Surat to Coimbatore Flights

  About Surat

Nestled next to the banks of Tapi river is the flourishing city of Surat, also touted for its textile industry, in the state of Gujarat. While Surat is recognised for its textile prowess, the city also has a lot of historical and cultural significance. It is the second-largest city in Gujarat after Ahmedabad and has impeccable flight connectivity to various big cities in India. As a developed city, Surat enjoys great connectivity with other cities as well as an upscale lifestyle.

Best time to visit Surat

Surat enjoys a tropical climate which means the summers here are extreme. The temperatures tend to rise to a staggering 45 degree Celsius. This could be extremely taxing for people who are not used to such climates. The days get very unpleasant due to the hot and humid summers. Hence, it is best to avoid summers in Surat. Unless you have some professional or personal commitment for which you must travel, do avoid Surat during summers. The flight tickets to Surat in summer do see a drop as it is off-season. The months from Match to June see barely many tourists as the city faces the harsh sun. Even the accommodation prices drop as there are fewer tourists in the city. This makes booking a hotel room in Surat cheaper and easy.

In contrast to the hot summers, the winters in Surat are cold and comfortable. October to February is considered to be the best time for a trip to Surat, especially if you wish to unwind and explore the city. The temperatures during winter range between 15 degree Celsius to 29 degree Celsius, making the weather pleasant. You can traverse through the city during the day, check out their textiles galore and indulge in some street food delights. Another perk of visiting Surat in winter is Navratri. Celebrated in October-November, Navratri means Garba and Garba means fancy attires. The Garba fervour is definitely a different kind of experience that you should check out.

Monsoons in Surat are pretty decent as well. The rainfall is occasional and not very heavy. Unlike how some parts of India witness heavy rains during monsoon, Surat is safe from all the heavy rain. Instead, it receives moderate rains which leave a charming atmosphere. Also, the pleasant temperatures enable people to step out of their houses as the sun is not lethal. During monsoon, flight tickets to Surat come at an affordable rate. With less rain, flying to Surat is not risky as well.

Places to visit in Surat

People know Surat for their garments, textile industry and food. But here's a side of the city should definitely be explored. The city is blessed with some pretty and untouched beaches that should be explored. In fact, one specific haunted beach should be on your list of places to visit. Surat's Dumas beach has a reputation for being haunted with locals complaining of hearing screams and cries during nights. While the beach is beautiful, the nights could be haunting, but overall, it could be quite the experience. Another important beach that you should visit is Dandi beach. The popularity comes from the Salt Satyagraha that was headlined by freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi. Some of the other famous tourist attractions include the Dutch Garden, Vansda National Park, Hajira Village and Sarthana Nature Park. While these places celebrate the rich natural beauty of Surat, the Sardar Patel Museum has been founded to preserve the rich heritage of the city.

Things to do in Surat

As a developed city, Surat does have some fun activities that one can engage in. It doesn't have to be to explore the textile markets. Although, if you are a fashion enthusiast and wish to see some of the textile action, then you should definitely check them out. As for those who want to derive pleasure from their Surat rendezvous, you should check out the Surat Fort. You don't need to trek for this, and the scenic views are so good that they'll make for stunning pictures. For some leisure time, you can hang out at the Jawaharlal Nehru Garden with a picnic basket or just lay on the grass. The city also has recreational parks and complexes that gain quite some tourist attention. Neverland Water Park is one such place that is often chosen by locals and even tourists, when in the city. Blues Adventure is a similar setting that is perfect for recreational activities.

Food and Restaurants in Surat

Surat's popularity may come from the flourishing textile industry, but their food culture is just as illustrious. Being a city in Gujarat being following the traditional Gujarati cuisine with its delectable khandwas and khaman dhoklas. Interestingly, while Surat does propagate the Gujarati-ness in their cooking, the city also caters to varied cuisines that would get your attention. From the richness of North Indian cuisine's kitchen to a culinary bliss from the Mediterranean, Surat has a plethora of restaurants and food joints to elevate your dining experience. The city entertains some interesting delicacies from around the globe. But their slew of street food is what piques the excitement.

Some of the dining experiences in the city include Leonardo Italian Mediterranean Dining Falafel Lovers and Sizzling Salsa. These restaurants offer global cuisine with a touch of Indianness to them. From European, Mexican, Mediterranean, etc., the restaurants are mostly vegetarian. However, a handful of joints do offer lovely non-vegetarian food. In fact, you can head to Ziba, to get the best of tandoori and North Indian dishes. Their speciality includes the scrumptious rajma chawal and achaari fish tikka masala. Of course, it would be a shame to miss out Gujarati thali when in Surat.

For the best Gujarati thali experience, head to Kansar Gujarati Thali and Sasumaa. These restaurants would give you the best amalgam of fine dining and authentic Gujarati food. Expect lots of traditional dishes such as khatti meethi daal, undhiyu, aloo rasila, bhakhri, kadhi, kachumber salad and more.

How to reach Surat (Transportation)

By Air

Surat Airport is located in Magdalla, close to the Surat city. The airport has remarkable flight connectivity from Surat to major big cities in India. In fact, it is deemed to be the second busiest airport after Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Interestingly, the airport caters to the customs department for aircraft movements and simultaneously, works for commercial purposes. It also caters to the aviation field and allows flying schools to use the grounds around the airport for flying practices. Surat airport was built back in the 1970s and has since played a pivotal role in connecting Gujarat with other cities and states in India. The flight connectivity to Surat from other cities is excellent.

There are flights that fly to Surat from Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Bhopal, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Jaipur and more. Airlines such as Air India, IndiGo, SpiceXpress, Air India Express, SpiceJet, to name a few, have regular flights flying to Surat. There are daily flights to Surat reserved from Delhi and Mumbai. Despite being a domestic airport, Surat sees a tremendous footfall of passengers as well as flights in the airport. The airport's location is close to 11 km away from the main city.

By Rail

Surat railway station is perfectly connected with other cities in the country. Since it is on the main domestic route from Mumbai to Ahmedabad, the station is always busy. There are more than four trains that leave from Mumbai to go to Ahmedabad on a daily basis and has Surat as one of the stops on the way. Much of the outstation trains that Surat witnesses at the railway station are on the popular domestic route between Mumbai and Delhi. This includes trains heading to Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Ajmer, Delhi and more. The railway station is located in the main city, making travelling within the city far easier. Some of the frequented express trains include Bandra Surat Intercity Express, August Kranti Rajdhani Express, Indore-Mumbai Avantika Express and Karnavati Express. From the railway station, you can hire a cab to reach the hotel you have booked in Surat. The city is equipped with good hotels, so accommodation is never a matter of concern.

By Road

Surat's road connectivity is phenomenal. The city, with its impeccable infrastructure, has well-connected roads. There are major highways that pass through the city. Over the years, the growth and development of the city's infrastructure have enabled it to network with big cities via roadways. It is impressive to note how some of the roads that have been constructed are aesthetically pleasing too, aside from good connectivity. These points make travelling to Surat by road a viable option. The popular route to Surat is the Udhana Mumbai Highway and the Surat Ahmedabad Highway as these roads see tremendous traffic owing to the top-notch connectivity. AC and Non-AC Volvo buses are available from cities such as Ahmedabad and Mumbai to reach Surat. Due to the extensive infrastructural development phases, the city witnesses a lot of traffic so even if you do try to reach ahead of time, you might get stuck within the city.

About Coimbatore

After Chennai, Coimbatore is known to be the second-largest city in Tamil Nadu. The city also goes by the name Kovai and has the perfect blend of nature's abode meeting modernised city. Coimbatore is surrounded by the lush green expanses of the Western Ghats and hence, sees a considerably decent climate. In the past, the Coimbatore region was ruled by the Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th century which was later taken over by the Nayaks. Centuries later in the 18th century, Mysore's Tipu Sultan ruled Coimbatore, which eventually went under the British Raj as the East India Company defeated the King of Mysore.

The city has excellent flight connectivity to and from Coimbatore airport and fancy hotels. You can book your hotels in Coimbatore by choosing from a variety of options. BnBs and homestays are not a concept accepted here yet.

Best time to visit Coimbatore

Although Coimbatore does not have a coastal touch, it still has a hot and humid climate which makes summer and monsoon season hotter than hot. The summer months in Coimbatore are generally hot with temperatures fluctuating between 25 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius. Considering how hot the months from April to July get, it certainly isn't the best time to visit.

Monsoons are quite pleasant as the verdant greenery of Coimbatore escalates to make you feel happy. The heavy rains between July to September drench the city with green hues that further amplify its beauty. The trekking trails and hills close to the city become a trekker and hiker's favourite spot. The temperature doesn't drop much but certainly doesn't rise as much as summers either.

Winter is the perfect season to visit Coimbatore as the lush green surroundings envelop the city with misty cold climate. Coimbatore experiences pleasant cold weather which is quite the relief after months of excess heat. The months from October to March are an ideal time for you to plan your trip down South.

Places to see in Coimbatore

Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary

Located a little away from the city hub, is this lush expanse of land that offers wildlife safaris. The Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Anamalai mountain foothills and holds some intriguing flora and fauna. With the variety of species, it has in captivity, and you would get to see some exotic beings that you never knew existed.

Valankulam Lake

The fact that Coimbatore is perfectly surrounded by the beauty and serenity of the Nilgiri range makes it a nature lover's haven. However, there are some gorgeous water bodies too that flow and add more enchantment to the place. The Valankulam Lake is one such addition which only amplifies the beauty of Coimbatore. The lake is exquisite with a varied species of birds such as purple moorhen, little grebes, etc., flying around the lake.

Gass Forest Museum

Since Coimbatore has the Nilgiri range on both sides, the city plays a pivotal role in the preservation of the forests that surround it. There are dedicated colleges that teach about agriculture and studies on forest preservation. The Gass Forest Museum is one such authority that doesn't just exhibit the history of Coimbatore but is also located in the campus premise of Forest College.

The cities in Tamil Nadu have numerous temples with an illustrious historical significance which make them worth visiting. Even Coimbatore has some temples that should be visited when in the city.

Temples in Coimbatore

Coimbatore has far too many temples, but considering how they are all so diverse and hold exciting stories, they become a place worth visiting. While you're in the city, do visit the Anjeneyar Kovil, which is to venerate Lord Hanuman. Also visit the Eachanaari Vinayaga Temple, the Perur Pateeshwarar Temple, Anubhavi Subramaniar temple, Marudhamalai Hill The.ole and more. They might seem like a handful, but there is a certain thrill of visiting these temples and turning the trip into a pilgrimage.

Anubhavi Subramaniar Temple

The Anubhavi Subramaniar Temple is a famous tourist attraction in Coimbatore. The Rene's popularity comes from the excessive number of steps that leads to the summit. It is a sort of test that all devotees must fulfil to reach Devi's temple. There is no mechanical help that one can receive and must do the narrow steps on their own. Another interesting fact about the temple is how it has a natural flow of water from the mountains, which has formed a pond. The pond is considered to be sacred and immersing oneself in it is said to be a divine experience.

Things to do in Coimbatore

Coimbatore has some interesting options that one can pick from. The range is quite awesome as you can engage in touristy things or you can pack your adventure bags and head out to the forests.

Trekking

Interestingly, the city of Coimbatore also has some intriguing trekking trails and camping spots that one can explore. Places such as Vellari MalaThalaiyar Falls, Dhoni Hills and Perumal Peak give you the chance to explore their dense green forests and the excitement that comes with trekking. The view from the top of these hills are gorgeous and something that would uplift your spirits.

Black Thunder Amusement Park

The city has a vast amusement park set with more than 49 rides that cater to all age groups. The Black Thunder Amusement Park would undoubtedly give you the adrenaline thrills that you've been longing for as the rides are quite fun. Not to mention how they are sprawled across 75 acres of land and surrounded by the intoxicating Nilgiris. The adventure park is ideal for adults as well as kids.

Shopping

As Coimbatore is one of the developed cities in Tamil Nadu, it has all the modern amenities and structures that would match to the ones prevalent in metro cities. Besides, shopping is an urge that simply cannot be controlled, especially if you're on vacation and have promised your friends to bring back souvenirs. Brookefields Mall in Coimbatore is a place where you can unleash the shopaholic in you. For a budget-friendly shopping spree, you can visit Cross-Cut Road.

Meditate at a centre

If cities and their hustle-bustle are making you anxious, then a good session of meditation is what you need. As part of your retreat, you can undertake a meditation course in Coimbatore's Isha Yoga Centre. The calm surrounding and serene vibe of the place would help you rejuvenate.

Witness a car race

The city is a haven for automobile-enthusiasts and even has a 2.1 kilometres long Formula 3 race track. There are national championships held on the track as well as bike races and formula racing events which brings forth quite the exhilarating experience one seeks for. In fact, while you're are enjoying one of the races, you might even get to cross paths with Tamil cinema's superstar Ajith Kumar, who is a recognised Formula 3 race driver.

Food and Restaurants in Coimbatore

Even though it is a developed city, Coimbatore does not have a flourishing palette when it comes to incorporating world-class cuisine. Much of the city continues to relish the South Indian cuisine with a handful of experimental western cuisine. You can visit restaurants such as Bird on Tree, Shree Anandhaas, Harbhavanam and Yari to taste some interesting melange of flavours.

How to reach Coimbatore

By Air

The Coimbatore Airport has excellent flight connectivity to and from other major cities in India. Some flights also fly international routes from Coimbatore. The airport is located just 7 km away from the main city and can be reached rather easily. The domestic, as well as international terminals, are in the same stretch. However, a new segment has been constructed to divide the two terminals. Much recently, they built the arrivals building too, to help streamline the airport. Domestic airlines such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India, to name a few, have regular direct flights to Coimbatore from Mumbai Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad and more.

In terms of international flights, Coimbatore Airport sees a regular flight service to Sharjah and Singapore. Air Arabia and Silk Air have been given space in the international terminal. It has been stated that Air Asia, Malindo Air have both expressed to introduce international routes from Coimbatore to Kuala Lumpur. With Coimbatore’s brilliant flight connectivity, travelling to the city is quite convenient from flights. For cheap flight tickets to Coimbatore, it is ideal for you to book tickets in advance.

By Rail

Coimbatore's railway connections are also very convenient and cater to the needs of travellers. The city's Coimbatore Junction station is connected to various metropolitan cities in India, including Bangalore, Chennai, Jammu, Delhi, Mumbai, Trivandrum, Cochin, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and more. You do not have to make any transit changes during your travel and can easily reach the city. However, it is best to make prior ticket bookings as there are chances that you might not get a confirmed ticket if you opt for last-minute bookings.

By Bus

Coimbatore also has buses entering and leaving the city to major South cities such as Madurai, Tirunelveli, Chennai, Bangalore, Munnar, etc. The Karnataka State-run buses KSRTC are also available and do travel in and out of Coimbatore. The location of Coimbatore makes it easy for various cities in the South to connect. Different domestic routes to Coimbatore are taken to reach the city centre.

  About Surat Airport

Surat Airport falls in the category of customs airport and serves the city of Surat in the state of Gujarat. The airport is situated in Magdalla and covers an area of 770 acres. Following Ahmedabad, Surat Airport is the second busiest airport in the state with respect to passenger traffic and aircraft movement. In 2018, the airport received the custom airport status from the aviation industry. The airport also caters to a flying training school in the country. Surat Airport came into existence in the early 1970s and was operated under the state government of Gujarat. The first airline to operate from the city was by the airline, Safari Airways. They chartered flights to Bombay and Bhavnagar and used the small aircraft such as Douglas DC - 3 Dakota for the same. However, the services were eventually discontinued after a year or two of functioning. In the 1990s though, the airport resumed flight operations with regional airlines Vayudoot and Gujarat Airways. They had dedicated flights to the city of Surat. However, activities of the same were also discontinued in 1994 and 2000 respectively. In 2003, the complete operations and management of Surat Airport were transferred to the Airports Authority of India. Under the new operational heads, the airport witnessed tremendous expansions and modernisation. The airport proposed and even restarted flight activities to Mumbai and Bhavnagar in 2004. But the attempts failed as the airport infrastructure couldn't accommodate flight activities. For a year, a new defunct Air Deccan had flights operating an ATR 42 aircraft to the cities that stopped in 2005.

The airport's runway faced an expansion in 2007 that was extended from 1,400 metres to 2,250 metres, with a view to allowing larger aircraft accommodation. Following the expansion, flight activities resumed yet again in 2007 with Indian Airlines operating Airbus A319 aircraft to Delhi. It was noted that the runway extension work was conducted poorly, resulting in reported damage to the path. With such limitations, Surat Airport officials announced that they would not allow more than two aircraft operations with the flight's weight not exceeding more than 75,000 kilograms. The conditions were levied until the repair and reconstruction of the new runway were completed. Since then, the airport authority has worked towards several expansion plans to make Surat Airport ideal for passenger flights.

About Surat Airport Terminal

Currently, Surat Airport has one integrated terminal building along with a cargo terminal. The integrated terminal building was inaugurated by then Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Dinsha Patel, in 2009. The construction of the new terminal cost about INR 400 million. It is sprawled across an area of 91,000 square feet and can handle 240 passengers in an hour. Various modern amenities have been installed at the airport with CCTV cameras, hand baggage X-ray machines, two air bridges with a visual docking guidance system, a 120-seater lounge, two baggage carousels in the arrivals section and a plethora of small shops. The airport recently inaugurated its cargo terminal in 2020 after a plan to expand and bring forth a modular cargo terminal was approved by the Airports Authority of India.

With the approval of the tender, the construction work for a new cargo terminal was offered to a Surat-based firm. The cargo complex is spread across 14,000 square feet in total with a ground-level area of nearly 10,800 square feet and the first floor covering 3,200 square feet. The project lasted for 13 months, following which the new cargo terminal was completed and ready for business. Additionally, Surat Airport plans to expand its cargo terminal and install a new international cargo terminal. Land for the same has already be acquiesced and would be provided once the bid is announced and sold to a company for construction.

About airport authority

Surat Airport is owned and operated under the Airports Authority of India. The airport authority has been responsible for the consistent expansion and upgradation of Surat Airport. Over the years, the airport has witnessed some growth, and also several concerns have been solved. In 2014, a massive collision of a buffalo with a SpiceJet Boeing 737 brought forth the safety concerns that were soon addressed by the Airports Authority. The runway extension work was divided into three phases to ensure that the airport's regular functions are not affected. The first phase saw an extension of the runway by 655 metres. Following this move, the airport also constructed adjoining concrete apron that measured at 235 x 90 metres. It has been linked by two taxiways and is the only runway of the airport. The authorities also added high-tech night landing amenities along with an instrument landing system and navigation systems to enhance the efficiency of Surat Airport.

The airport has announced that they will continue working on the expansion of the terminal building of the Surat Airport. The project's budget has been estimated at INR 3.50 billion with the project expected to take off in two years. The terminal building will comprise of a total area of 25,520 square metres. With the extension complete, Surat Airport'sAirport's terminal building will have the capacity to handle about 1,800 passengers, 1,200 from domestic and 600 from international, at peak hours. The new terminal will also be equipped with modern facilities and essentials such as 20 check-in counters, five aerobridges and 26 immigration counters, to name a few. They also plan to extend the parking space for cars to accommodate more than 500 at once. Along with this, the airport plans to extend the apron to accommodate ten more number of bays for aircraft of Type C.

Facilities at the Surat Airport

Baggage and trolleys – The baggage services at Surat Airport include free trolleys, baggage wrapping, porter services and more. You can also store your baggage in the airport premise if need be.

Wheelchair – For passengers who are disabled and require wheelchairs and special assistance, Surat Airport has reserved staff to take care of this as well. Trained staff will also accompany the passenger and wheel them past the security checks.

Medical assistance – Special medical assistance experts have been hired to take care of emergency cases that might take place in the airport premise. The trained professionals are well-equipped with medical emergency cases and also have the necessary first aid kits to tend to the patients. The airport also has pharmacies in the departure sections of the terminal.

ATMs – Multiple ATM kiosks have been put up in Surat Airport. For passengers who need to withdraw money or have some last-minute expenses for which they need to pay in cash, the ATMs are ideal. They are also placed in perfect distances to make it accessible for passengers from all corners of the airport.

Restaurants – There are a bunch of restaurants and cafes in the airport premise. These can mostly be found in the airport terminal's departure halls. With a view to ensuring that the passenger is entertained and well-fed, Surat Airport has installed a few restaurants and cafes in its food court. One can relax here and also indulge in some traditional Gujarati cuisine while they wait for boarding.

Travel agents – In case you haven't figured out your accommodation and travel itinerary in the city, at the airport's travel agent desk, you will be able to figure your plans out. A dedicated booth has been maintained by Surat Airport to cater to the traveller's needs. Car rentals, hotel accommodations and other such bookings can be made from the airport's travel booth.

Smoking zones – Surat Airport does not allow smoking in public spaces. Instead, they have installed dedicated smoking zones for passengers to enable clean air in the airport premise. The smoking zones have been installed in the terminal's departure as well as arrivals halls.

Top airlines flying from the Surat Airport

Presently, Surat Airport accommodates flight activities of airlines such as Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and SpiceJet. Out of these, Air India Express is the only international airline that Surat Airport can manage for now. While it caters to connect to Indian cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Goa, Jaipur, Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar, Surat Airport also has one international city connection as one flight networks with Sharjah. Along with this, the airport also has one cargo carrier, SpiceXpress, that connects to destinations such as Chennai, Visakhapatnam and Kolkata.

How to reach Surat Airport

Surat Airport is about 12 km away from the city centre. However, as a big city in the state of Gujarat, the city has a phenomenal network of transport facilities that will help you reach Surat Airport. A slew of ridesharing platforms such as Ola, Meru, Uber, Savaari Car Rentals, Oneway and Jugnoo, to name a few, function from the city. These taxi cab services have fixed fares to reach Surat Airport. They are the most convenient and comfortable means of reaching Surat Airport. The city bus stand also has dedicated services to reach Surat Airport. However, buses might not be as comfortable as taxi cabs, even though they are affordable and cheap.

  About Coimbatore Airport

The Coimbatore International Airport is situated 10 km away from the city of Coimbatore in the state of Tamil Nadu. Located within the range of the city Peelamedu, the airport is perfectly connected with the city centre and has transport facilities at the arrival gates. The airport is recognised as the 18th busiest in the country in terms of passenger handling and aircraft movement. However, in terms of cargo handling, the Coimbatore International Airport stands at the 15th spot. The airport's fame also comes from the fact that it is the second-largest airport in the state of Tamil Nadu. This comes right after the state's capital, Chennai's International Airport. It serves five Indian carriers while three foreign ones. The Coimbatore International Airport connects to 12 domestic destinations and three international ones.

About Coimbatore Airport Terminals

The Coimbatore International Airport is known to host domestic and international flights and airlines. The airport not just caters to the domestic cities but also charters flight services to Sharjah, Singapore and even Jeddah for Hajj pilgrimage. The airport has a single terminal where all the services take place. The single passenger terminal caters to all the facilities including the arrivals, gates, departures, check-in and concessions. The terminal also has a Black Berry Lounge which provides impeccable services until the boarding takes place. The airport has aerobridges, parking bays and also accommodates the instrument landing system. In the existing terminal, the airport has divided the domestic and international gates. The Coimbatore International Airport's runway extends to 12,500 ft and accommodates colossal aircraft too, for instance, the Boeing 787. The airport also serves to the Coimbatore Flying Club and hence, has two hangars within the airport.

About airport authority

The Coimbatore International Airport serves under the Government of India and is operated by the Airports Authority of India. The statutory body was created back in 1994 after a merger between International Airports Authority of India and National Airports Authority, which served as individual bodies in 1972 and 1986 respectively. AAI caters to working on the upgradation, maintenance and management of the airports that fall under its wing. The body has about 126 airports under its wing, including the Coimbatore International Airport. All the decisions and management concerning the infrastructure and functioning of the Coimbatore International Airport falls under the responsibilities of the Airports Authority of India. They also work on the development and expansion of the airport to make it more accessible and efficient.

Top airlines flying from Coimbatore Airport

Coimbatore Airport has decent connectivity to various major cities in the country. The airport caters to airlines such as Air Arabia, Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, Scoot, SpiceJet and Srilankan Airlines. There are four international airlines with flights that fly from the Coimbatore Airport. Air Arabia flies to Sharjah, Air India Express and Scoot to Singapore and Srilankan Airlines to Colombo–Bandaranaike. The airport does see good connectivity with Singapore as the demand for the said Malay city is quite high. As for domestic airlines operating from the Coimbatore Airport, they fly to cities such as Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Pune. The domestic airlines flights flying from Coimbatore Airport are limited and a handful as they only fly to fewer cities in the country. The Coimbatore airport caters to an equal number of domestic and international airlines.

Facilities at the Coimbatore Airport

WiFi - There are WiFi services that are available at the airport. The WiFi at the airport is free. However, it can only be availed for about 15 minutes. Post the timeline, you will have to pay for a premium service.

ATM and forex - The Coimbatore Airport has a handful of ATM kiosks at the departure and arrival gates. There are foreign exchange booths at the arrival gates as well. It gets easier for international travellers to get hold of some domestic currency to enable traversing within the city easier. You might be able to get good rates at the airport forex counter too.

Smoking zone - The airport has dedicated smoking zones. To keep a smoke-free environment in the airport, the authorities have come up with a smoking lounge. Some booths even sell cigarette boxes at standard airport rates. The smoking lounge is present in the departure zone of the terminal.

Medical services - A specific medical centre is also available at the airport. It is essential to have a designated medical centre in the airport premise to deal with any medical emergency that might crop up. Often, it is necessary to have medical aid in the airport since the chances of emergencies are quite high. Not to mention how the demand for the medical stores is also necessary, in case any last-minute purchases need to be made.

Child care room - The Coimbatore Airport has a child care centre for new mothers and infants. The child care rooms and perfectly maintained and kept clean to ensure the mother and infant are in a safe environment. There are proper baby products also available at the child care rooms and are present at the arrival and departure zones of the airport.

Restaurants and cafe - The airport has a few restaurants and food establishments in the departure as well as arrival gates. You can find some famous food joints such as McDonald's, Subway and KFC. There are small coffee joints and establishments also present at the airport terminals.

Baggage - The Coimbatore Airport also caters to baggage-related services. There are counters where you can get to keep your luggage. Trolleys for luggage are also available at every nook and corner of the airport terminals. If you need to get luggage wrapping done, that can also be arranged. This will help safeguard the luggage from being mishandled or from theft.

Special assistance - For any special services and assistance required such as buggy services and portage, you can avail the same at the Coimbatore Airport. Since it caters to international airlines and flights too, the services and assistance are of top-notch quality.

How to reach Coimbatore Airport

Coimbatore Airport is about 10 km away from the city centre. Located on the Avinashi Road, the airport sees frequent buses serviced from the central bus station. The bus services to Coimbatore Airport can be found at the Gandhipuram central bus station. Bus stations located at Singanallur and Ukkadam also have bus services that will reach you to the Coimbatore Airport. The Gandhipuram central bus station is also close to the Coimbatore Junction. It is considered to be the nearest rail station to the Coimbatore Airport. If you are travelling from another city to Coimbatore, the best way to reach from the station would be to pick up the bus shuttle that directly reaches Coimbatore Airport.

Taxi cabs are considered to be the ideal and best way to reach Coimbatore Airport. You can make your bookings online on apps or find prepaid cabs at the railway station and bus stand to get hold of them. It takes approximately 30 minutes to reach Coimbatore Airport from the city centre. If taxi cabs are unavailable and cannot be found at the Coimbatore Junction or the Gandhipuram Central Bus Station, you can also take rickshaws. There are auto rickshaws available in the city. You will have to fix a price with the rickshaw driver before you take up the ride to the Coimbatore Airport. Ensure to haggle a little as the drivers tend to spike the price exorbitantly, especially if you are a traveller who cannot speak the language.

About Coimbatore

Coimbatore also referred to as Kovai, is one of the major cities in the state of Tamil Nadu. The city is perched on the banks of the Noyyal River and is surrounded by the gorgeous Western Ghats. The city is known to be the second-largest in the state after its capital, Chennai. It is also the 16th largest city in India with respect to urban agglomeration. Coimbatore is known to be one of the largest exporters of poultry, jewellery, auto components and wet grinders. It is also recognised as geographical indications for Coimbatore Wet grinder as well as Kovai Cora Cotton, by the government of India. The city's dynasty comes from the rulers of Cheras, which reigned Coimbatore from the 1st through the 4th centuries CE.

It also served as the principal trade route for Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Part of its history sees strong connections with rulers from the Cholas, Vijayanagara Empire, Nayaks and the Kingdom of Mysore. The city was also ruled by the British East India Company, before finally becoming a free city. The city turned into a textile hub in the south, especially in the cotton industry, post the decline of the cotton industry in 19th century Mumbai. Much recently, in 2014, the city received the top rank for being one of the best emerging cities in the country, by India Today. Coimbatore is also recorded to be one of the safest cities in the country for women, according to a report shared by the National Crime Records Bureau in 2015.