Jammu to Goa Vistara Flights

  About Jammu

Jammu's second name is 'City of Temples' as it is a city which boasts pristine pilgrimage. Nestling on the banks of the Tawi river, the gorgeous city of Jammu sees an astounding number of travellers thanks to the slew of temples and Hindu shrines that are present in and around the city. Surrounded by the Shivalik range, Jammu witnesses beautiful climate and is one of the fewer places in India that is open almost throughout the year.

Tourism has a significant contribution to the city's economy. The focal point for many tourists and pilgrims remains the Vaishno Devi Temple as well as the Kashmir Valley. The state also sees international tourists come over to relish the serenity of Jammu. You can book hotels in Jammu which faces the calm Tawi lake and the Shivalik range.

The city is well-connected with the rest of the country. Since there are numerous flights to Jammu from major metropolitan cities, travelling becomes less cumbersome. If you're in luck, you might actually even get great flight deals for Jammu, depending on the airlines and their plans.

Best time to visit Jammu

Jammu's pleasant weather all-year-round makes it one of the most sought-after vacation destinations in India. The sheer beauty of the city which is snuggled up on the banks of the Tawi river and surrounded by the Himalayas makes Jammu a holiday destination. One of the biggest perks of Jammu's weather is how it remains pleasant and inviting throughout the year, except for the monsoon months. The period between September to April is ideal for visiting Jammu. This basically includes two varied seasons, winter and summer. Depending on which kind of activity appeals to you, you can accordingly book flight tickets to Jammu and pay a visit to the lovely city.

For winter sports such as skiing, cable rides and indulging in other such activities, the months October to February would do you good. The temperatures might go super low, but it would be pleasant and appealing to travellers who like the cold weather.

The spring season is between March to May when the town's vibrant green expanses start dancing under the rays of the sun. With various festivals that take place during this time, the city has a whole new lively vibe that you shouldn't miss. It would be nice to explore the dense green forests with Deodar trees enveloping the lands of Jammu. The Tawi lake also looks pristine under the summer sun.

Although monsoon season doesn't see humid weather or the kind that would annoy your travel itinerary, most of the sightseeing places are shut. Even if you do visit the city, there is not much that you can do. Hence, it is best to avoid going to Jammu during monsoon even if the cheap flight tickets tempt your souls unless you're okay with just hanging out in the city without indulging in tourist activities.

Places to see in Jammu

Temples

Jammu has a plethora of temples including the famous pilgrimage of Vaishno Devi. It is one of the most-visited shrines not just in India but globally as well. Millions of pilgrims go on an expedition and offer prayers to Goddess Mahalakshmi. Since the temple is within a cave and requires the pilgrims to trek to the summit, provisions for helicopter services and palanquins have been made available. Aside from this, the other shrines of gods that you can visit in Jammu are Raghunath Temple, Mahamaya temple, Bhairo Baba Temple and Dudhadhari Mandir. The city sees a surge in travellers every year as many flocks over to seek the blessings of Vaishno Devi.

Forts

The city also has a few century-old forts that were built in the time of princely ruler. The Bahu Fort is one such fort that comes from the Dogra Empire and was constructed under the rule of Raja Gulab Singh. The fort holds a historical significance while the structure's architecture is beautiful. You can also visit the Akhnoor Fort and Poonch Fort, which is a little away from the city centre.

Palaces

Jammu is a city that doesn't just boast impeccable pilgrimage but also numerous castles. The famous landmark of the city is the Amar Mahal Palace. Commissioned by Raja Amar Singh of the Dogra Empire hired a French architecture to design and constructed the palace. Today, it serves as a museum to the city and rakes in a lot of visits from travellers. There are beautiful artefacts and art collections on display. While you're on a palace excursion, do not miss the Mubarak Mandi Palace and Sheesh Mahal as they too have intriguing backstories.

Things to do in Jammu

Visit the Surinsar Lake

The sparkling Surinsar lake with its's crystal clear water and picturesque landscape attracts tourists to experience its peace and tranquil environment.

Dogra Art Museum

The impressive Dogra Empire has shaped much of Jammu's history and culture. You can actually witness some of the alluring paintings sketched by artists of the Dogra Empire.

Explore the Bhimgarh Fort

To reach the Bhimgarh fort, you can choose trekking or hiking as a means to reach the top. As the fort is perched on top of a hill and is 150 meters above ground, it easily becomes a delightful endeavour. Thanks to the aesthetic attractions within the fort with temples, pond and lavish rooms, the place sees excessive travellers. The view from the hilltop is another reason why it receives so much love.

Food and Restaurants

From galgal pickles to gorging down biryanis and kebabs, Jammu sees not just magnificent pilgrimage but also a diversity of cuisines coming together. Interestingly, as the city is a pilgrimage, much of the restaurants promote vegetarian food. However, there are some places which contribute to the biryani parties and chicken kebab clans. You will not miss any food that you've grown up with as Jammu has a variety of delicious Indian spread with Tibetan and Chinese touch.

You can indulge in some scrumptious vegetarian food at Pehalwan's Food Court and Balgotra Vaishno Restaurant. To enjoy food with some pristine view of the Himalayas and the Tawi lake, visit Falak. As for those who simply cannot do without some lip-smacking Mughlai food, Billu Di Hatti and Mughal Darbar are restaurant suggestions for you. There are some options reserved for those who indulge in international food such as Tibetan or Continental, which you can find at RMP Restaurant and The Imperial Grill Restaurant and Bar. But, to round things off, Ahdoos is the one place that will serve you with Kashmir's delightful cuisine.

How to reach Jammu (Transportation)

By Air

The Jammu airport is located at a decent 8 km distance from the city centre and has excellent flight connectivity to and from other major cities in the country. Air is usually considered to be the best mode of transport to choose when travelling to Jammu. The airport receives regular services from major airlines as the flights shuttle between Mumbai, Delhi Leh, Srinagar and more. In fact, Jammu also caters to the international audience as there are flight to and from international destinations. The domestic route for Jammu chosen by a majority of cities within the country passes through Delhi. Not all flights require layovers at the capital.

From the airport, there are shuttle services by hotels, if you have prior bookings. There are many taxi cabs and other modes of transport that would take you to the city centre or wherever you have booked your hotel in Jammu. The peak season sees a lot of crowds, and you might not be able to find good flight deals for Jammu. Hence, it is recommended that you book flight tickets to Jammu beforehand if you wish to snag some cheap flight tickets. Travelling to Jammu by flight is exceptionally comfortable and convenient.

By Rail

Jammu's very own railway station called the Jammu Tawi railway station has excellent connectivity with the rest of the cities in India. There is one train that actually starts at Jammu and ends at Trivandrum in Kerala. Basically, it's the story of two polar cities being joined by a convenient mode of transport. From regular mails to express trains, all kinds of rails will reach you to Jammu effortlessly. Further trains from cities like Pune, Kolkata, Mumbai, Amritsar, Delhi and Trivandrum have trains that go to and come from Jammu. Travelling to your booked hotel room from the railway station is also not tough as there are many taxi cabs available right outside the premise.

By Road

Delhi is a popular route for Jammu and travellers often opt to travel to the capital and take a bus for the Jammu pilgrimage. As the capital has various inter-state buses that go to varied places in the North such as Manali, Shimla, Mussoorie, Rishikesh, etc., they have dedicated buses going to Jammu as well. There are state-run buses from Chandigarh too that you can choose to travel from. Many motorcycle enthusiasts take this as an opportunity to cruise through the Himachal Pradesh to reach Jammu. Depending on the domestic routes selected by motorcyclists, the said pass would lead them to Jammu.

  About Goa

Located on the West coast of India is the quaint beachy paradise, also known as Goa. The state of Goa is hardly 3,700 sq. km, with a small population that is known to be one of the biggest tourist destinations in India. The state has a heavy Portuguese influence and culture as it is a former colony. Thanks to their Portugal-influenced, the culture and outlook of Goa are visibly diverse from the other parts of India. Goa sees a regular throng of tourists as Indian and international travellers constantly flock over to the tropical state. The domestic and international routes are well-connected, making travelling by flight to Goa, an easy task.

Best time to visit Goa

The best season to visit Goa is undeniably winter! The winters in Goa call for a celebration as the temperatures drop to offer a pleasant atmosphere. The months starting from October to February are peak season where Goa sees an abundance of travellers. The flight tickets to Goa during this season is also quite expensive as the demand is high. However, with various music festivals, Christmas and the spirit of New Year's taking over, Goa easily becomes one of the best places in winters.

The monsoon season that stretches between June to September is ideal for nature enthusiasts. While many assume Goa's beaches to be its identity, the green expanses of the Western Ghats that passes through Goa get some love from nature enthusiasts. The state's hues change from sparkling blue to emerald green, and it is worth exploring.

The summers are considered to be bad as the tropical region faces sweltering temperatures. Often the mercury spikes up to 40 degree Celsius, making it unbearably hot. The flight tickets to Goa are cheap during this season for obvious reasons. If you can handle the heat, then you can make use of good flight deals and book flight tickets to Goa.

Places to visit in Goa

Museums and art galleries

The state might be known for its tourism, but they also indulge in arts and culture. There are many art galleries around the Old Goa region. The state's Portugal roots can further be explored by visiting the Goa State Museum. You should also visit the Museum for technology and Art, which goes by the name Sensistan. Benaulim's Houses of Goa, Goa Chitra Museum and many other religious art museums have intriguing stories that should be explored.

Beaches

Goa's highlight is the beaches, the cuisine and the nightlife. The pristine blue waters by the coasts sparkle under the sun and attract people from all over the world. The most famous and best beaches in Goa include Palolem, Vagator, Chapora, Anjuna, Arambol, Morjim, Colva, Candolim, Mandrem, Butterfly, Agonda, Calangute, etc. The best thing to in Goa to travel within would be to rent a vehicle and beach hop as every beach caters to a certain kind of audience. Depending on your vibe, you might enjoy a certain stretch of beach. The beautiful beaches are definitely worth it.

Churches

The famed Bom Jesus Basilica with the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier is a legendary church. Built in 1605, the church's distinctive architecture using wood, gold, stone and granite gives it a vintage vibe. Not to mention how you will get to witness the miraculous undecomposed body of Francis Xavier, whose body is preserved by the church officials. Other notable churches include the Church of St Francis of Assisi, Church of St Catejan, Se Cathedral and Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

Things to do in Goa

Water sports

Goa has copious amounts of water sports activities that would keep you indulged all-day. Right from learning how to surf to snorkelling to kayaking in the wide sea, there are various water sports that you can take up. Specific beaches host scuba diving and snorkelling activities while some are known for their parasailing, banana boat ride, ferry tours and other such activities. Depending on which part of the state you're in, you'll get to experience the said kind of water sport.

Beach hopping

The beaches of Goa can either by calm and quaint or loud and noisy. Depending on which neighbourhood you choose, you'll find your own sweet nirvana. The North beaches are more commercial with Baga, Calangute, Candolim, Anjuna, Vagator and more, experiencing excessive crowd. The South beaches are quaint and quiet with luxury settings and fewer crowds. If you wish to indulge in water sports and other such activities, then you should head to North where they happen in abundance. If taking strolls at the beach or going for a swim is what you wish to do then the South beaches are it for you. You can rent bikes or cars and go on a beach-hopping spree.

Ocean treks

To reach some beaches in Goa, you will have to trek the trails. The Butterfly Beach in South Goa is one such beach where you need to trek up the stony trails to reach the exquisite and quaint beach. It is undoubtedly one of the best beaches in the state. Parts of Cabo de Rama beach also expects you to do some trekking, which only adds to the fun of diving in the sea. North Goa's Arambol beach is also famous for ocean treks.

Quad Biking

If you wish to take a day's break from the beaches and the water, you can head to the adventure side of Goa where you'll find quad bike tours. Basically, you can do dirt bike riding on muddy terrains created. You don't need to be an expert to indulge in this activity as it doesn't require any levels of riders.

Casino and cruises

Goa's nightlife is just as lit as the beaches it offers. While there are regulated parties that take place on the beaches and even some nightclubs, there are dedicated cruises and casino parlours too. Try some play of dice at one of these casinos or hit the party scenes to experience the nightlife of Goa.

Food and Restaurants in Goa

As a coastal state, Goa's staple food involves fish curry and rice. The place serves the most exquisite seafood that one can ask for. The beach shacks have Continental, Seafood and Indian food cuisines as options. A majority of the tourists usually choose seafood over everything else. For the best ambience and piquant seafood, you should visit Curly's in North Goa and Fisherman's Wharf in South Goa. Other places with great seafood are The Lazy Goose, Amavi, Starlight, Ritz Classic, Gunpowder, etc.

While seafood is a staple, the iconic Goan dishes are actually made from pork. Acquaint yourself with names such as Vindaloo, Xacuti, Chorizo and Sorpotel as these Goan dishes are a big hit. From street food to lavish restaurant dining, you'll meet with all kinds of experiences in Goa, and they will all be memorable. The beach shacks also have Goan dishes in their menu so you can always mix up the platter. If seafood is a little too much for you to deal with, then an Italian rendezvous at Da Tita might go down well with you.

How to reach Goa

By Air

Goa's Dabolim Airport, located in Vasco da Gama, is the only airport in the State. Due to the popularity of the state, and the fact that it is the most sought-after destination for Indians, as well as international tourists, the flight connectivity to and from Goa, is incredible. Direct flight to Goa is available from Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Jaipur and more. International flights from Goa are also available as some direct planes are flying to Kuwait, UAE, Doha, etc. Although no direct flights are connecting Goa to Western Europe, USA, Russia and the UK, great connectivity and layovers have enabled these international destinations to be connected to Goa.

Nonstop domestic airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, GoAir, Air Asia and Vistara are available. It would be ideal to book your hotels ahead of your trip as shuttle services to pick you up from Goa airport would be convenient. On off-seasons, the flight tickets are cheap and affordable. However, if you wish to travel during their peak season, it is best to book flight tickets in advance for great flight deals online.

By Rail

There are two main railway stations namely, Madgaon Junction and Thivim, which connect other cities to South and North Goa respectively. Direct trains following domestic routes to Goa are also available from Mumbai, Delhi, Mangalore, Kochi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, to name a few.

By Road

A majority of crowd from the Mumbai and Pune region often use the road as a means to reach Goa. There are overnight buses that travel from Mumbai to Goa, which makes travelling convenient. Various public and private bus service providers have sleeper and Volvo seater buses going to Goa. You can either get down at Mapusa Bus Stand for North Goa or Panjim Bus Stand and Madgaon Bus Stand if you're opting for the South beaches. The State-serviced Kadamba Transport is also available and connects to various neighbouring states such as Karnataka and Maharashtra.

  About Vistara Airlines

Vistara is a fairly new airline that is a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines. Tata Sons owns 51% stake in the airline, and Singapore Airlines has 49% stake. This was Tata Sons' reentry in the world of Airlines since Air India was nationalised. Tata's still has minority stakes in AirAsia India. However, getting Vistara started was no less of a struggle for both parties involved. The companies had made a bid in the 1990s to launch the full-service carrier in India, but it was not successful and was denied approval by the Indian government. The airline was founded finally in 2013 after India opened up its airline for 49% foreign direct investment. Vistara airlines commenced operations in 2015 with its main hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. It serves up to 36 destinations domestically and internationally. It operates approximately 200 flights daily and has flown over 20 million passengers already. It has grown quite popular and is slowly becoming one of the most preferred airlines by passengers. While low-cost carriers mostly dominate other airlines, Vistara caters to the high-end business travellers in the country. It also aims to make sure that the passengers have a luxurious and comfortable journey.

Vistara is a Sanskrit word that translates to the limitless expanse, and the airline sure does live up to its name. Vistara carried about half a million passengers in just seven months of commencing operations. It is also one of the few airlines that has the International Air Transport Association (IATA) membership. It flew its first international flight to Singapore in 2019 from Mumbai and Delhi. The airline used its Boeing 737-800NG. Vistara codeshares with British Airways, SilkAir, United Airlines, Singapore Airlines Japan Airlines and Lufthansa. It also has interline agreements with a couple of airlines that include Aeroflot, Air France, Air Mauritius, All Nippon Airways, British Airways, Asiana Airlines, Gulf Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, flydubai, Finnair, Kenya Airways, Japan Airlines and KLM. The airline currently has 40 aircraft in service and is awaiting 52 more that it has ordered. The aircraft has business class, premium economy and economy class for its passengers. Fun fact: Vistara was the first airline to introduce the Premium Economy class.

Not only do the Business Class and Premium Economy Class passengers get special treatment, but so do the economy class passengers. The premium economy class allows you to choose seats that have extra legroom and far more comfortable as compared to the economy class ones. It has eight business class seats that are the most comfortable ones in the aircraft. You can also use Vistara's frequent-flyer program called Club Vistara. You can look up more offers on the website like the Vistara Womanflyer, Vistara Corporate Flyer, Vistara Student Discount, Vistara Senior Citizen Discount, Vistara Affordable Luxury and so on.

Fleet Size of Vistara

Vistara picked up pace and popularity quite quickly. It flew half a million passengers in only seven months of commencing operations, which is quite impressive. Though the airline does not have a fleet as large as the other airlines, it is slowly getting there. Vistara has 13 Airbus A320-200 aircraft which have eight business class seats, 24 premium economy class seats and 126 economy class seats. It also has 20 Airbus A320neo aircraft with the same number of passenger accommodations. It has 6 Boeing 737-800 aircraft that can accommodate 168 passengers, 12 business class and 156 economy class. The Boeing 787-9 can accommodate 30 business class passengers, 21 premium economy class and 248 economy class, passengers. While the airline currently only owns one of these aircraft, it has placed an order of five more of those. It is, without a doubt, one of the biggest Vistara aircraft that can seat more passengers as compared to the other flights.

Vistara acquired its first aircraft in 2014 and commenced flights from 2015. The airline also has quite a few aircraft that it is planning to get on long term leases soon. Vistara is one of the only Indian airlines that have business class seats and also has a lot of offers to provide luxurious services to its customers. Vistara might not exactly have low fares, but it does make sure you get your money's worth.

Baggage Allowance

Make sure you go through Vistara's baggage allowance rules and regulations while you book your Vistara flight tickets. The airline allows 7 kg cabin luggage for economy class passengers, 10 kg for premium economy and 12 kg for business class passengers. Your cabin luggage cannot exceed this limit unless you are carrying items like a handbag, overcoat, camera, infant's feeding aids, medicines, laptops and so on. Baggage allowance rules differ depending on your ticket plan. You can choose between Value, Standard and Flexi plans for whichever travel class you choose. For passengers travelling within India, the maximum limit for check-in luggage for economy class is 15 to 20 kg, premium economy is 20 to 30 kg and business class is 30 to 40 kg. If you are travelling to international destinations like Bangkok, Dubai, Singapore and Colombo, the maximum limit ranges from 30 to 45 kg. For travellers heading to Kathmandu, the limit ranges from 20 to 40 kg. You can either check out the baggage allowance limit on your ticket or find it on the website.

If you have a Club Vistara Gold or Platinum membership, there are chances you might get a few extra kilos of baggage that you can carry without having to pay extra. Make sure you are not carrying any item that has been prohibited by the airline. You cannot carry explosives, flammable or combustible items, sharp objects, chemical or illegal drugs in your luggage or otherwise. You must also make sure that you carry your power bank and portable chargers with your cabin baggage instead of the check-in luggage. It would be advisable to get your web check-in done in advance to avoid any hindrance. You will also have to inform the airline staff hours before boarding the flight in case your baggage exceeds the weight limit.

In-flight Services

Vistara's in-flight services are not only luxurious, but they are completely worth all the money spent. The business class seats are reclined, have an extendable leg rest, footrest, and you can also adjust the height of the headrest. You also get personal storage space at the side of your seat for smaller items. If you are travelling by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, you also get seat ambient lighting, USB outlet, and an 18" HD personal entertainment screen with a video handset. Vistara also offers the most delicious meals as a part of its in-flight dining experience. You can enjoy a range of food options and can also sip on some refreshing coffee from Starbucks. You can enjoy over 70 hours of Hollywood and Bollywood content that are a part of Vistara's in-flight entertainment services. Whether you want to watch a romantic, comedy or action film, or just listen to various genres of music, you will find everything that you are looking for as a part of the in-flight entertainment services. You can look up their website to get a glimpse of all the royal treatment and luxury that you will experience onboard.

Popular Routes and Top Cities for Vistara

Vistara connects to various destinations through domestic and international routes daily. It connects to 34 destinations including Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Amritsar, Bangkok, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Colombo, Chennai, Dehradun, Dubai, Goa, Guwahati, Delhi, Indore, Kathmandu, Leh, Lucknow, Port Blair, Srinagar and so on. You can check Vistara's flight schedule and your flight status on the website. Vistara makes it a point to operate punctually and not give passengers a chance to complain about anything. The staff is also quite friendly and helpful in case you need help with anything at all.

Why Travel by Vistara?

Vistara has evolved as one of the most favourite airlines among passengers and deservedly so. It offers luxury and convenience at the best price. The fares might not be as cheap as other Indian Airlines, but it does live up to its promise of delivering luxurious services to its passengers. You can book a Vistara flight ticket through the website or get a travel agent to do the same. If you are not able to go through the web check-in process for any reason, you can always get in touch with the call centre. The executives will definitely help you through the process. Vistara also makes sure that it keeps you updated on your flight status and any upcoming or ongoing offers that it comes up with. You can also sign up to become a Club Vistara member to enjoy the benefits. It is also one of the only few Indian airlines that gives luxury a tad more importance as compared to low fares. It leaves its customers satisfied, which is one of the reasons that it flew over half a million customers in only seven months. It is also slowly becoming one of the most preferred airlines among passengers. Its services only keep improving with time.

  About Goa Airport

Dabolim Airport is the sole domestic and international airport in the state of Goa. Situated in Dabolim, about 4 km from Vasco da Gama and 23 km from the oldest city Margao and 30 km from the state capital, Panjim, the airport is perched up the Arabian Sea. The airport is a civil enclave (a joint-use airport) and is also operated by the Indian Navy's naval airbase, INS Hansa. Goa Airport witnesses a plethora of international passengers throughout the year, especially from the European continent and many from the United Kingdom as well. IN 2013, the airport inaugurated its integrated terminal to increase the passenger handling capacity. The airport recorded capacity of 7.6 million passengers in the fiscal year 2017-18.

Dabolim Airport witnesses many European-charter airlines with flights flying to and from the city on a seasonal basis. There are dedicated charter flights from the United Kingdom, operated by TUI Airways or popularly known as just TUI. These charter flights function from the UK as well as the Republic of Ireland. Along with flights from the UK, Dabolim Airport also witnesses seasonal charter flights from Russian cities. With a consistent increase in passenger traffic and air traffic congestion, a proposal to introduce a second airport in Mopa has been granted a green signal. Mopa Airport is set to complete construction by 2022 and will see flight operations soon.

About Goa Airport terminals

Currently, Dabolim Airport accommodates two terminals for domestic and international flight operations. Terminal 1 handles all flight activities for domestic airlines. Meanwhile, Terminal 2 takes care of international flight operations ranging from landing to take off. The domestic terminal covered an area of 21,527 square feet and was constructed in 1983 while the international terminal came into existence in 1996, covering an area of 10,763 square feet. However, with a tremendous increase in passenger congestion and air traffic, the airport constructed an integrated terminal building to cater to both domestic as well as international passengers. The same was opened in 2013 with extensive features.

The design and layout of the building are aesthetic which comprises of glass and large steel span structures along with frameless glazing. The integrated terminal sprawls across 36,000 square metres and has been designed to accommodate five million passengers in a year. The terminal is also equipped with eight aerobridges. Some of the outstanding features of the terminal include an in-line baggage scanning system, 75 check-in counters, 22 immigration counters for departures, 18 immigration counters for arrivals and a total of 14 security check counters. The check-in counters are located on the ground floor, while the first floor has security checks. Following the installation of the new integrated terminal building, the old ones have been closed.

About Airport Authority

Dabolim Airport is currently being operated under the Airports Authority of India. The government statutory body which falls under the Ministry of Aviation has worked tirelessly towards enhancing the structure of Goa Airport. Over the years, the airport has undergone several upgradations and modernisation. All the expansion projects have been undertaken by the Airports Authority of India. This includes funding and management decisions concerning the projects. Under the AAI, the airport renewed its terminal building into an integrated one that would cater to accommodating international and domestic activities. Some of their works also include installation of the multi-level car parking facility to enable parking of about 570 cars along with parking bays for aircraft. They have also asked for the Indian Navy and the State Government to help them acquire lands to expand the aprons and the older international terminal building space.

The airport is spread across 1,700 acres of land and also accommodates a civil enclave of 35 acres. On a daily basis, Dabolim Airport witnesses about 180 flights with a large concentration of passenger traffic between 1 PM to 9 PM on weekdays. The airport is supposed to function between the slated time slot during weekdays for civilian as it has some naval restrictions. The military requires flight training activities to continue during a specific time period and hence follows the specified rules throughout the year.

As the airport is jointly operated by the Indian Navy and the Airports Authority of India, the two parties entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2017, to construct a full-length parallel taxi track that would be suitable to accommodate aircraft like Boeing 747. Both parties will share the construction cost. For the expansion project, Dabolim Airport also received environmental clearance in 2018. The project has been divided into three phases and is set to be completed in a scheduled manner. The first phase of the airport was completed in 2019, which resulted in an increase in the runway's capacity from 15 air traffic activities in an hour to 18-20 air traffic movements per hour.

Facilities at the Goa Airport

Lounge – Goa Airport has a VIP lounge that only caters to travellers with specific access passes or ticket types.

WiFi – Dabolim Airport offers free WiFi services to everyone. There are no restrictions as such. The same good speed can be availed at the common lounge as well as VIP lounges too.

ATMs and currency exchange – As it is an international airport, provisions for currency exchanges and ATMs are also present at Dabolim Airport. You will receive decent exchange rates for the currency exchange. Further, you can also transfer money to your overseas accounts.

Baby care facilities – The airport has reserved special rooms for baby care. These rooms are well-lit and have all the necessary items to cater to a baby and a new mother's comfort. A cosy chair, as well as a changing table, is also available in the baby care room. Plus, the room is private and only allows mothers with babies to enter.

Restaurants – Some many restaurants and cafes are present in the premise of Dabolim Airport. These restaurants majorly have Goan cuisine. However, there are continental, and other global cuisines also present in the airport. As you wait for boarding, indulging in food could be a good way to kill time.

Medical services – The airport has a dedicated team of medical experts that clock in 24/7. Along with professionals, Dabolim Airport also has a room reserved for doctors to take the emergency cases to. These rooms are well-equipped with basic first aid kits and medical facilities. A paramedic is also present in the airport vicinity.

Spa - A dedicated spa service is available at both the terminals of Dabolim Airport. If there are any flight delays or you have enough time in hand, you can avail their excellent spa services.

Top airlines flying from Goa Airport

Many domestic airlines are operating from Goa Airport. These include AirAsia India, Air India, Alliance Air, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, TruJet and Vistara. These airlines have flights connecting Dabolim Airport to major cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mysore, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Nagpur, Amritsar, Srinagar, Varanasi, Kochi, Lucknow, Nashik, Surat, Madurai, Hubli, Guwahati, Coimbatore and more. In terms of international flights that operate from Goa Airport, these include Air Arabia, Oman Air and Qatar Airways. They connect to cities such as Muscat, Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, Kuwait City and more. The airport also accommodates seasonal airlines such as TUI Airways, Air Ukraine and Thomas Cook Airlines during peak season as the demand for the state is quite high in terms of tourism.

How to reach Goa Airport

Reaching Goa Airport is quite convenient, even though it is in the outskirts of the city. Passengers can take buses, taxi cabs and trains as well to reach any part of the state.

By Bus and taxi cabs

With respect to buses, the city of Vasco da Gama is only 4 km away. Several public buses can be taken to reach Goa Airport. The closes stop to the airport is Chicalim bus stop, which is located about 1.5 km apart. Many public buses run by the state are connected to Vasco da Gama. From the city of Vasco da Gama, you can always take taxi services to reach Goa Airport. Provisions of local mini-buses are also available to the airport from Vasco da Gama and Chicalim. Similarly, taxi cab services are available within the city. The city of Goa has its mobile app to book prepaid taxis and vehicles to smooth the process of travelling within the state and reaching Dabolim Airport. The government is also working towards constructing a 6-lane expressway that would make connections to the airport easier from major cities in Goa. Similarly, a monorail system is also being proposed.

By Rail

Dabolim has a railway station going by the same name. It is the nearest station from Goa Airport. You can take the train service to reach Dabolim Airport from various parts of Goa such as Tivim in North Goa, Ponda and Margao in South Goa. The railway station is quite in proximity to the airport and is hence, considered to be one of the cheap and affordable options to reach Goa Airport.