Addis Ababa to Atlanta Lufthansa Airways Flights

  About Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia and is one of the most important cities in Africa. It is also the largest city in Ethiopia. The city is also considered as the political capital of Africa since it houses the headquarters of the African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. It is situated in the foothills of Entoto Mountains and is one of the five highest capital cities of the world. Ethiopia is known for producing the best coffee in the world, and there's nothing better than actually flying to the country to try some. The city has a rich economic, scientific and political history and several museums that showcase these findings. In fact, you will also come across a museum that solely focuses on telling people how politics can make bad history. Not to mention, it is also a great place to go on a shopping spree for Ethiopian products, lots of coffee grounds and souvenirs. While Addis Ababa is not a popular vacation destination, a lot of travellers usually explore the city when they have a long layover. If you do not have any time constraints as such, you can definitely explore the city and be amazed at how it has progressed.

Best Time to Visit Addis Ababa

Ethiopia is called the Cradle of Mankind and is one of the best places to visit in Africa. January to March is a high season in Ethiopia. The temperature ranges from 10 to 24 degree Celsius with slight rainfalls. It doesn't rain as much in Addis Ababa, but it does in the other cities. Summer is the perfect time for you to spot wildlife like giraffes, wolves and ibex. You can also attend events like Timkat and Leddet in summer. Hiking in the Bale or Simien mountains is one of the only things that you will not be allowed to do in summer. Since this is high season, make sure you book your flight tickets to Addis Ababa in advance and book your hotels in Addis Ababa several weeks in advance. The prices begin to surge since the city welcomes a lot of tourists in this season.

April to September is a low tourist season in Addis Ababa since this is when the monsoon begins. The city can get pretty hot, sticky and uncomfortable in monsoon. While you might get cheap flight tickets to Addis Ababa in monsoon owing to the dip in tourism, it is best to postpone your trip. However, if you still visit the city in monsoon, you will be allowed to go sightseeing at certain parks like the Omo and Mago Valley, but the major attractions remain shut. The temperature ranges from 12 to 25 degree Celsius during summer. October to December is also summer in Addis Ababa, and the temperature ranges from 10 to 20 degree Celsius. However, it is still a shoulder season in the city where only a few tourists will be seen. The weather remains cooler as compared to the high season. October to December is also an ideal time to go hiking in the Simien mountains. You might come across some excellent flight deals to Addis Ababa online during the shoulder season. If you plan to visit any time between October and December, ensure that you make the most of this deal. You will also get great discounts at the hotel you will be staying in, or maybe you pick one that comes with a lot of offers.

Places to Visit in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa has a lot of museums that narrate the sad story of its past. The 'Red Terror' Martyrs Memorial Museum is one of those museums that will shake you. It recalls the terrible incidents that have taken place in the city and give you a perspective in life. The National Museum is yet another popular tourist attraction that you can visit. St George Cathedral and Museum and Holy Trinity Cathedral are few of the other popular spots in the city that you cannot miss. Head over to Merkato if you want to go on a shopping spree. Fair warning: It will be crowded so be prepared for it. You can also visit the Lion of Judah Monument that holds a lot of significant positions in the city. The Derg Monument is a reminder to the people of Addis Ababa about the pain and struggles that they went through during the communist rule. You can also roam around the Addis Ababa University and be amazed at the beautiful campus. You can also climb up the Entoto Mountain and catch the panoramic view of the city from up here. It can get pretty overwhelming. However, make sure that you are hiking up the hill during the right season. It is not safe to hike in the mountains during monsoon. You can also visit the Addis Ababa Museum, which was founded in 1986. The city has a lot of museums and historical landmarks that you cannot miss.

Things to do in Addis Ababa

You can catch the magnificent view of the entire city from Mount Entoto. Hiking in the forest of Eucalyptus trees sure does count as quite an adventure. You can also sign for a sightseeing tour covering all the museums in the city. Mercato is Africa's biggest open-air market, and you will buy everything from handmade baskets to spices at the market. It also has a separate section where shopkeepers sell second-hand items. Head over to Tomoca Coffee for the most refreshing cup of freshly brewed Ethiopian coffee in different flavours. You can also order for Macchiato, which is equally excellent. The Red Terror Martyrs Memorial Museum is a great place to learn more about Ethiopia's tragic past. If you want to go on a shopping spree for traditional clothes, you can try the Shiro Meda; it is near the US Embassy in Addis Ababa. The restaurants in the city have a very active dance and music scene along with delicious food. Make sure you do try some of that. You can also check out the statue of Emperor Menelik II, who was the founder of Addis Ababa.

Lagar Railway Station is yet another tourist attraction that you cannot miss. It is the first-ever railway station in the city, and its unique architecture is what makes it special. Medhane Alem Church at Bole District is one of the biggest Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Churches, and it is breathtakingly beautiful. Head over to check out the Tiglachin (Dreg) Monument, which stands as a reminder that Ethiopia was victorious over all of its invaders. You can also sign up for a food tour in the city and get to know more about the culinary speciality here.

Food and Restaurants in Addis Ababa

Ethiopian food is known for being spicy, and while it may not be as popular as European or Asian food worldwide, it is worth trying. If you are new to Ethiopian food, your first experience will be out of this world. Addis Ababa has a lot of restaurants that serve traditional Ethiopian food with music and dance. They also have a lot of restaurants that serve other cuisines from all over the world and cannot be missed. Totot is a restaurant that specialises in Ethiopian cuisine. Make sure you order the Kitfo here that melts in your mouth and is quite spicy. The restaurant is packed on weekends so make sure you reach the restaurant early, so you don't have to wait for a long time. Yod Abyssinia is yet another restaurant that reflects the country's food, dance and music culture. The decor of the place is unique, and it is also quite close to the airport. You can order the tibs, Shiro and Doro wat here along with kitfo. The Addis Ababa restaurant in Arada can be a little difficult to find, but it is completely worth it. A lot of locals believe that the food here tastes like homemade food.

How to reach Addis Ababa (Transportation)

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is about 6 km from the city centre. The flight connectivity to Addis Ababa from India is excellent. Ethiopian Airlines has direct flights to Addis Ababa from India. Egyptair, Kenya Airways and Emirates Airline also have flights to Addis Ababa with layovers at Cairo, Nairobi and Dubai. It might be difficult to get cheap flight tickets to Addis Ababa if you book at the last moment. If you book several weeks in advance, you might get exciting flight deals to Addis Ababa online that are worth exploring. It is quite convenient to get a cab or car rental service from the airport to your hotel. However, it is advisable to pre-book your cab online. You can also opt for an airport shuttle service that your hotel might offer. The airport also has premium lounges, restrooms and a lot of other services for the convenience of the passengers. The airport opened its first business class lounge in 2012, and they are also planning to add spas and another lounge soon.

  About Atlanta

Atlanta is a city in the US that you must visit at least once in your life. The different festivals, mimosas, bicycle tours, sports and food is what attracts tourists to the city. You can sit back and relax, let time pass by as you laze around and binge on mimosas. Not to mention, you can also go on a shopping spree and satisfy the shopaholic in you. The city sees a lot of tourists during the Spring season, and you will also find yourself attending a lot of parties during this season, courtesy youngsters flying to Atlanta on their spring break. The city also has the Mercedes-Benz Stadium that sees a lot of crazed soccer fans during spring. You might want to get tickets to watch the matches live well in advance. Atlanta is also known for its dynamic culture and gastronomic dining scene. It might not be one of the hottest holiday destinations in America, but it is certainly one that will not disappoint you.

Best Time to Visit Atlanta

June to August is summer in Atlanta and is also a high season among tourists. Hotel and flight prices see an upward spike during these months. The temperature ranges from 20 to 32 degree Celsius. You will also find the most number of festivals and events happening during summer as compared to the other months. You can attend the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, Atlanta Ice Cream Festival, Atlanta International Fashion Week, Dragon Con and so on. Spring is also a popular season in Atlanta that invites a lot of tourists. The weather remains pleasant, and the city also hosts quite a few events during this season. The temperature ranges from 7 to 26 degree Celsius. If you are keen on attending the events here during spring, you can head for Atlanta Film Festival, Atlanta Jazz Festival, Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, Atlanta Dogwood Festival and so on. It won't be easy to book your hotel in Atlanta at a cheaper rate during spring either since tourists start buzzing in the city from spring through summer.

The hotel prices start dropping from September since autumn season begins. The city witnesses a lot of rainfall and is under a constant threat of hurricanes. The good part is that it is far more pleasant than summer and you get to attend a lot of music festivals during this time. You can head to the Music Midtown, A3C Festival, Imagine Festival, Atlanta Pride and Dragon Con, among other events. The temperature ranges from 7 to 28 degree Celsius. It falls to 7 degree Celsius towards November since it is inching closer to winter. Getting around the city without the hustle and bustle of tourists is what makes it even better.

The temperature in winter ranges from 1 to 13 degree Celsius and from December to February. December and January are the coldest months in the city. It is not the most popular time to plan a trip here, but there are high chances that you will get cheap flight tickets to Atlanta in winter. The hotel prices also drop considerably, but it is also advisable that you do not plan your trip to Atlanta during winter. The heavy snowfall brings the city to a standstill since they lack decent equipment to clear out the snow. If you just want to get away from your city life and are not planning to get out of your hotel much, you can head to Atlanta in winter though summer and spring are the most recommended seasons to plan your trip to the city.

Places to Visit in Atlanta

Georgia Aquarium is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. It used to be one of the largest aquariums in the world before the one in Singapore came along. You can spot about 100,000 marine life here, and the aquarium also offers activities like diving and snorkelling. You will need a scuba diving certificate if you want to go diving here. You can also visit the Martin Luther King Jr Historic Site, another popular tourist spot in Atlanta. It was opened to the public in 2011 and is spread across 4 acres of land. Events like Martin Luther King Day and Black History Month are celebrated here. This is the perfect place to visit for anyone who loves history. The Fox Theatre in Midtown Atlanta is one tourist spot that comes with an interesting story. It was originally built as a Yaarab Temple Shrine Mosque in the 1920s. Though it was originally going to be a Moorish architecture Shrine temple, it turned into a posh movie theatre and a stage for performing arts.

You can also head to the Atlanta Botanical Garden, which is adjacent to the Piedmont Park. The park also has subparts like a Japanese Garden, a Rose Garden and a garden just for kids to play. The Botanical Garden also hosts charity events and exhibitions. The World of Coca-Cola is another attraction that you cannot miss. You get to taste the different flavours of the cola, and you will also find a lot of different bottles. Atlanta also has a lot of impressive art exhibitions and museums that you can head to if you are an art lover. The Atlanta Beltline is another popular place in Atlanta, and a lot of people use it to ride bicycles for recreational purposes or hiking. You can also visit the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. If there are no soccer matches scheduled during your trip that you can catch live, you can take a guided tour of the stadium.

Things to do in Atlanta

Atlanta might be a more commercial hub than a tourist destination, but it does have a couple of tourist attractions. If you are enthusiastic about history, Atlanta is the place to go. The city also has spots for shopaholics with vibrant nightlife scenes. If you are with your family, you can spend a day at the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola. You can also head to the zoo with your kids. Indulge in some recreational activities at the Atlanta Beltline like walking, biking or hiking. If you have nothing planned for the day and don't want to stay locked up in your hotel room, you can head to the Ponce City Market to experience the nightlife or shop till you drop. You can buy a lot of souvenirs for your friends and family back home. You can also sign up for a biking or food tour in the city if you don't want to go exploring yourself. If you want to just like in a pool or your hotel room the entire day, you can go ahead and do that, too.

Food and Restaurants in Atlanta

Apart from its rich history and culture, Atlanta is known for its culinary diversity and brilliance. Be it American, Korean, Peruvian, Indian or Italian cuisine, and you will get everything that your heart craves for here. There are quite a few steakhouses in the city like The Capital Grille, Chama Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse and Bones. You can also head to Atlanta Breakfast Club and Fox Bros for a quick bite. Babette's Cafe is popular for its delicious Italian and French cuisines. You must also try the sushi at Eight Sushi Lounge. You will also find restaurants that serve vegan food here. Head over to Herban Fix - Vegan Kitchen for some Asian and fusion food. Nikolai's Roof is a restaurant that not only serves you delicious food but also offers a great view. You can also try Red Phone Booth for a couple of beers and classic American food. You will find a lot of diners and food trucks, too, in the city that you must not miss at all. One thing is certain in Atlanta you will never go hungry. There are lots of options for you to choose from and it won't even burn a hole in your pocket.

How to reach Atlanta (Transportation)

The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport serves as the primary international airport in Atlanta. The flight connectivity to Atlanta from India is quite good and frequent. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, United Airlines, Air Canada Lufthansa have frequent flights to Atlanta from India's major cities. Munich, Frankfurt, Toronto are some of the cities that you might have to stop at for layovers. You should pick a flight that does not have too many layovers if you want to save time. There are no direct flights to Atlanta from India. If you book in advance, there are chances that you will get a good deal on flights to Atlanta online. Atlanta airport is also quite fancy and well-equipped. There's WiFi, fancy lounges, high-end stores for you to shop at, restaurants, cafes, taxis and so on. You will certainly find a lot of ways to pass the time by if you have a few hours till you board your flight. Finding a taxi or bus from Atlanta airport to reach your hotel is quite convenient, too.

  About Lufthansa Airlines

Deutsche Lufthansa or popularly referred to as Lufthansa is a German airline which, in combination with their subsidiaries, is the second largest airline in Europe, with respect to passenger traffic. The airline is the former flag carrier and is derived from German words Luft and Hansa which translates to air and Hanseatic leagues, respectively. Lufthansa is also a recognised founding member of Star Alliance, which is identified as one of the world's largest airline alliance. The airline alliance was formed in 1997. Lufthansa also has many subsidiary airlines such as Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines and Eurowings, to name a few. Along with this, Deutsche Lufthansa AG has also invested in a slew of aviation-related ventures, including LSG Sky Chefs and Lufthansa Technik, that are also part of Lufthansa Group. The airline's registered office, as well as corporate headquarters, is located in Cologne, Germany. Lufthansa majorly operates from Frankfurt Airport as it is the primary hub. The secondary hub for the airline is Munich Airport.

Until 1994, Lufthansa was a state-owned venture. The airline shares have been traded publicly as the company is listed on all German stock exchanges since 1966. Additionally, the shares of Deutsche Lufthansa AG stocks are also traded electronically with the use of the Xetra system. At the end of 2019, the airline's shareholder register revealed that the German investors have 67.3 per cent of ownership. Meanwhile, the second-largest group to hold a maximum number of shareholding is from Luxembourg, with 10.4 per cent stakes. Lufthansa also has shares from the US, which accounts for 8.1 per cent shares and is followed by Ireland and the United Kingdom with 3.6 per cent, respectively. The free float for the airline shares about 100 per cent, according to the definition of the Deutsche Börse. According to the reporting date, 58 per cent of Lufthansa's shares were previously held by institutional investors, while 42 per cent were taken up by private individuals. Lufthansa group also sees investment from Lansdowne Partners International Ltd. and BlackRock Inc. with 4.9 per cent and 3.1 per cent respectively.

Even though Lufthansa's head office is located in Cologne, much of the departments are still not part of the headquarters. While part of the operations works from the Cologne office, the others continue to work from the Lufthansa Aviation Centre that is located in Frankfurt Airport. These departments include Media Relations, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations. Lufthansa's current livery is an encircled crane with the background of dark blue. The vertical stabiliser along with the rear fuselage are all painted in dark blue while the tail cone remains white. The main fuselage also has the name of the airlines etched above the windows, in dark blue.

Fleet size of Lufthansa

Lufthansa group currently owns over 700 aircraft. It is known to be one of the largest airline fleets in the world. Lufthansa follows a tradition of naming all the planes that is part of its fleet. Starting from the first flight name Berlin, which serves Frankfurt to New York intercontinental route, they have since named many other 707 planes Hamburg, Bonn, Frankfurt and Munchen. The tradition continued for quite a long time till 2010 when the airline made an exception with one of the aircraft. They named Airbus A340-300 registered as D-AIFC and named them Gander/Halifax, after two Canadian cities, Gander and Halifax. This actually became the first Lufthansa flight to have a non-German city name. The reason behind the aircraft name has been to celebrate the hospitality of the cities of Halifax and Gander. The two Canadian cities are known to be havens for passengers and crew members of many international aircraft. Aside from A340-300, the other German aircraft under Lufthansa airline that was not named after a German city was Airbus A321-100 registered as D-AIRA. The aircraft was named Finkenwerder, to honour the district of Hamburg-Finkenwerder.

In 2010, Lufthansa acquired its first Airbus A380 which would be named Frankfurt am Main and Munchen, both named after Lufthansa's two important hubs. Subsequently, other Airbus A380 aircrafts acquired by Lufthansa Group were named after some of the other hub airports such as Zurich, Brussels, Wien and Dusseldorf. Further, as Lufthansa Airlines joined forces with Star Alliance, the hub cities of the airline were also used as the names for their A380s, such as Tokyo, New York, Delhi, Beijing and Johannesburg. They also had a flight named San Francisco, but it was renamed to Deutschland. Lufthansa also has various short and long-haul flights without names.

Baggage Allowance

Baggage allowance by Lufthansa meets with the standard size and weight that is followed by all the global airlines. With the height, weight and length falling within 158 cm, the cabin baggage is supposed to be not more than a certain kg. In case it does exceed the norm, then additional prices will be charged by the airlines. The rules for cabin baggage and check-in baggage allowance in Lufthansa vary depending on the ticket class purchased by the traveller. For additional baggage, heavier items and excess hand luggage carried by the passenger, the airline has reserved flat rates with details on their website. Further, baggage regulations also vary depending on the country that you are flying to with Lufthansa airlines.

In-flight services

First-class - Lufthansa's in-flight services include exquisite seating arrangement with tremendous facilities. The long haul flights such as Airbus A330-300, A340-600 as well as A380 and Boeing 747-8Is, all have first-class cabins. The leather seats convert to 6 ft 7 in bed and have spaces reserved for laptop power outlets and entertainment decks. The first-class facility also offers meals. You can inform the airlines about your dietary restrictions to ensure that they don't serve you what you don't want. There are shopping options also available as part of Lufthansa's in-flight services. Not to mention how the seats are extremely comfortable.

Business-class - Business class of Lufthansa airline also caters to a recliner that stretches up to 6 ft 7 in flat-beds. There are power outlets to charge gadgets as well as entertainment facilities. Plans to refurbish a new business class setting has also been proposed by Lufthansa for Boeing 777-9. They will roll out in 2020 as the airlines will start working on the same. Much like the first class, the business class also receives meal services as well as WiFi services.

Premium economy class - Back in 2014, Lufthansa announced to roll out long-haul premium economy designs which are similar to Air Canada and British Airways' premium economy cabins. The seat has a personal seat-back along with an entertainment screen as well as an armrest. The cabin lacks private spaces that are offered in first class and business class cabins.

Economy class - Long-haul flights of Lufthansa's economy class has a 31-inch seat pitch. In Airbus A380 though, the seat pitch is 33-inch. The perks of the economy class include meals along with free drinks. The entire fleet of Lufthansa has A/V on demand screens which are personal and attached to the passenger's seat.

Popular routes and top cities for Lufthansa

Lufthansa's domestic routes within Germany and Europe are the most popular routes for the airline. Many international routes are taken by Lufthansa also cater to a majority of American cities along with the United Kingdom. The top cities for the airline include Vienna, Brussels, Minsk, Rio de Janeiro, Toronto, Vancouver, Beijing, Prague, Copenhagen, Cairo, Addis Ababa, Paris, Nice, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Munich, Dusseldorf, Berlin, Athens, Hong Kong, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Dublin, Rome, Milan, Tokyo, Nairobi, Kuwait City, Amsterdam, Singapore, Seoul, Zurich, Bangkok, Dubai, London, New York City, San Francisco, Houston, Los Angeles, Seattle and more. Lufthansa is also a recognised cargo carrier that flies to all the six continents.

Why travel by Lufthansa?

Lufthansa is easily one of the largest carriers in the world with tremendous flight activity and excellent connectivity. The airlines are known to serve a plethora of international cities in the world. The airlines' strong domestic routes, as well as international routes, enable its ability to reach multitudes of continents and popular international cities. The baggage allowance of Lufthansa also matches the standards set by a majority of top airlines in the world. Not to mention how booking a Lufthansa flight is extremely easy and convenient. You can browse online to book a Lufthansa flight, and you will find many of those. The miles benefits and lounge services offered by the airline is also quite top-notch. This basically means that as a premium member, you will be able to avail the perks of Lufthansa lounge in Frankfurt Airport as well as some of the other lounges set in other international airports. The miles would help you purchase affordable tickets or even get an upgrade to first-class or business class. You can opt for web check-in on Lufthansa's website as well as learn about the flight status and flight schedule. Lufthansa's in-flight services are world-class and promise to offer the best hospitality and facilities to the passengers.