Bangkok06 Aug 24 1 Traveller Economy
Showing 2 Abuja to Bangkok KLM Flights - Starting at Just ₹ 361808
About Abuja
The city of Abuja, overlooked by the dominating Aso Rock, is the capital city of Nigeria. Located right in the middle of the country, Abuja is a planned city that was developed in the 1980s. It actually managed to replace Lagos to be the new capital of Nigeria.
Best time to visit Abuja
Due to its proximity to the equator, the city of Abuja is hot through most of the year. However, out of the heat that you do face, they are pleasant and mild in some months in Abuja. The city also witnesses some moderate rainfall which adds to the humidity you might face. You will have to prepare yourself mentally concerning the heat as you will face a lot of it. The months January through July though, are pleasant. In fact, January to March is recognised as the best time to visit Abuja. The temperature is at a friendly 26 degree Celsius, and the humidity in the air is quite mild. This helps the tourism industry to attract more crowds. You will actually see a slew of tourists during these months as the mild temperatures are easy on the senses. Due to the peak season though, there is a surge in the hotel prices. You will find cheap hotels also spike up their rates during the peak season. Hence, it would be ideal for making prior hotel bookings to Abuja to avoid the last-minute surge in prices. The good thing is, the flight tickets are quite decent, irrespective of the peak season.
From May through August, you will witness a rise in the humidity level in the air. Even though the temperature is slightly mild, the humidity will make things a little difficult. Travelling within the city or engaging in tourist activities might become tough. You will have to constantly carry bottles of water and ensure that you stay hydrated throughout the day. The humidity will sap out all your energy. Avoiding these months would be the best choice. Unless you're okay with the excess heat, you should at all cost, not plan a trip to Abuja during these months. Instead, you can opt for the months of September through November. These months also see a moderate temperature where the humidity is also not too much. It would be nice to carry equipment such as moisturisers and bottles of water to survive in Abuja. But these mild months would be refreshing and paint a new colour to the vibe of Abuja. You can make prior bookings of flight tickets and accommodations in Abuja to avoid any excess cost. You might even receive some online deals.
Places to visit in Abuja
As part of your Abuja rendezvous, you can start your exploring by checking out the famous Zuma Rock. The rock is composed of gabbro and granodiorite. In the past, the Gbagyi tribe people used the rock to defend themselves from invasions and attacks from neighbouring tribes. You can take up trekking and hiking as an activity to reach the peak of the rock. You should also visit the National Mosque of Abuja. The beautiful structure has a golden dome and boasts Islamic architecture. It is Nigeria's national mosque and holds tremendous religious significance. It was constructed back in 1984 and is open to non-Muslims as well. Aso Rock is another interesting natural granitic rock that is situated on the outskirts of the capital city. Important buildings such as the Supreme Court and the Nigerian National Assembly are both located close by. Another beautiful mosque that you can visit is the An Noor Mosque. The place is quaint and quiet.
Things to do in Abuja
One of the best ways for you to spend your time in Abuja would be to hang out at the Millennium Park. The park is in proximity with the former Presidential Palace. It is beautiful and has the Zuma Rock in the background too. You can actually take a picnic basket and spend your time in leisure at the park. You can also indulge in a boating rendezvous at the Jabi Lake. The scenic landscape is sure to marvel you. You should also visit the National Children's Park and Zoo Abuja. It has some basic animals, including turtles, jackals and more. The IBB International Golf & Country Club is definitely another place that you should visit. The vast expanse is certainly a spectacular sight, plus you can also explore the golf course. Pack yourselves a nice lunch basket and head to Usuma Lower Dam for a lovely afternoon. The place is gorgeous and soothing to the senses, especially since it is not surrounded by the city's noise and bustle. You can also indulge in some waterfalls excursions. The Gurara Falls is one such place that you simply cannot miss. You also should go exploring at the Pedam Lake.
Food and restaurants in Abuja
Abuja's food culture is heavily influenced by the tribal traditions of Nigeria. You would majorly find a lot of dishes that celebrate the Nigerian cuisine and style of cooking. It would actually be a good opportunity for you to try out some exquisite authentic Nigerian cuisine. Their tribal dishes are a rage in the city of Abuja. Over the years though, they have managed to infuse much of their traditional cuisines with European flavours to promote tourism. You will find some lovely African meals favouring European-style cooking. The food culture is a trip on its own and you can make the most of it in Nigeria's capital, Abuja. You can start your culinary excursion in Abuja from the Salamander Café. It is recognised for its cool vibe and manages to attract a slew of native crowds. The quaint cafe offers not just extraordinary coffee but also books to indulge in while you sip on the beverage. The menu is also curated to serve the natives as well as the international crowd. You will find Indian cuisine also in Abuja as the city has the famous Wakkis, a restaurant that boasts Indian cuisine.
From murgh malai to tandoori chicken, if you are in no mood to experiment with the traditional Nigerian cuisine, then you can simply make regular visits to Wakkis. The staff is friendly, and the cooking styles are very indigenous to the raw Indian culture. BluCabana is an interesting restaurant that doesn't just limit to African food but also expands to Middle Eastern cuisine. You will find some exquisite Lebanese food as well as global cuisine such as sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, salads and more. The fish suya is a big seller which basically consists of grilled skewered meat that has been perfectly coated with aromatic spices. At the Bukka at the Hilton, you will find traditional African spread. The dining hall is a vast and beautiful spot which leaves enough room for the fresh breeze to pass through. Not to mention how the classic dishes such as oha soup, pounded yam, jollof rice, egusi soup, to name a few, can be found here. Other restaurants that you can check out are The Charcoal, Vanilla, Jevinik, Dunes Continental and Chez Victor.
How to reach Abuja
As the capital of Nigeria, Abuja enjoys great flight connectivity with other international cities. Abuja does witness some flight action as it is an important city. Although there are no direct flights to Abuja from Indian cities, they do have international airlines that accommodate flights to Abuja. There are many international routes connected to Abuja, such as from Addis Ababa, Kigali, Dubai and Cairo. However, Addis Ababa and Dubai are recognised as the most popular routes to Abuja. Airlines such as RwandAir, Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, Air France and British Airways have flight services to Abuja. Most of these airlines have layovers in their domestic cities. You do not need a specific transit visa when travelling to Abuja. A transit visa is only required when you are travelling from European cities. If you do pick Air France as your airlines to travel to Abuja, then you will need a Schengen transit visa. Similarly, the only other route to Abuja where you would require a transit visa is if you travel by Emirates.
The flight duration of Abuja is quite decent. It takes about 12 hours to 15 hours to reach the city. Flying to Abuja is the only way to reach the Nigerian capital. The flight tickets are a little steep. In fact, they actually start from INR 35,000 and from here, the graph only goes up. Since the flight tickets to Abuja are so pricey, the best way to go about booking a ticket would be to search for online deals. It comes in handy to find great flight deals online to Abuja. You will be surprised by the drastic drop in the ticket prices to Abuja with the addition of discounts. This means you will actually have to invest a lot of time to ensure that you get some good flight deals. You can also use this time to make hotel reservations as that would further reduce the total cost of the trip. These can be found online as various platforms and airlines have sale and discounts. Another way to go about this would be to use up your miles if you are collecting them. You might be eligible for some more discounts depending on the program.
Enter Heading
About KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, professionally known as Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij, is the national flag carrier of the Netherlands. The airline has its headquarters in Amstelveen with its main hub in Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The airline is part of the Air France - KLM group and is also a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance. It was founded in 1919 and is easily the oldest airline in the world, which is over a century old. Despite being in the aviation industry for 100 years, KLM has not undergone a rebranding in terms of its name. As of 2015, the airline accommodated 35,488 employees and had a fleet size of 119. KLM operates as a scheduled passenger and cargo carrier with services to over 145 destinations worldwide. The airline's first flight, following its establishment in 1919, took place in 1920 from Croydon Airport in London to Amsterdam. For the same, a leased Aircraft Transport and Travel de Havilland DH - 16 was used. It carried two British journalists along with some newspapers. The same year, the airline also carried about 440 passengers along with 22 tonnes of freight.
KLM made its international debut by flying its first international flight to Jakarta and Java, which were part of the Dutch colony and called Dutch East Indies during that period. The airline expanded its wings and acquired more destinations in Europe such as Rotterdam, Brussels, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Malmö, Bremen, Paris and London. With the onset of World War II, the flight operations were put on hold as all the aircraft was shifted to Britain following an invasion by Germany. Post World War II, the airline underwent some significant losses. The Dutch government expressed its desire to gain more stakes in the airline and nationalised it in the process. However, under Albert Plesman's leadership, KLM did not agree to the deal and continued to be a private entity. But as he passed away in 1953, the Ditch government intervened to save KLM from the economic crisis and eventually nationalised the airline. KLM entered the Jet age by acquiring the four-engine turboprop aircraft of Vickers Viscount 800 in 1959. They also acquired the first Douglas DC-8 jet to join their fleet. The following years witnessed quite a few leadership changes as many of the presidents who took office in KLM suffered from health issues or accidents and deaths.
By 1975, KLM started adding Boeing combi aircraft in its fleet which predominantly consisted of Douglas DC-8 aircraft. The idea was to introduce flights that would cater to passengers as well as carry freight. This was followed by some significant changes in the airline's fleet as they started acquiring more Boeing and Airbus aircraft to replace the Douglas planes. The airline also suffered from some economic crisis which led to the Dutch government intervening once again to take up more shares in the venture and bring it out of losses. In 1995, KLM managed to stabilise its finances and buy back the shares from the Dutch government yet again to become a private company. In 2003, the airline agreed to merge with Air France and become partners to the subsidiary Air France - KLM. While retaining their own brands, the Air France - KLM subsidiary's key hubs became Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Air France - KLM was also listed on the Euronext exchanges in Paris, Amsterdam as well as New York. The same year, KLM and Northwest joined the airline alliance SkyTeam.
KLM celebrated its centennial in 2019 as it was founded in 1919. As an airline that has managed to sustain for an entire century and to operate under its original name with no rebranding or renaming, KLM is the first airline in the world to have achieved such a feat. It has also been the recipient of several accolades included Best Airline Staff Service in Europe which was recognised at the World Airline Awards 2013.
Fleet size of KLM
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has a fleet size of 116 which includes aircraft such as Airbus A330-200, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 777-300ERs and more. The airline's fleet mainly consists of a series of Boeing aircraft with variants of Airbus A330 model. The fleet size includes the cargo fleet too, which comprises four Boeing 747-400ERFs. The airline's first of the eight Boeing 787-10 aircraft were delivered in 2019, which also marked its centennial in the aviation industry. In 2013, the airline ordered seven Airbus A350-900s to join the fleet. However, in 2019, the Air France - KLM airline announced that they would not be taking any of KLM's ordered A350s for fleet rationalisation purposes. In the same year, KLM's CEO made an announcement at Air France's Investor Day that the airline will only be accommodating and utilising 777 and 787 aircraft from Boeing for their long-haul flight journeys. With this, they plan to retire thirteen of their A330s. The aim is to make KLM an all-Boeing airline which has room for no other aircraft.
Baggage Allowance
KLM Royal Airlines' baggage allowance follows the standard protocols set by global aviation. Passengers travelling from the economy class will be required to carry a weight of maximum 23 kg and a combined dimension of 158 cm. However, passengers who are part of SkyTeam Elite, Elite Plus or members of Flying Blue Silver, Gold and Platinum programmes are allowed to carry a piece of extra baggage along with them for checked luggage. However, the weight and dimensions of the baggage must be the same as mentioned. The business class passengers are allowed to carry two items of baggage that can weigh as much as 32 kg. The dimension of the baggage should also not exceed 158 cm, the same as the economy class. However, passengers who are members of the SkyTeam elite programmes or the KLM Flying Blue programmes will receive an additional baggage piece that they can carry.
The hand baggage that can be taken in the cabin also depends on the ticket type of passenger. The economy class passengers are allowed to carry about 1 item of hand baggage along with an accessory bag which could be a laptop bag, briefcase, handbag, etc. The collective weight of the hand baggage should not exceed 12 kg, and the dimension should not go beyond 55 x 35 x 25 cm for the luggage and 40 x 30 x 15 cm for an accessory bag. With the same criteria for the business class' hand baggage, the airline does offer two pieces of bags instead of one, and the total weight cannot exceed 18 kg.
In-flight services
KLM's in-flight services cater to the comfort and convenience of the passengers who are travelling with the airline. Right from exquisite seating arrangement equipped with best facilities like legroom, personal lamp, entertainment system to amazing in-flight meals, KLM has the best in-flight services to offer.
Popular routes and top cities for KLM
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' illustrious history in the aviation industry goes back a hundred years. They have since extended their domestic routes and international routes phenomenally by acquiring services to a slew of destinations. What started as a 12-days long flight between Amsterdam to Batavia (present-day Jakarta) has since witnessed tremendous growth in terms of catering to many cities in the world. Currently, the airline services two domestic routes while connecting with 133 international route destinations that are spread across 66 countries.
Some of the top cities for KLM include Buenos Aires, Graz, Vienna, Manama, Rio de Janeiro, Brussels, Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, Beijing, Shanghai, San Jose, Zagreb, Prague, Copenhagen, Quito, Helsinki, Bordeaux, Nice, Paris, Marseille, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Accra, Athens, Hong Kong, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Jakarta, Dublin, Florence, Rome, Milan, Osaka, Tokyo-Narita, Kuwait City, Luxembourg City, Amsterdam, Lagos, Muscat, Manila, Warsaw, Lisbon, Moscow, Singapore, Cape Town, Seoul, Ibiza, Madrid, Stockholm, Geneva, Bangkok, Istanbul, Dubai, Bristol, London, Manchester, New York City, San Francisco, Newark, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Ho Chi Minh City and Lusaka, to name a few.
KLM also has codeshare agreements with a plethora of airlines including Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Air France, Air Mauritius, Bangkok Airways, Alitalia, China Airlines, Copa Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Etihad Airways, Kenya Airways, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Saudia, Qantas, Sichuan Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, WestJet and XianmenAir, to name a few.
Why travel by KLM?
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is a legacy that is recognised worldwide for being the oldest airline. The company has grown with time and further worked on constantly engaging their loyal customers with the best of in-flight services and flight experience. Passengers can do web check-ins on the airline's website as well as a mobile app. They can further book a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight ticket too and get updates on the flight status. For passengers to need to know more about the KLM flight schedules, the same can be found on the airline's official website. The option to book KLM flights are also available on various other travel websites.
About Bangkok Airport
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is often referred to as Bangkok Airport. It is one of the two major international airports that serve Thailand. Although Don Mueang International Airport was also recognized for its international flight services. However, the same was halted in 2007. Now the airport serves as a hub to low-cost airlines that connect in Bangkok. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is sprawled across 8,000 acres of land and is one of the biggest international airports in the Southeast Asian region. It is also a hub for aviation in Bangkok.
Suvarnabhumi Airport was originally chartered with limited domestic flight services. However, it soon started expanding to add more domestic and international flights. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is currently the important hub for Thai Smile Airways, Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways. The airport basically serves as a regional gateway to several foreign carriers too. It has been recorded to be the 17th busiest airport in the world and 11 busiest in Asia. The airport has the capacity to accommodate about 60 million passengers in a year. There are over 95 airlines that operate from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.
About Airport Terminals
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport has three terminals in total. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are responsible for operations of international flights. Meanwhile, Terminal 3 is focussed on domestic flights to cater to connectivity in Thailand. The two terminals are located right next to each other while the domestic terminal or Terminal3 is 500 meters away from Terminal 2. The distance between the terminals is not massive. The proximity often makes it confusing. The departure and arrival zones in the international terminals have dedicated immigration counters as well as check-in and baggage to make it easy for the travellers. The terminal's roof has been designed aesthetically with the use of structural elements and bays that have been placed in cantilevered wavelike forms. The airport is capable of accommodating an Airbus A380. There are two parallel runways at the airport with a total of about 120 parking bays for flights. The passenger terminal is recorded to capacitate about 76 flight operations every hour. An underground rail link station has also been constructed to connect the terminal with the city centre. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport's terminal passenger terminal is famed for being the fourth-biggest building in the world, following Hong Kong International Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport and Dubai International Airport.
About Airport Authority
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is funded and operated by the Airports of Thailand Public Company Ltd. (AOT). The airport's body is responsible for six international airport ventures in Thailand. Four more airports have been added recently under its wing. The statutory body received recognition as one of the most valuable airport operators across the globe. The organization was established in 2002 after a consortium between private firms and the state-owned Airports Authority of Thailand. The Thailand government holds a higher share in the consortium with about 70 per cent stock. The Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is the most profitable venture for the airport's authority with passenger statistics of about 63,379,077, as recorded in the year 2018. Over the years, the airport management has done a phenomenal job of efficient connection of the international airport with the city centre. They have also worked towards fixing some of the pressing matters to bolster the functions and efficiency of the airport in terms of safety and connectivity.
Top airlines flying from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
The demand for Bangkok in India as a tourist destination is quite high. Hence, there are several Indian airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport as well. In fact, the first flight to fly to the Bangkok Airport was a Lufthansa Cargo which took off from Mumbai. Some of the Indian airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport include Air India, GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara. They have direct connectivity and fly on a regular basis. Airlines such as Thai Airways and Thai Smile, which predominantly operate from Suvarnabhumi Airport also have direct services to Indian cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi Ahmedabad, Chennai, to name a few.
As an international tourist destination, the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport also sees much air traffic from international flights. Some of the prominent airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport include Air Astana, Air China, Air France, Air Macau, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Cambodia Airways, China Airlines, Druk Air, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Finnair, Garuda Indonesia, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, Jetstar Asia Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airways, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Nepal Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Swiss, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, Vietnam Airlines and Ural Airlines. These airlines cater to various parts of the world and have impeccable connectivity. There are reservations for cargo flights to function from the Suvarnabhumi Airport. They are Lufthansa Cargo, Cathay Pacific Cargo, DHL Aviation and Singapore Airlines Cargo.
Facilities at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
ATMs and currency exchange - There are foreign exchange booths and ATM kiosks available at the airport. You can withdraw money or exchange to local currency to make your trip convenient.
Baggage - Baggage services are available with plastic wrapping and porter services. You can also find trolleys at regular intervals.
Internet and communication kiosks - There are internet kiosks that have established at the airport. You can get your work done while you wait for boarding. There are telecom desks where you can purchase local mobile SIM numbers to avail WiFi. Postal services are also available.
Restaurants and cafes - There are many food establishments and restaurants at the airport's terminals. The departure zone has a slew of joints, including ones with liquor and coffee.
Medical care - Medical rooms and pharmacies have been installed at regular intervals. You can make last-minute purchases of prescribed medicine, or you can get necessary tablets or toiletries.
Prayer rooms - Devoted prayer rooms and multi-faith corners have been established at all terminals. There are monks' reception rooms also available at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Transit hotels - To make the passenger's experience at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport good, they have also installed an in-transit hotel. You can check-in for the few hours you need to wait and even rest as much as you can.
Spa and massage - The airport is blessed with good serviced spas and massage parlours. For in-transit passengers who need to take a second flight or who need to wait due to layovers, can avail this service.
Smoking zones - There are dedicated smoking lounges in the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. These are available at all the terminals' departures and arrivals. You can even purchase boxes in case you need it for the time being.
Special assistance – The airport also has professionals who cater to the special needs of passengers who fall under the category of senior citizens, expecting mothers and physically disabled. The professionals have been trained to help out the individuals by enabling a smooth transition of their check-in and boarding processes.
How to reach Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
By Bus and car rentals
The Airport Shuttle bus operating from the city is another efficient way to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. These buses have a direct connection to the airport from within the city, making travel cheaper and easier. Along with the buses, you can always book a ride to the airport too. There are five routes from the airport that have a direct connection with the Bangkok Airport. These routes connect from Bangkok's downtown as well as Chonburi Province, connections from North Bangkok and Bang Na Bang Pakong which stands at the South. The main entrance to the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport though is at the Samut Prakan Province. There are elevated highways and flyovers which need to be used to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. You can find a car and rental booking booths at the airport's arrival segment. Even the entrance to the airport has a dedicated taxi counter where you can book your ride to the city.
By Airport Rail Link
One of the best ways to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport opened in 2010 after much delay but has since managed to receive good passenger traffic. Called the Airport Rail Link (ARL), the rail is operated by SRTET which is a subsidiary of the State Railway of Thailand. The long 28.6 km gauge line runs at an elevation for most of its length. The link directly connects to the passenger terminal building off the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. The rail services start at 6:00 in the morning till 24:00. There are two interchange stations called Phaya Thai and Makkasan which run on different lines, also available. The future plans to expand the airport is also in talks where the Airport Rail Link plans to merge and complement the SRT Red Line commuter service. This way, you wouldn't need to change the metro links to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.
About Abuja
The city of Abuja, overlooked by the dominating Aso Rock, is the capital city of Nigeria. Located right in the middle of the country, Abuja is a planned city that was developed in the 1980s. It actually managed to replace Lagos to be the new capital of Nigeria.
Best time to visit Abuja
Due to its proximity to the equator, the city of Abuja is hot through most of the year. However, out of the heat that you do face, they are pleasant and mild in some months in Abuja. The city also witnesses some moderate rainfall which adds to the humidity you might face. You will have to prepare yourself mentally concerning the heat as you will face a lot of it. The months January through July though, are pleasant. In fact, January to March is recognised as the best time to visit Abuja. The temperature is at a friendly 26 degree Celsius, and the humidity in the air is quite mild. This helps the tourism industry to attract more crowds. You will actually see a slew of tourists during these months as the mild temperatures are easy on the senses. Due to the peak season though, there is a surge in the hotel prices. You will find cheap hotels also spike up their rates during the peak season. Hence, it would be ideal for making prior hotel bookings to Abuja to avoid the last-minute surge in prices. The good thing is, the flight tickets are quite decent, irrespective of the peak season.
From May through August, you will witness a rise in the humidity level in the air. Even though the temperature is slightly mild, the humidity will make things a little difficult. Travelling within the city or engaging in tourist activities might become tough. You will have to constantly carry bottles of water and ensure that you stay hydrated throughout the day. The humidity will sap out all your energy. Avoiding these months would be the best choice. Unless you're okay with the excess heat, you should at all cost, not plan a trip to Abuja during these months. Instead, you can opt for the months of September through November. These months also see a moderate temperature where the humidity is also not too much. It would be nice to carry equipment such as moisturisers and bottles of water to survive in Abuja. But these mild months would be refreshing and paint a new colour to the vibe of Abuja. You can make prior bookings of flight tickets and accommodations in Abuja to avoid any excess cost. You might even receive some online deals.
Places to visit in Abuja
As part of your Abuja rendezvous, you can start your exploring by checking out the famous Zuma Rock. The rock is composed of gabbro and granodiorite. In the past, the Gbagyi tribe people used the rock to defend themselves from invasions and attacks from neighbouring tribes. You can take up trekking and hiking as an activity to reach the peak of the rock. You should also visit the National Mosque of Abuja. The beautiful structure has a golden dome and boasts Islamic architecture. It is Nigeria's national mosque and holds tremendous religious significance. It was constructed back in 1984 and is open to non-Muslims as well. Aso Rock is another interesting natural granitic rock that is situated on the outskirts of the capital city. Important buildings such as the Supreme Court and the Nigerian National Assembly are both located close by. Another beautiful mosque that you can visit is the An Noor Mosque. The place is quaint and quiet.
Things to do in Abuja
One of the best ways for you to spend your time in Abuja would be to hang out at the Millennium Park. The park is in proximity with the former Presidential Palace. It is beautiful and has the Zuma Rock in the background too. You can actually take a picnic basket and spend your time in leisure at the park. You can also indulge in a boating rendezvous at the Jabi Lake. The scenic landscape is sure to marvel you. You should also visit the National Children's Park and Zoo Abuja. It has some basic animals, including turtles, jackals and more. The IBB International Golf & Country Club is definitely another place that you should visit. The vast expanse is certainly a spectacular sight, plus you can also explore the golf course. Pack yourselves a nice lunch basket and head to Usuma Lower Dam for a lovely afternoon. The place is gorgeous and soothing to the senses, especially since it is not surrounded by the city's noise and bustle. You can also indulge in some waterfalls excursions. The Gurara Falls is one such place that you simply cannot miss. You also should go exploring at the Pedam Lake.
Food and restaurants in Abuja
Abuja's food culture is heavily influenced by the tribal traditions of Nigeria. You would majorly find a lot of dishes that celebrate the Nigerian cuisine and style of cooking. It would actually be a good opportunity for you to try out some exquisite authentic Nigerian cuisine. Their tribal dishes are a rage in the city of Abuja. Over the years though, they have managed to infuse much of their traditional cuisines with European flavours to promote tourism. You will find some lovely African meals favouring European-style cooking. The food culture is a trip on its own and you can make the most of it in Nigeria's capital, Abuja. You can start your culinary excursion in Abuja from the Salamander Café. It is recognised for its cool vibe and manages to attract a slew of native crowds. The quaint cafe offers not just extraordinary coffee but also books to indulge in while you sip on the beverage. The menu is also curated to serve the natives as well as the international crowd. You will find Indian cuisine also in Abuja as the city has the famous Wakkis, a restaurant that boasts Indian cuisine.
From murgh malai to tandoori chicken, if you are in no mood to experiment with the traditional Nigerian cuisine, then you can simply make regular visits to Wakkis. The staff is friendly, and the cooking styles are very indigenous to the raw Indian culture. BluCabana is an interesting restaurant that doesn't just limit to African food but also expands to Middle Eastern cuisine. You will find some exquisite Lebanese food as well as global cuisine such as sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, salads and more. The fish suya is a big seller which basically consists of grilled skewered meat that has been perfectly coated with aromatic spices. At the Bukka at the Hilton, you will find traditional African spread. The dining hall is a vast and beautiful spot which leaves enough room for the fresh breeze to pass through. Not to mention how the classic dishes such as oha soup, pounded yam, jollof rice, egusi soup, to name a few, can be found here. Other restaurants that you can check out are The Charcoal, Vanilla, Jevinik, Dunes Continental and Chez Victor.
How to reach Abuja
As the capital of Nigeria, Abuja enjoys great flight connectivity with other international cities. Abuja does witness some flight action as it is an important city. Although there are no direct flights to Abuja from Indian cities, they do have international airlines that accommodate flights to Abuja. There are many international routes connected to Abuja, such as from Addis Ababa, Kigali, Dubai and Cairo. However, Addis Ababa and Dubai are recognised as the most popular routes to Abuja. Airlines such as RwandAir, Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, Air France and British Airways have flight services to Abuja. Most of these airlines have layovers in their domestic cities. You do not need a specific transit visa when travelling to Abuja. A transit visa is only required when you are travelling from European cities. If you do pick Air France as your airlines to travel to Abuja, then you will need a Schengen transit visa. Similarly, the only other route to Abuja where you would require a transit visa is if you travel by Emirates.
The flight duration of Abuja is quite decent. It takes about 12 hours to 15 hours to reach the city. Flying to Abuja is the only way to reach the Nigerian capital. The flight tickets are a little steep. In fact, they actually start from INR 35,000 and from here, the graph only goes up. Since the flight tickets to Abuja are so pricey, the best way to go about booking a ticket would be to search for online deals. It comes in handy to find great flight deals online to Abuja. You will be surprised by the drastic drop in the ticket prices to Abuja with the addition of discounts. This means you will actually have to invest a lot of time to ensure that you get some good flight deals. You can also use this time to make hotel reservations as that would further reduce the total cost of the trip. These can be found online as various platforms and airlines have sale and discounts. Another way to go about this would be to use up your miles if you are collecting them. You might be eligible for some more discounts depending on the program.
Enter Heading
About KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, professionally known as Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij, is the national flag carrier of the Netherlands. The airline has its headquarters in Amstelveen with its main hub in Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The airline is part of the Air France - KLM group and is also a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance. It was founded in 1919 and is easily the oldest airline in the world, which is over a century old. Despite being in the aviation industry for 100 years, KLM has not undergone a rebranding in terms of its name. As of 2015, the airline accommodated 35,488 employees and had a fleet size of 119. KLM operates as a scheduled passenger and cargo carrier with services to over 145 destinations worldwide. The airline's first flight, following its establishment in 1919, took place in 1920 from Croydon Airport in London to Amsterdam. For the same, a leased Aircraft Transport and Travel de Havilland DH - 16 was used. It carried two British journalists along with some newspapers. The same year, the airline also carried about 440 passengers along with 22 tonnes of freight.
KLM made its international debut by flying its first international flight to Jakarta and Java, which were part of the Dutch colony and called Dutch East Indies during that period. The airline expanded its wings and acquired more destinations in Europe such as Rotterdam, Brussels, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Malmö, Bremen, Paris and London. With the onset of World War II, the flight operations were put on hold as all the aircraft was shifted to Britain following an invasion by Germany. Post World War II, the airline underwent some significant losses. The Dutch government expressed its desire to gain more stakes in the airline and nationalised it in the process. However, under Albert Plesman's leadership, KLM did not agree to the deal and continued to be a private entity. But as he passed away in 1953, the Ditch government intervened to save KLM from the economic crisis and eventually nationalised the airline. KLM entered the Jet age by acquiring the four-engine turboprop aircraft of Vickers Viscount 800 in 1959. They also acquired the first Douglas DC-8 jet to join their fleet. The following years witnessed quite a few leadership changes as many of the presidents who took office in KLM suffered from health issues or accidents and deaths.
By 1975, KLM started adding Boeing combi aircraft in its fleet which predominantly consisted of Douglas DC-8 aircraft. The idea was to introduce flights that would cater to passengers as well as carry freight. This was followed by some significant changes in the airline's fleet as they started acquiring more Boeing and Airbus aircraft to replace the Douglas planes. The airline also suffered from some economic crisis which led to the Dutch government intervening once again to take up more shares in the venture and bring it out of losses. In 1995, KLM managed to stabilise its finances and buy back the shares from the Dutch government yet again to become a private company. In 2003, the airline agreed to merge with Air France and become partners to the subsidiary Air France - KLM. While retaining their own brands, the Air France - KLM subsidiary's key hubs became Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Air France - KLM was also listed on the Euronext exchanges in Paris, Amsterdam as well as New York. The same year, KLM and Northwest joined the airline alliance SkyTeam.
KLM celebrated its centennial in 2019 as it was founded in 1919. As an airline that has managed to sustain for an entire century and to operate under its original name with no rebranding or renaming, KLM is the first airline in the world to have achieved such a feat. It has also been the recipient of several accolades included Best Airline Staff Service in Europe which was recognised at the World Airline Awards 2013.
Fleet size of KLM
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has a fleet size of 116 which includes aircraft such as Airbus A330-200, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 777-300ERs and more. The airline's fleet mainly consists of a series of Boeing aircraft with variants of Airbus A330 model. The fleet size includes the cargo fleet too, which comprises four Boeing 747-400ERFs. The airline's first of the eight Boeing 787-10 aircraft were delivered in 2019, which also marked its centennial in the aviation industry. In 2013, the airline ordered seven Airbus A350-900s to join the fleet. However, in 2019, the Air France - KLM airline announced that they would not be taking any of KLM's ordered A350s for fleet rationalisation purposes. In the same year, KLM's CEO made an announcement at Air France's Investor Day that the airline will only be accommodating and utilising 777 and 787 aircraft from Boeing for their long-haul flight journeys. With this, they plan to retire thirteen of their A330s. The aim is to make KLM an all-Boeing airline which has room for no other aircraft.
Baggage Allowance
KLM Royal Airlines' baggage allowance follows the standard protocols set by global aviation. Passengers travelling from the economy class will be required to carry a weight of maximum 23 kg and a combined dimension of 158 cm. However, passengers who are part of SkyTeam Elite, Elite Plus or members of Flying Blue Silver, Gold and Platinum programmes are allowed to carry a piece of extra baggage along with them for checked luggage. However, the weight and dimensions of the baggage must be the same as mentioned. The business class passengers are allowed to carry two items of baggage that can weigh as much as 32 kg. The dimension of the baggage should also not exceed 158 cm, the same as the economy class. However, passengers who are members of the SkyTeam elite programmes or the KLM Flying Blue programmes will receive an additional baggage piece that they can carry.
The hand baggage that can be taken in the cabin also depends on the ticket type of passenger. The economy class passengers are allowed to carry about 1 item of hand baggage along with an accessory bag which could be a laptop bag, briefcase, handbag, etc. The collective weight of the hand baggage should not exceed 12 kg, and the dimension should not go beyond 55 x 35 x 25 cm for the luggage and 40 x 30 x 15 cm for an accessory bag. With the same criteria for the business class' hand baggage, the airline does offer two pieces of bags instead of one, and the total weight cannot exceed 18 kg.
In-flight services
KLM's in-flight services cater to the comfort and convenience of the passengers who are travelling with the airline. Right from exquisite seating arrangement equipped with best facilities like legroom, personal lamp, entertainment system to amazing in-flight meals, KLM has the best in-flight services to offer.
Popular routes and top cities for KLM
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' illustrious history in the aviation industry goes back a hundred years. They have since extended their domestic routes and international routes phenomenally by acquiring services to a slew of destinations. What started as a 12-days long flight between Amsterdam to Batavia (present-day Jakarta) has since witnessed tremendous growth in terms of catering to many cities in the world. Currently, the airline services two domestic routes while connecting with 133 international route destinations that are spread across 66 countries.
Some of the top cities for KLM include Buenos Aires, Graz, Vienna, Manama, Rio de Janeiro, Brussels, Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, Beijing, Shanghai, San Jose, Zagreb, Prague, Copenhagen, Quito, Helsinki, Bordeaux, Nice, Paris, Marseille, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Accra, Athens, Hong Kong, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Jakarta, Dublin, Florence, Rome, Milan, Osaka, Tokyo-Narita, Kuwait City, Luxembourg City, Amsterdam, Lagos, Muscat, Manila, Warsaw, Lisbon, Moscow, Singapore, Cape Town, Seoul, Ibiza, Madrid, Stockholm, Geneva, Bangkok, Istanbul, Dubai, Bristol, London, Manchester, New York City, San Francisco, Newark, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Ho Chi Minh City and Lusaka, to name a few.
KLM also has codeshare agreements with a plethora of airlines including Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Air France, Air Mauritius, Bangkok Airways, Alitalia, China Airlines, Copa Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Etihad Airways, Kenya Airways, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Saudia, Qantas, Sichuan Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, WestJet and XianmenAir, to name a few.
Why travel by KLM?
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is a legacy that is recognised worldwide for being the oldest airline. The company has grown with time and further worked on constantly engaging their loyal customers with the best of in-flight services and flight experience. Passengers can do web check-ins on the airline's website as well as a mobile app. They can further book a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight ticket too and get updates on the flight status. For passengers to need to know more about the KLM flight schedules, the same can be found on the airline's official website. The option to book KLM flights are also available on various other travel websites.
About Bangkok Airport
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is often referred to as Bangkok Airport. It is one of the two major international airports that serve Thailand. Although Don Mueang International Airport was also recognized for its international flight services. However, the same was halted in 2007. Now the airport serves as a hub to low-cost airlines that connect in Bangkok. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is sprawled across 8,000 acres of land and is one of the biggest international airports in the Southeast Asian region. It is also a hub for aviation in Bangkok.
Suvarnabhumi Airport was originally chartered with limited domestic flight services. However, it soon started expanding to add more domestic and international flights. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is currently the important hub for Thai Smile Airways, Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways. The airport basically serves as a regional gateway to several foreign carriers too. It has been recorded to be the 17th busiest airport in the world and 11 busiest in Asia. The airport has the capacity to accommodate about 60 million passengers in a year. There are over 95 airlines that operate from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.
About Airport Terminals
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport has three terminals in total. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are responsible for operations of international flights. Meanwhile, Terminal 3 is focussed on domestic flights to cater to connectivity in Thailand. The two terminals are located right next to each other while the domestic terminal or Terminal3 is 500 meters away from Terminal 2. The distance between the terminals is not massive. The proximity often makes it confusing. The departure and arrival zones in the international terminals have dedicated immigration counters as well as check-in and baggage to make it easy for the travellers. The terminal's roof has been designed aesthetically with the use of structural elements and bays that have been placed in cantilevered wavelike forms. The airport is capable of accommodating an Airbus A380. There are two parallel runways at the airport with a total of about 120 parking bays for flights. The passenger terminal is recorded to capacitate about 76 flight operations every hour. An underground rail link station has also been constructed to connect the terminal with the city centre. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport's terminal passenger terminal is famed for being the fourth-biggest building in the world, following Hong Kong International Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport and Dubai International Airport.
About Airport Authority
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is funded and operated by the Airports of Thailand Public Company Ltd. (AOT). The airport's body is responsible for six international airport ventures in Thailand. Four more airports have been added recently under its wing. The statutory body received recognition as one of the most valuable airport operators across the globe. The organization was established in 2002 after a consortium between private firms and the state-owned Airports Authority of Thailand. The Thailand government holds a higher share in the consortium with about 70 per cent stock. The Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is the most profitable venture for the airport's authority with passenger statistics of about 63,379,077, as recorded in the year 2018. Over the years, the airport management has done a phenomenal job of efficient connection of the international airport with the city centre. They have also worked towards fixing some of the pressing matters to bolster the functions and efficiency of the airport in terms of safety and connectivity.
Top airlines flying from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
The demand for Bangkok in India as a tourist destination is quite high. Hence, there are several Indian airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport as well. In fact, the first flight to fly to the Bangkok Airport was a Lufthansa Cargo which took off from Mumbai. Some of the Indian airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport include Air India, GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara. They have direct connectivity and fly on a regular basis. Airlines such as Thai Airways and Thai Smile, which predominantly operate from Suvarnabhumi Airport also have direct services to Indian cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi Ahmedabad, Chennai, to name a few.
As an international tourist destination, the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport also sees much air traffic from international flights. Some of the prominent airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport include Air Astana, Air China, Air France, Air Macau, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Cambodia Airways, China Airlines, Druk Air, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Finnair, Garuda Indonesia, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, Jetstar Asia Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airways, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Nepal Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Swiss, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, Vietnam Airlines and Ural Airlines. These airlines cater to various parts of the world and have impeccable connectivity. There are reservations for cargo flights to function from the Suvarnabhumi Airport. They are Lufthansa Cargo, Cathay Pacific Cargo, DHL Aviation and Singapore Airlines Cargo.
Facilities at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
ATMs and currency exchange - There are foreign exchange booths and ATM kiosks available at the airport. You can withdraw money or exchange to local currency to make your trip convenient.
Baggage - Baggage services are available with plastic wrapping and porter services. You can also find trolleys at regular intervals.
Internet and communication kiosks - There are internet kiosks that have established at the airport. You can get your work done while you wait for boarding. There are telecom desks where you can purchase local mobile SIM numbers to avail WiFi. Postal services are also available.
Restaurants and cafes - There are many food establishments and restaurants at the airport's terminals. The departure zone has a slew of joints, including ones with liquor and coffee.
Medical care - Medical rooms and pharmacies have been installed at regular intervals. You can make last-minute purchases of prescribed medicine, or you can get necessary tablets or toiletries.
Prayer rooms - Devoted prayer rooms and multi-faith corners have been established at all terminals. There are monks' reception rooms also available at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Transit hotels - To make the passenger's experience at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport good, they have also installed an in-transit hotel. You can check-in for the few hours you need to wait and even rest as much as you can.
Spa and massage - The airport is blessed with good serviced spas and massage parlours. For in-transit passengers who need to take a second flight or who need to wait due to layovers, can avail this service.
Smoking zones - There are dedicated smoking lounges in the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. These are available at all the terminals' departures and arrivals. You can even purchase boxes in case you need it for the time being.
Special assistance – The airport also has professionals who cater to the special needs of passengers who fall under the category of senior citizens, expecting mothers and physically disabled. The professionals have been trained to help out the individuals by enabling a smooth transition of their check-in and boarding processes.
How to reach Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
By Bus and car rentals
The Airport Shuttle bus operating from the city is another efficient way to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. These buses have a direct connection to the airport from within the city, making travel cheaper and easier. Along with the buses, you can always book a ride to the airport too. There are five routes from the airport that have a direct connection with the Bangkok Airport. These routes connect from Bangkok's downtown as well as Chonburi Province, connections from North Bangkok and Bang Na Bang Pakong which stands at the South. The main entrance to the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport though is at the Samut Prakan Province. There are elevated highways and flyovers which need to be used to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. You can find a car and rental booking booths at the airport's arrival segment. Even the entrance to the airport has a dedicated taxi counter where you can book your ride to the city.
By Airport Rail Link
One of the best ways to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport opened in 2010 after much delay but has since managed to receive good passenger traffic. Called the Airport Rail Link (ARL), the rail is operated by SRTET which is a subsidiary of the State Railway of Thailand. The long 28.6 km gauge line runs at an elevation for most of its length. The link directly connects to the passenger terminal building off the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. The rail services start at 6:00 in the morning till 24:00. There are two interchange stations called Phaya Thai and Makkasan which run on different lines, also available. The future plans to expand the airport is also in talks where the Airport Rail Link plans to merge and complement the SRT Red Line commuter service. This way, you wouldn't need to change the metro links to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.
