the international kitchen, there are many choices that can be made for food while you wait to board the flight.
Smoking zone: The airport has dedicated smoking rooms too. The rooms also have provisions for cigarette boxes, in case passengers run out of them or need to purchase them.
Baggage wrapping: The luggage facilities at Chennai airport are also good. Aside from trolley services and luggage counters to store them, the airport also has baggage wrap services. The airport is equipped with professional staff that package the bags with plastic to avoid various concerns ranging from baggage mishandling to thefts.
VIP lounge: Chennai airport has reserved halls for VIP lounges. Individuals with first-class flight tickets and premium memberships with specific airlines will have access to the VIP Lounge. The lounge services are quite good and upscaled.
Top airlines flying from the Chennai Airport
Domestic flights flying from Chennai Airport are from Terminal 1. The Chennai International Airport is touted to be the HQ of the Airports Authority of India, with states such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Lakshadweep and Puducherry under its wing. The Chennai airport has immaculate connectivity with most of the Southern cities and hence, has various domestic airlines catering to the same. Airlines such as Air India, Air India Express, Air Asia India, Alliance Air, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, TruJet and Vistara, operate from the Chennai International Airport. These airlines have flights connecting to specific small towns within the Southern belt and hence, make the airport an important hub.
Along with the domestic airlines that operate from the city, there are a plethora of international airlines that also function from the airport. A majority of flights connecting to Australia and New Zealand have airlines available. The most important international airlines that operate from Chennai Airport are Air Arabia, Air Austral, Air Canada, Air Mauritius, Air New Zealand, Air Seychelles, Air Asia, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Batik Air, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways, flydubai, Flynas, Garuda Indonesia, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Kuwait Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Maldivian, Malindo Air, Oman Air, Qantas, Qatar Airways, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Saudia, Silkair, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Thai Air Asia, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines and Virgin Australia. Terminal 3 and 4 are reserved for international airlines as departures and arrivals take place from them.
How to reach the Chennai Airport
The Chennai International Airport is located on the National Highway 32, also recognised as the Grand Southern trunk Road. The highway is known to be a famous link that connects the city to other important cities in Tamil Nadu. The best way to reach the Chennai International Airport is by opting for its closest railway station, the Tirusulam railway station. The station falls on the Suburban railway network. Often this route is considered as it directly connects with the city centre. Another famous route connecting the city centre to the airport is via the metro station. The airport metro station falls in the Chennai Metro line. The metro line is also considered to be the ideal way to reach the Chennai Airport. Aside from the Tirusulam railway station, the Metro station is favoured more. It is also acknowledged to be the second metro station which connects with an airport in India.
There are expansion plans that are in the making to make the connectivity to Chennai airport better from the city centre. It has been announced that a direct tube will be constructed to bridge the distance from the metro station to the Chennai airport. Flyovers are also being erected to connect the metro station directly to the departure and airport terminals. Simultaneously, the government is also planning on facilitating a connection between the Tirusulam train station with the metro station.
