New Delhi30 Nov 23 1 Traveller Economy
Showing International Flight from Mumbai
About Mumbai
Mumbai is to India is what New York is to America, a city of dreams. The place with its rich heritage and urbane culture has since forever brought forth people from all walks of life together. It is also recognised as the commercial capital of India with over millions of migrants flocking over from different parts of the country and even world! Mumbai is the second big city in India after Delhi and has a busy airport as well as an active lifestyle. The city has far too many beautiful places to visit and culture to take in. Mumbai has been named after Mumba Devi and is the state Maharashtra's capital. The flight connectivity of Mumbai is splendid with various major cities in the world, making it one of the most important cities.
Best time to visit Mumbai
Fixing an ideal season to visit Mumbai can be tricky as the city is always bustling with energy and travellers. The winters in Mumbai are pleasant as the temperatures drop, and the city's festive spirit takes over. Even though the atmosphere is humid during winter, the city life would not cease to amaze you. Mumbai's monsoon is legendary as everybody loves and hates the city's rains at the same time. From June to September, the city of Mumbai experiences heavy rain which could be cumbersome for travelling but beautiful nevertheless. Flight tickets to Mumbai are often a little pricey as the city is an important commercial hub. The living expenses and accommodation has a range from cheap to extravagant. You can book a hotel in Mumbai or pick the hostel life.
Places to visit in Mumbai
The city is full of vibrant places and heritages to explore. The top attractions of Mumbai include the Gateway of India. Located right at the Colaba bay is the beautiful gate-like structure build by the Britishers. The structure continues to attract tourists to this day as it faces the beautiful Arabian Sea on one side and the Taj Mahal hotel on the other. While you're exploring South Mumbai, you should check out the ancient Asian Library which is located at Horniman Circle. The steps of the library is a prime spot for concerts hosted by Kala Ghoda Festival. You should also visit the Taraporewala Aquarium which has some beautiful marine life, including the remains of an enormous whale. The Nehru Planetarium located in Worli is an interesting complex where you will be blessed with some fabulous mysteries of the universe.
Beaches
Located on the coast, Mumbai's shores touch the Arabian Sea. The crowded beaches might not be clean as compared to some of the pristine blue shores of Goa or Kerala, but the vibrant energy of people enjoying the sunset on the beach is a wholesome experience. You can check out beaches such as Juhu Beach, Versova Beach, Girgaum Chowpatty Beach, Gorai Beach and Aksa Beach, to name a few. A little away from the city centre lies this untouched beach called Rajodi Beach, where you can actually learn how to surf.
Pilgrimage
Mumbai is also famous for its love for Lord Ganesha. The famous Siddhivinayak Temple is interestingly located at the heart of the city, in Dadar. The temple sees a staggering footfall regularly as many devotees worship the power of Lord Ganesha. During Ganesh Chaturthi, the pandals built around the temple looks exquisite. Another important pilgrimage is the Haji Ali, located on the Arabian Sea and connected to the city by a narrow bridge. Close to the Haji Ali is the Mahalakshmi Temple, also nestled by the edge of the sea. You should also visit Mount Mary in Bandra. Other important temples include Mumba Devi and ISKCON.
Things to do in Mumbai
Walk on the promenade popularly known as Marine Drive
The much-hyped Marine Drive, also known as Queen's Necklace, is a promenade constructed by the city. Many movies have been shot with Marine Drive as the backdrop. There is literally no reason yet every reason to check out this place, sit over the promenade and stare at the wide sea.
Shop at Colaba Causeway Market
Colaba Causeway is another prominent marketplace in the city that is forever crowded. Causeway's collection of accessories, clothes, chappals and the area, everything is a vibe that you'd want to be a part of. Plus, famous cafes such as Mondegar and Leopold are also located here.
Spend a day at Goregaon Film City
Mumbai's biggest highlight and gift to the world is Bollywood. Home to one of the biggest film industries in the world, the Goregaon Film City is one such place you simply cannot miss when in the city. Watch the actors play their roles in a make-believe set that you've always watched in the comfort of your couch at home.
Explore the Sanjay Gandhi National Park
A little away from the city centre is the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, also known as the city's lungs, is a vast expanse of lush green forest. You can rent cycles and explore the national park, opt for trekking and trek the trails leading to Kanheri Caves or simply just pack a lunch and indulge in some picnic at the park.
Food and Restaurants in Mumbai
The list of places with the best food in Mumbai is exhausting. The city, with its urban lifestyle, has a type of restaurant and food for every kind of crowd. For the ones who want to get their hands dirty (literally) with Mumbai's street food culture, Khao gallis is the place to be at. There are many Khao gallis in the city, starting from Churchgate to Ghatkopar. These lanes are dedicated spots for hawkers and street food owners to sell their speciality. You'll find vada pavs, pav bhaji stalls, chat corners, Anna with his slew of South Indian dishes like idli, vada, dosa, guys selling small street pizzas, frankie rolls, etc.
For the ones who wish to indulge in some pricey lounge setting, you should head to Masala Library, Gaylord, Hakkasan, The Bombay Canteen, Olive, The Clearing House, Bastian, Wasabi, to name a few. These places are celebrated and have been founded by renowned chefs from the culinary field. If you do not have any preferences as such, then you should visit some of the popular cafes and restaurants that have been part of Mumbai for a long time. These include Kyani's, Britannia & Co, Bademiya, Cafe Madras, Cafe Mondegar, Sardar Pav Bhaji, Cafe Gulshan, Cafe Leopold, O Pedro, Imbiss, to name a few.
How to reach Mumbai
By Air
Mumbai is one of the busiest cities in India, as is the city's domestic and international airport. As the commercial capital of the country, the city's domestic and international airports are admirably connected to big cities in the country and globally. Flights to and from Mumbai fly to various big cities in India such as Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Guwahati and basically most of the cities in the country. Formerly known by the name Sahar International Airport, the airport was re-christened to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Terminal 2) while the domestic airport has been named Santacruz Airport (Terminal 1). It is important for you to know from which terminal you'll be boarding the flight from Mumbai as they are located in two diverse sides of the city.
The airport has major Indian and international airlines stationed at the airport. These include IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Etihad Airways, Emirates and more. Mumbai's international routes are crowded too as there are multitudes of flights flying to global cities namely, New York, San Francisco, Dubai, Hong Kong, Beijing, London, Tokyo and more. Travelling from the airport within the city is quite convenient as there are taxi cabs, Ola and Uber services, rickshaws and buses that can be found right outside the airport. In fact, 1 km away from the airport is the Mumbai Metro which connects the city's varied geography.
By Rail
The railway network of Mumbai is touted to be one of the best in the city. It has direct train connections to various cities in India. These cities include Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and more. The city has two main terminals namely Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Mumbai Central, from where you can take outstation trains. However, much recently, they opened the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, which also connects to various parts of the country. There are mail trains and express trains that travel from the Mumbai city, including Mumbai Rajdhani, Duronto, Konkan Kanya Express and more. The excellent connectivity of Mumbai with other cities makes it easy to traverse.
By Road
Major national highways connect Mumbai to various parts of India. You can literally take a road trip to anywhere you want from Mumbai without any hassle. In fact, you can travel from any part of the country and reach Mumbai with its impeccable roadway connections. Not to mention how there are several buses run by the state and private owners that travel from the city regularly. Many travellers often opt for road trips as the roads leading up to Mumbai are beautiful. Travelling by buses is quite economical as well.
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 Mumbai Airport
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, which was acknowledged as Sahar International Airport, is a prominent international airport that serves the Mumbai metropolis. It is deemed to be the second busiest airport in India, after Delhi, with respect to international passenger traffic and cargo traffic. Recently, the airport crossed London's Gatwick Airport to become the world's busiest airports to operate a single runway at a time. The airport is sprawled across 1,850 acres and takes care of about 950 aircraft movements in a day. The airport has been awarded various titles including, "Best Airport in India and Central Asia". Mumbai airport is also recognised as one of the three airports to implement Airport Collaborative Decision Making in India. A-CDM has been implemented to ensure that the efficiency in terms of takeoffs and landings, along with other necessary facilities.
About Mumbai Airport Terminals
Initially, the Mumbai Airport, also previously known as Sahar International Airport, had both the international and domestic terminals located in the same airport. With the introduction of T2, the terminals were divided into dedicated domestic and international airports, sharing the same runway and airport complex. The domestic airport, also called the Santacruz Airport, served flights to primarily operate domestic airlines and low-cost carriers. Meanwhile, the international airport focussed on international airlines and flights flying out of the city. However, much recently, all the domestic and international flight activities have been shifted to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Terminal 2 has many provisions, including multi-level parking for 5,000 cars, 192 check-in counters, 60 immigration counters for departure, 14 baggage carousels and 76 immigration booths for arrival. There are many numerous lounges, including the GVK lounge, which is a luxury lounge. There are lounges for Business class travellers and first-class passengers as well.
About airport authority
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is owned and served by MIAL (Mumbai International Airport Private Limited). MIAL is a consortium of GVK Industries Ltd., Bidvest, Airports Company South Africa and Airports Authority of India. While the consortium holds 74 per cent ownership, the other 26 per cent is owned by the Airports Authority of India. Ever since the MIAL venture has come into existence, the international airport has witnessed tremendous infrastructural growth. There are tremendous improvements in terms of the aesthetics, passenger convenience, design and refurbishing of the domestic terminals 1A&1B as well as the international terminals 2B & 2C. A new domestic terminal 1C has also been introduced in Terminal 2. MIAL has also undertaken projects to improve the taxiways, aprons and rehabilitation of both the runways.
Facilities at the Mumbai Airport
Child care centres: To make travelling with young ones easier and convenient, special child care rooms have been created at the Mumbai Airport. The room is reserved to cater to the needs of young kids ranging from changing diapers to feeding and many such necessities. It is well-sanitised and is well-maintained to ensure that the mother feels safe. Baby strollers have also been made available at the airport
Smoking zones: Enclosed smoking rooms have been arranged for at the Mumbai Airport. The smoking lounges are facilitated to ensure that the atmosphere of the airport is smoke-free. You can also purchase packets at the airport.
WiFi and Telecommunication Services: WiFi and telecommunication services are also available at the Mumbai Airport. There are free WiFis and Premium WiFis available. This way, you wouldn't have to compromise on your business and professional obligations. You can also find SIM card facilities at the airport for a temporary SIM if you have come for a short period of time.
Medical Centre: The Mumbai Airport is well-equipped with medical services to cater to emergencies. There are ICU ambulances and medical centres catering to medical emergencies 24/7. They are spread out in the airport's vicinity.
Luggage services, cloak room and baggage trolleys: Special storage services have been accommodated where you can keep your luggage and other items. Other luggage facilities include depositing of the baggage at the domestic terminal and receiving them at the international terminal. You can also find baggage trolleys outside the airport as well as in the terminal.
ATMs and Currency exchange: The airport also has provisions for foreign exchange. The airport also has ATMs and other money-related facilities to make travelling more convenient for passengers. The airport has a bevy of foreign exchange counters, ATMs and banks.
Valet parking and other parking facilities: Mumbai airport also has valet parking and other parking services. You can pay a nominal fee and keep your car at the airport's parking zone. You can also avail from their valet parking services.
Play zone, prayer and meditation rooms: If you are travelling with kids, you can actually take them to the play area that has been reserved for kids. They are safe and child-friendly. The airport also has special rooms for multi-faith prayer rooms as well as meditation halls. While you wait for your flight and are nervous, you can use this time to relax and calm your nerves.
Restaurants and cafes: The airport has a slew of restaurants and cafes that you can check out. From classic local establishments such as Shiv Sagar to globally recognised joints such as Burger King, McDonald's and KFC, you can find them at the airport. There are provisions for restaurants serving liquor as well.
Automated buggies: To make commute within the airport convenient, you can also take the buggy services. They will pick you up from the security check and drop you at the boarding area. The services are especially recommended for people with medical conditions and disabilities. The airport also has wheelchairs and other services to commute within the terminal.
Postal services: The Mumbai airport also has provision for postal services. Postal services are located at the exit of both the terminals of Mumbai airport. If you have any last-minute document that needs to be mailed, you wouldn't need to worry about it.
VIP lounge: The airport is also host to many VIP lounges and upscaled restaurants and food establishments. If you are a premium member at any of the airlines with airport lounge as one of the perks, you will be able to benefit the privileges of the VIP lounge as well as the services provided by them.
Top airlines flying from the Mumbai Airport
Mumbai airport is excellently connected to major domestic and international cities. Unsurprisingly, it is known to be the second busiest airport in the country due to its phenomenal ability to accommodate a slew of international and domestic airlines. In fact, the airport witnesses approximately 950 aircraft activities on a daily basis. Mumbai airport connects domestic cities such as Rajkot, Dehradun, Madurai, Lucknow, Kannur, Leh, Ranchi, Jabalpur and more. Thanks to the brilliant connectivity Mumbai has with other cities in the country, it doesn't require any connecting flights too. In fact, the Mumbai airport has a majority of airlines operating from the city. Airlines such as Alliance Air, Air India, Air India Express, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, TruJet and Vistara operate from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
The city also harbours a plethora of international cities and flights. The international airlines operating from Mumbai airport are quite similar to the ones that operate from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. International airlines such as Air Asia, Air Arabia, Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air Mauritius, Air Seychelles, Air Tanzania, Bangkok Airways, Bhutan Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, EgyptAir, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Ethiopian Airways, flydubai, Gulf Air, IranAir, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airways, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Nepal Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, RwandAir, Singapore Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Swiss, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Uzbekistan Airways, operate from Mumbai airport. Thanks to the immaculate connectivity, the city sees a lot of crowd flocking over from various other cities and towns to take international flights.
How to reach the Mumbai Airport
The domestic and the international airport of Mumbai have separate gateways to enter. While the domestic airport, Terminal 1, also known as Santacruz Airport, is located in Santacruz, the international airport, T2, is located in Andheri. To reach Mumbai airport, it is imperative that you know which terminal you need to catch your flight from. Depending on the same, you can travel to the airport.
By Rail
To reach Mumbai airport Terminal 1, the closest railway station is Ville Parle railway station which falls on the Western and Harbour Line of the Mumbai railway network. Meanwhile, to reach the international Mumbai airport, Terminal 2, you should get down at the Andheri station lying on the Mumbai railway network. From here, you can take a rickshaw and reach the city. Mumbai's metro line is perfectly connected with Airport Road and Marol Naka stations while T1 is close to the Western Express Highway station. Both the terminals are very close to the Mumbai Metro. The city is currently expanding the Mumbai metro line further by adding more lines to connect to the airport. An underground network from Cuffe Parade to SEEPZ is in the works which have one stop at the Santacruz airport and the other close to the GVK SkyCity terminal.
