Mumbai07 Sep 22 1 Traveller Economy
Showing International Flight from Hyderabad
About Hyderabad
Hyderabad, in Andhra Pradesh, is a city that flourished during the rule of the Nizams is a place that you must visit. While it is popular for the monuments and palaces that it boasts of, it also became popular for the increasing craze of cinema and the creative liberty that the artists took to create masterpieces. It is the capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, both. Hyderabadi is also known for introducing the best Biryanis to the world.
Though Hyderabad has flourished and developed a lot, it has also maintained some of its old charms to keep history alive. The Charminar, which literally translates to four minarets, is a major tourist attraction in Hyderabad. You must also visit the Ramoji Film City, which is a little further away from the main city but it is totally worth it. Not only will you get to visit the magnificent film sets but you will also come across a lot of stories about the place. If you're lucky, you might even run into your favourite actor.
Hyderabadi food tends to be more on the spicier side, and if your taste buds can handle it, you'll want to pack some of it and take it back home. Apart from the monuments and palaces, Hyderabad also has a spot for all you shopaholics. It is known for its pearl jewellery. You get the best pearl and silver jewellery in the city and at an affordable price, too. The city is also popular for the Karachi Bakery, where you get the most delicious cookies, biscuits and other snacks. There's one near the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, too. Make sure you stop by to take home some delicious snacks for your family and friends.
Hyderabad also has quite a lot of clubs, fancy restaurants and malls for the youngsters. You'll find a lot of upcoming new cafes and coffee breweries in the city, too. The city has a blend of old and new traditions. The Golconda Fort is a popular tourist attraction in Hyderabad. It is one of India's many architectural wonders and is built on a 400-feet high granite hill. There is a particular location below the entrance dome under which, if you clap, it will be heard a kilometre away at a pavilion. This is one of the major accomplishments of the fort, and this was made so a message could be delivered to the royals in advance, in case there was an impending attack. It was built in the 12th century and is a highly recommended place to visit.
The Chowmahalla Palace was built in the 18th century, and it spells grandeur. Spot the Belgian crystal chandeliers and white marble floors that will make you want to redecorate your own house. The Hussain Sagar Lake is an artificial lake that used to be Hyderabad's water supply before two more lakes were built. A statue of Buddha is lit up at night and stands tall in the middle of the lake. You can go boating here and soak in the serene view. The sunset is breathtaking from the lake.
The Ramoji Film City is the world's biggest film studio complex and welcomes tourists from all over the country. You can even book a hotel within the complex since it is quite far away from the city. You can opt for a tour guide who will show you around the city or one of the tour buses that have a group of tourists to get around the complex. If you are lucky, you might even come across your favourite celebrity in the film complex.
Best Time to Visit Hyderabad
Hyderabad witnesses winters from November to February. The temperature drops down to 13 degrees Celsius and goes up to 25 degree Celsius maximum. Winters are quite chilly and are also ideal for sightseeing in the city. This is also the best time for you to go shopping and there are chances that the markets will be crowded since it's the peak season for the city.
It rains in Hyderabad from August to October. It gets rainfall that's moderate to heavy, which works really well since the city becomes greener. The rains are quite unpredictable, and it might make you sit in your hotel room instead of venturing out. But you can head out when the rainfall is mediocre.
Hyderabad sees a long summer that starts from March and lasts till July. May and July witness the highest temperatures that also brings in humidity. Summer is not a very favourable time for you to plan your trip to Hyderabad, but you can visit the city during winter or the initial days of monsoon.
Places to visit in Hyderabad
The Golconda Fort is one of the oldest and an important place to visit in Hyderabad. Ruins of the fort are worth visiting. It gives you a sneak peek into the history, and you'll even come across a few untold stories. Charminar is yet another monument that is deemed important and is buzzing with tourists all year round.
Ramoji Film City is also one of the most popular destinations in Hyderabad. It is the world's biggest film studios complex, and it even says so in the Guinness World Book of Records. Since Ramoji Film City is quite far from the city, you should dedicate an entire day to exploring the film studio complex. You can book an accommodation stay or within the complex to avoid hectic travelling.
The Hussain Sagar Lake is another major attraction and best way to spend the evening. Catch the sunset at the manmade lake and grab your favourite chaat at the stalls around the lake. Chowmahalla Palace is another place you must visit to experience the grandiose and luxe of palace life.
Things to do in Hyderabad
Hyderabad is a city for all kinds of tourists. You can go on a historical tour to all the monuments, forts and museums or you can go partying at some of the most happening places. Or just make a list of restaurants that are popular in the city and eat at all of them. Book a tour to the Ramoji Film City instead of trying to take things in your own hands. It will be more comfortable, and you won't feel all lost when you reach the location on your own. Not to mention, a tour guide always has interesting, untold stories to tell while taking you on tour. Go for a drive at the Queen's Necklace in the evening, and you won't regret it. It will be an evening well spent.
You can also visit the NTR Gardens which was made as a tribute to former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and celebrated actor, NT Rama Rao. If you are travelling with your kids, they will surely enjoy spending time here. Learn more about the history of Hyderabad and everything that has changed over time. Hyderabad is also known for the gems that it sells. You can buy as many pearl or silver jewellery as you please. There are a lot of authentic jewellery stores in the city where you will find precisely what you want without shelling out more money.
Food and Restaurants in Hyderabad
You can order a Hyderabadi Biryani wherever you go in Hyderabad. It's one of the most famous biryanis in the country, and you can order it without hesitating from any restaurant that you find. Try the Boti Kebab at Hotel Shadab in Ghansi Bazaar or Paradise at Paradise Circle in Secunderabad. It's a special kebab that you will enjoy from the first till the last bite. Qubani Ka Meetha is yet another Hyderabadi dessert that you must try. While you are at Hotel Shadab, do try the Mirchi ka Salan, another popular dish in Hyderabad.
How to reach Hyderabad
By Air
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is the nearest airport to Hyderabad but is quite far away from the main city. The flight connectivity is pretty strong. It connects all the domestic routes to Hyderabad and international routes from the city, too. All the major cities are well-connected by air. Do look for decent flight deals online and see if you can manage to get cheap flight tickets. Though the main city is quite far from the airport, you will get a private taxi or bus quite easily from the airport.
By Rail
Hyderabad is well-connected to all the other cities by rail through Secunderabad, Hyderabad and Kachiguda railway stations. Most trains that are travelling to and from major metropolitan cities pass through Secunderabad station. Train journeys are quite comfortable, and if you do not have any time constraints, you can opt for a train journey.
By Road
Buses and private taxis run to and from Hyderabad quite frequently. In fact, you can get private buses that run to Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, too. There are quite buses connecting Andhra Pradesh to other neighbouring states, too.
About Air Arabia
Air Arabia is a low-cost Emirati airline that operates in the United Arab Emirates. The airline has its head office in the A1 Building Sharjah Freight Centre, in Sharjah International Airport. It caters to a plethora of destinations, 151 to be precise, which are spread across North Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Indian subcontinent. The airline's main hub is at Sharjah International Airport while its focus cities are Casablanca and Alexandria. Air Arabia is also a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization. The airline came into existence in 2003 and was founded by an Amiri Decree, which was issued by Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, the reigning ruler of Sharjah. He is also a member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates. Air Arabia commenced as a low-cost carrier and became the first one to be established in the Middle East. Operations of Air Arabia were also kickstarted the same year as its first flight flew from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Bahrain International Airport. Within its first year of operations, the airline managed to rake in revenue and became a profitable venture for the state. Eventually, by 2007, the airline was listed on the stock market and was opened for an initial public offering. Fifty-five per cent of its stocks were launched as the initial offering in 2007.
It was listed at the Dubai Financial Market and was traded under the ticker symbol (DFM: AIRARABIA). Currently, the airline is a holding company which has assets worth up to AED 10 billion. As soon as the airline commenced operations, it started making profits which helped the investors realise its profitability. In recent times, Air Arabia holds various subsidiary airlines and enterprises that cater to the travel and tourism industry with services prevalent across the Middle East and North African destinations. The airline's board of directors have seven members in total. Out of this, Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Thani is the chairman of the board. At the same time, Adel Abdulla Ali is the Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Director of Air Arabia.
Meanwhile, Dr Ghanem Mohammed Al Hajri, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani, Sheikh Khalid Bin Issam Al Qassimi, Mr Waleed Al Sayegh and Mr Matar Al Blooshi are independent members of the board. The board of directors keeps track of the operations of Air Arabia along with prospects of newer destinations and fleet. The airline also keeps a close eye on the board's actions and has discouraged the trading of shares of Air Arabia, within the board members. With its headquarters in Sharjah, the airline's office is about 15 km away from central Dubai.
Intending to enhance better connectivity, Air Arabia formed joint ventures with bases in four international cities. Details of the same are mentioned below -
Egypt - Air Arabia formed Air Arabia Egypt in the year 2010 and is still operational. The airline announced its joint venture with an Egyptian travel and tourism agency Travco Group. With the consortium formed, the airline was formed with its base at Alexandria in Egypt. The airline also received its operating license the same year, and the first commercial flight kicked off. The airline's Egypt fleet consists of three aircraft out of which two are scheduled to carry passenger services while one of them carries charter traffic from Europe to the Red Sea.
Jordan - In 2015, Air Arabia stated that it planned to acquire 49 per cent of stake in Petra Airlines. The remaining 51 per cent of shares in Petra Airlines was held by RUM Group. However, the consortium brought forth a rebranding which led to Petra Airlines changing to Air Arabia Jordan in 2015. The airline initially operated with two Airbus A320 aircraft. Right after commencing operations in 2015, the new airline also announced that they planned to launch new destinations to be operated from Jordan. These included Kuwait, Erbil, Jeddah and Sharm El Sheikh. The airline ceased to exist in 2018.
Morocco - Air Arabia Maroc came into existence as a joint venture between Air Arabia and a few Moroccan investors. They set up a secondary base in Morocco's Casablanca and commenced operations by 2009. They have since expanded operations across the African and European continent.
Nepal - With Fly Yeti, air Arabia did start flight operations in Nepal with its base in the country's capital Kathmandu. The airline catered to the Asian and Middle Eastern market. The joint venture was signed, and the low-cost carrier was formed. However, with tumultuous political situations and economic concerns, the operations of FlyYeti was suspended within a year.
Fleet size of Air Arabia
As of 2019, Air Arabia's fleet size stands at 55, which only consists of Airbus aircraft. The airline currently operates 52 Airbus A320-200s and three Airbus A321LRs. However, they have also placed a bulk order to acquire 73 Airbus A320neo, 20 Airbus A321neo and 23 Airbus A321XLR. The airline plans to extend its fleet size to 119. They are yet to receive their orders. The airline has been following the same livery design on all its aircraft from the fleet. The aircraft's body has been painted in three diverse colours such as white, red and grey. The tail of all the aircraft engine has the company logo of Sharjah painted in the form of a bird. Over completion of the airline's 15 years in the industry, in 2018, the airline introduced a new livery which is set to replace the original livery. The same will be incorporated gradually to the fleet. The new livery features a large red bird logo which is seen flying down from the tail to the rear fuselage. It has grey accents painted behind its wings, and a stylised AirArabia title is written in English on the front of the aircraft. The same is also written in Arabic, right under the title.
Baggage Allowance
The baggage allowance of Air Arabia can be modified when booking the flight ticket. The airline does not restrict its passengers to have a specific number of baggage pieces that they can carry. However, they do have specific weight constraints that the passenger needs to follow with their baggage. The airline allows 32 kg per piece of baggage. Additionally, the passenger can add 20 kg while paying the excess baggage tariffs. The baggage dimensions should be no more than 160 cm. It is necessary that passengers follow the dimension rule as it will help accommodate the baggage. The hand baggage allowance is also quite generous as the airline allows 10 kg with a dimension that shouldn't exceed a total of 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm.
In-flight services
Air Arabia might be one of the only low-cost carriers to have made a debut in the Middle Eastern soil, but their in-flight services are incomparable. The airline offers some of the best in-flight services that fall under the low-cost bracket. The airline's fleet brings about extremely cosy seats with a good reclining degree. Further, the airline also offers in-flight meals and entertainment decks that would further ensure that the passenger's journey is wholesome and happy.
Popular routes and top cities for Air Arabia
As of 2020, the airline caters to international routes that are predominantly in the Middle Eastern, North African, European and Indian subcontinents. Some of them are Kabul, Yerevan, Baku, Bahrain, Chittagong, Dhaka, Brussels, Sarajevo, Urumqi, Cairo, Luxor, Sohag, Asmara, Paris, Nice, Strasbourg, Lyon, Frankfurt, Shiraz, Najaf, Dublin, Rome, Amman Almaty, Nairobi, Kuwait City, Beirut, Kuala Lumpur, Casablanca, Agadir, Muscat, Amsterdam, Kathmandu, Karachi, Lahore, Moscow, Abha, Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh, Medina, Tabuk, Madrid, Colombo, Palma de Mallorca, Stockholm, Tunis, Trabzon, Odessa, Sharjah and London. The airline is yet to come up with operations and international routes to connect to the North and South American continents. They also lack extensive connectivity in Southeast Asian countries. Owing to the extensive demand for the Middle Eastern destinations from India, the airline has dedicated operations from cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Coimbatore, Jaipur, Kochi, Bangalore, Nagpur, Kozhikode, Goa and more.
Why travel by Air Arabia?
Some of the highlights of booking an Air Arabia flight is that it comes with some good benefits. As a low-cost carrier, the flight tickets are already cheap and affordable. Not to mention how the airline' standard of quality remains top-notch despite the low cost. Air Arabia's website has also been upgraded to ensure that the passengers are able to receive all updates regarding the flights and operations. Passengers can do web check-ins on their website and also get updates on the flight status.
Similarly, Air Arabia's flight schedule is also mentioned on their website with up to date details. Travellers can peruse through the portal and even learn more about their baggage allowance and in-flight services to check if it falls in lines with their requirements. The airline's excellent connectivity with various destinations in the domestic routes and international routes further makes it one of the best travel airlines to choose.
About Hyderabad Airport
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport or Hyderabad Airport serves as the international airport to the city of Hyderabad in Telangana state. The airport is situated about 24 km in the South of Hyderabad, in Shamshabad. The Hyderabad Airport has one passenger terminal which caters to both, domestic and international airlines. The airport also has a cargo terminal as well as two runways. An aviation training facility is also prevalent at the airport along with a fuel farm and a solar power plant. It is recognized as the sixth busiest airport in India, in terms of passenger traffic. The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport also caters as a hub to airlines such as Alliance Air, SpiceJet, Lufthansa Cargo, TruJet, Quikjet Cargo and IndiGo. Hyderabad is a focus city for Air India.
About Hyderabad Airport Terminals
The Hyderabad International Airport has one only terminal which integrates the domestic and international sides of terminals. The area covered is 1,133,000 sq ft and has a scope to accommodate 12 million passengers in a year. While the western wing of the airport terminal takes care of the international flights, the eastern side takes cate of domestic flight operations. There are about 96 check-in counters, 19 self-check-in kiosks and close to 46 counters of immigration. A total of nine gates are present at the airport, located on the south of the terminal whereas there are two more in the north. Passenger lounge facilities are available and provided by the Plaza Premium Lounge. Separate lounges for VIP are also available in the terminal. The airport has ten aerobridges and about 57 parking bays. GHIAL recently added 26 more parking bays to the are, taking the new tally to 83 parking bays.
About airport authority
The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport or RGIA is possessed and operated by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. (GHIAL). It is a public-private undertaking which comprises of public entities, including the Airports Authority of India and the Government of Telangana, along with private organizations namely, GMR Group and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad. While the AAI and Government of Telangana hold 13 per cent respectively, the private entities such as GMR Group and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad have 63 and 11 per cent holdings respectively. According to the agreement acknowledged by GHIAL and the Central Government, GHIAL has the right to function the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport for 30 years. Further from the completion of the years, GHIAL further receives an option to choose if they wish to continue another 30 years of association.
Facilities at Hyderabad Airport
Special assistance - The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport has provisions to cater to the travellers ranging from escorting senior citizens to portage facilities. Some of the special assistance features include asking for baby strollers, to help expectant mothers or senior citizens with wheelchairs, helping passengers with mobility issues, helping accompany minors, catering to passengers who are travelling with pets, buggy services and other such concerns. You can avail the services at the information desk. Or you can make prior intimation with the airlines that would help the staff be prepared for your demands.
VIP facilities - The airport does have several VIP services available. As it is one of the top 10 international airports in the country, the services are quite world-class, including the lounge accommodation. There are meeting rooms and lounge areas for travellers with first-class or business class tickets. There are showers and spas also available at the airport to help in-transit passengers to relax. In fact, the VIP lounges and hotels where travellers can relax before they take their connecting flight.
Restaurants and cafes - You will find some excellent restaurants and food establishments at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. This includes small food and beverage kiosks and a dedicated food court. There are global food joints such as KFC, Subway, McDonald's and more. Some of them are also available at the departure and arrival areas. The departure zones at domestic and international terminals also have upscale restaurants and bars that you can check out.
Lost and found - The airport also offers lost and found services that you can avail. The centre is open 24/7, so you can visit the room whenever there is an item that you have lost. You will need your boarding card, photo identity card (this could include passport, visa, driver's licence, voter's card, etc.) and a proof that substantiates the fact that you are the rightful owner of the lost item. In case you are unable to visit the lost and found centre yourself, you can send a representative. However, while you do that, you will need to provide an authorized letter from the passenger and include a description of the lost item. The said person will also need to show relevant ID proofs.
Prayer room - Rajiv Gandhi International Airport also has convenient prayer/multifaith rooms within the premise of the passenger terminal building. There are two rooms present at the airport.
Baggage - The luggage facilities at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport are also top-notch. As the airport caters to domestic and international passengers, the airport does have luggage services include wrapping and porter facilities. To avoid theft and mishandling of luggage, you can opt for baggage plastic wrapping. There are trolleys also available at the departure and arrival gates of the terminal building.
Child care centre - There are dedicated child care rooms available at the arrival and departure zones of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. The rooms are well-maintained and cleaned properly. The airport staff also keep the child care rooms clean and sanitized. There are baby products also available as are provisions of a comfortable chair for feeding and changing table for a diaper change.
Medical services - The airport also reserved medical services to aid to emergency cases. They are available at proper intervals to ensure that the help arrives quickly in time of immediate assistance. You can also visit the information desk to get hold of some medical assistance. The medical services are provided by Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited. It is a 24/7 service with pharmacy and paramedics. The airport also has well-trained doctors available who cater to the treatment centre. There is a dedicated ambulance service also available at the airport.
Airport transit hotel - One of the highlights of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is that the airport accommodates a hotel for in-transit passengers. You can get more details on the same at the information desk, available at all intervals. The airport has lodge services with AC and Non-AC dorms. The prices of the same are mentioned on the website of GHIAL as well as at the information desk. You can further opt for deluxe rooms and shower booths as well, to freshen up.
Top airlines flying from Hyderabad Airport
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is known to serve about 18 international destinations and 45 domestic cities. As one of the top ten busiest airports in India, Hyderabad Airport's connectivity in terms of domestic as well as international cities is excellent. It manages to connect several cities and is also known to operate a plethora of airlines. The Hyderabad airport is recognized to serve domestic airlines such as Air India, Alliance Air, Vistara, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet and TruJet. Not just major cities in India but Hyderabad also provides great service to connect to smaller cities and towns too. While the prominent domestic airlines from Hyderabad Airport cater to major cities such as Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Jaipur, Pune, Visakhapatnam and Guwahati, it also has connectivity with smaller cities.
As the city also caters to connecting 18 international destinations, the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport also has tremendous globally recognized airlines. Air Arabia, Air Asia, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Gulf Air, Jazeera Airways, Malaysian Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Silkair, Srilankan Airlines, Thai Airways and Flynas, are some of the airlines that operate from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. The airport also plays the role of connecting domestic cities to international airlines to fly abroad. Cities such as Sharjah, Kuwait, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, London, Colombo-Bandaranaike, Doha, to name a few, have good connectivity from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.
How to reach Hyderabad Airport
Thanks to the services provided by the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation, the accessibility to reach Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is excellent. There are direct buses that are provided for individuals travelling from the city centre to the airport. It is one of the most comfortable transport facilities to reach Hyderabad Airport. A flyover was constructed to reach the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport without facing excess traffic. The flyover has been constructed on the National Highway 44 and National Highway 765, interspersed with the Outer Ring Road. Called the PV Narasimha Rao Expressway, the flyover is perfect and helps reach the Hyderabad Airport without dealing with the city traffic. Although the Hyderabad Metro Rail's second phase is in the works to connect a line to the airport terminal, it is still in the process. Taxi cabs are the best modes of transport that can be considered to reach Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.
