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  About Colombo

Colombo is the largest city and the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. It is one of the holiday destinations that you must add to your travel list. It is also known for its eclectic dining scene and its nightlife. It is also a great place to shop for clothes, wedding invitations and indulge in spa treatments. Sri Lanka is also known for its wildlife and elephant sanctuaries. It is the perfect place to go to if you want to club your luxurious, relaxing holiday plans with adventures. You can either volunteer to help out at an Elephant Sanctuary or sign up for a walking tour. Do try the ayurvedic spas in the city to relieve yourself of all the stress. You can book a hotel in Colombo at an affordable price. While it is not exactly the cheapest holiday destination in Asia, it is worth every money spent. The city is also known for its temples and no matter which religion you follow, you will find a temple of your choice of deity/religion here.

Best Time to Visit Colombo

January to March is ideal for taking off to Colombo on a trip since they are the driest months of the year. The best season to visit, however, is winter from November to March. Winters are quite chilly, and it is the best time to go sightseeing, too. The rainfall does not affect any of your sightseeing plans or any other outdoor activities. It is also an ideal time to head to the beaches and indulges in a few water activities. Colombo also has a very vibrant nightlife that is best experienced in winter when there is barely any rainfall. You can book a hotel in Colombo that is either close to the beach or the nightclubs, depending on how you intend to spend your holiday. The temperature ranges from 25 to 30 degree Celsius. January to March is the high tourist season in Colombo, and a lot of attractions will be filled with tourists. Colombo is also filled with festive spirit during these months as they celebrate festivals like Thai Pongal, Independence Day of Sri Lanka, New Year and Duruthu Perahera Festival. Make sure you book your flight tickets to Colombo well in advance if you are on a budget. If you are planning to go to Colombo on your honeymoon, this is the best time to go.

Colombo experiences summer from May to October, and it is considered as an off-season for tourists. Not only is it unbearably hot in the city, but it is also quite humid, so much that you won't feel like stepping out of your hotel at all. The temperature ranges from 28 to 32 degrees and will only make you uncomfortable. However, since it is offseason, you will get great flight deals to Colombo online. It also rains during this season and might lead to a hailstorm sometimes. If you are not an outdoorsy person and prefer indoor activities, this might be the best time for you to head to Colombo. You will also get really good hotels at a reasonable price during this time since it is offseason and the demand is low. You can sip cocktails by the pool in your hotel or indulge in relaxing spa treatments. You can also explore the Pettah market during this time without being hassled by the tourist crowd. It starts raining from May to August, and it rains intermittently in September and October. The temperature ranges around 28 degree Celsius during this time.

Places to Visit in Colombo

Galle Face Green is a popular beach park in Colombo that you can visit. You can also indulge in a lot of water activities at the beach. Pettah Market is another popular destination where you can go on a shopping spree and walk away with high-end luxury items at the lowest prices. Fort-Colombo is an important tourist attraction in the capital of Sri Lanka. It is the political and cultural heritage of the country and is also known for its vibrant nightlife. A major part is shut because of the turbulence caused by the Civil War. You will also find a lot of casinos here. The National Museum of Colombo is the largest one in Sri Lanka. It was founded by the British Governor of Ceylon from 1872 to 1877, William Henry Gregory. You will find artwork that dates back to the British Colonial and Portuguese era, along with a lot of artefacts. The Gangaramaya temple is famous for its blend of culture and architectural styles from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Chinese and India. It was built in the 19th century and is a place of Buddhist worship and learning. Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara is another Buddhist temple that was built in the 5th century, which holds a lot of historical importance. The temple sees a lot of tourists and devotees during the Duruthu Maha Perehera every January and on full moon days of every month. The paintings and sculptures in the temple will tell you tales from Lord Buddha's life and the Jataka Tales.

Beira Lake is another popular landmark in the city where you can head to if you want to relax and soak in the beautiful views. It is also a highly recommended place for couples to head to in Colombo. Colombo Zoo also called the National Zoological Garden of Sri Lanka, houses over 300 different species of animals, birds, marine life and reptiles from all over the world. Casino Marina started in 2013 and is usually filled with elite tourists in the evenings. You can gamble away till wee hours of the night or enjoy the view of the sea from here. World Trade Centre is one of the most famous colonial buildings that you will find in the Old Fort area. St Lucia's Cathedral got its name after the saint martyr, St Lucia, who is believed to have protected everyone with eye problems in Colombo. It was built in 1760, and the Gothic style architecture draws tourists to it every year. Panadura and Crow Island Beaches are quite popular in the city and the best spots to indulge in recreational activities. You will find a lot of beach parks and temples in the city that are worth a visit.

Things to do in Colombo

Sign up for a city tour of Colombo and indulge in all the activities that come with your tour package. You can also get a customised tour of places that are of interest to you and activities that you have listed in your itinerary. Sri Lanka is known for its seafood and treating yourself to fresh seafood at Mt Lavinia Beach is highly recommended. While you can always rent a taxi for the entire day to get around the city, you can also enjoy a tuk-tuk ride, which is a popular way for locals to get around the city. Pettah Market, Good Market, Paradise Road are some of the popular places in the city for you to go on a shopping spree. You can also indulge in rejuvenating massage therapies at the spas in Colombo. The city also offers scuba diving at certain locations. If you want to give water sports a try, make sure you try this one. Most beaches also have boating, surfing and other water activities for you to try.

Food and Restaurants in Colombo

Seafood, especially prawns, is popular in Colombo since it is a coastal city. Curry Leaf and Seafood's Cove are some of the popular restaurants for you to binge on seafood or other types of meat. The city also has a lot of Indian restaurants; a lot of them have a vegetarian menu, too. Spice Coast is known for its biryani, Chana's for delicious North Indian cuisine and Shanmugas for its vegetarian menu. While you are trying seafood in the city, make sure you also try the chilli crabs. Paradise Road Gallery Cafe is a lovely cafe that is set in a walled garden and also has rotating exhibitions by local artists. It is considered as one of the most romantic restaurants in Colombo and is popular for its cakes. Rare is a chic and modern restaurant in Colombo with wonderful service. The restaurant uses organic produce to cook their unique, delicious cuisines and also boast of a wine cellar with over 150 labels. The lagoon is one of the best seafood restaurants in Colombo, and the fish curries, lobster Thermidor and raw sashimi are their speciality dishes.

How to reach Colombo (Transportation)

Bandaranaike International Airport, also called Colombo International Airport, is about 32 km north of Colombo. The flight connectivity to Colombo from India is excellent. While there are only a few direct flights to Colombo from India, most of the flights have layovers in Chennai or Bangalore. GoAir, Indigo and Spicejet have the maximum number of flights from India. However, Vistara and Srilankan Airlines have direct flights that help you reach the city in 2-3 hours instead of 6 hours. It is also quite easy to get cheap flight tickets to Colombo from India.

  About Air Arabia

Air Arabia is a low-cost Emirati airline that operates in the United Arab Emirates. The airline has its head office in the A1 Building Sharjah Freight Centre, in Sharjah International Airport. It caters to a plethora of destinations, 151 to be precise, which are spread across North Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Indian subcontinent. The airline's main hub is at Sharjah International Airport while its focus cities are Casablanca and Alexandria. Air Arabia is also a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization. The airline came into existence in 2003 and was founded by an Amiri Decree, which was issued by Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, the reigning ruler of Sharjah. He is also a member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates. Air Arabia commenced as a low-cost carrier and became the first one to be established in the Middle East. Operations of Air Arabia were also kickstarted the same year as its first flight flew from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Bahrain International Airport. Within its first year of operations, the airline managed to rake in revenue and became a profitable venture for the state. Eventually, by 2007, the airline was listed on the stock market and was opened for an initial public offering. Fifty-five per cent of its stocks were launched as the initial offering in 2007.

It was listed at the Dubai Financial Market and was traded under the ticker symbol (DFM: AIRARABIA). Currently, the airline is a holding company which has assets worth up to AED 10 billion. As soon as the airline commenced operations, it started making profits which helped the investors realise its profitability. In recent times, Air Arabia holds various subsidiary airlines and enterprises that cater to the travel and tourism industry with services prevalent across the Middle East and North African destinations. The airline's board of directors have seven members in total. Out of this, Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Thani is the chairman of the board. At the same time, Adel Abdulla Ali is the Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Director of Air Arabia.

Meanwhile, Dr Ghanem Mohammed Al Hajri, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani, Sheikh Khalid Bin Issam Al Qassimi, Mr Waleed Al Sayegh and Mr Matar Al Blooshi are independent members of the board. The board of directors keeps track of the operations of Air Arabia along with prospects of newer destinations and fleet. The airline also keeps a close eye on the board's actions and has discouraged the trading of shares of Air Arabia, within the board members. With its headquarters in Sharjah, the airline's office is about 15 km away from central Dubai.

Intending to enhance better connectivity, Air Arabia formed joint ventures with bases in four international cities. Details of the same are mentioned below -

Egypt - Air Arabia formed Air Arabia Egypt in the year 2010 and is still operational. The airline announced its joint venture with an Egyptian travel and tourism agency Travco Group. With the consortium formed, the airline was formed with its base at Alexandria in Egypt. The airline also received its operating license the same year, and the first commercial flight kicked off. The airline's Egypt fleet consists of three aircraft out of which two are scheduled to carry passenger services while one of them carries charter traffic from Europe to the Red Sea.

Jordan - In 2015, Air Arabia stated that it planned to acquire 49 per cent of stake in Petra Airlines. The remaining 51 per cent of shares in Petra Airlines was held by RUM Group. However, the consortium brought forth a rebranding which led to Petra Airlines changing to Air Arabia Jordan in 2015. The airline initially operated with two Airbus A320 aircraft. Right after commencing operations in 2015, the new airline also announced that they planned to launch new destinations to be operated from Jordan. These included Kuwait, Erbil, Jeddah and Sharm El Sheikh. The airline ceased to exist in 2018.

Morocco - Air Arabia Maroc came into existence as a joint venture between Air Arabia and a few Moroccan investors. They set up a secondary base in Morocco's Casablanca and commenced operations by 2009. They have since expanded operations across the African and European continent.

Nepal - With Fly Yeti, air Arabia did start flight operations in Nepal with its base in the country's capital Kathmandu. The airline catered to the Asian and Middle Eastern market. The joint venture was signed, and the low-cost carrier was formed. However, with tumultuous political situations and economic concerns, the operations of FlyYeti was suspended within a year.

Fleet size of Air Arabia

As of 2019, Air Arabia's fleet size stands at 55, which only consists of Airbus aircraft. The airline currently operates 52 Airbus A320-200s and three Airbus A321LRs. However, they have also placed a bulk order to acquire 73 Airbus A320neo, 20 Airbus A321neo and 23 Airbus A321XLR. The airline plans to extend its fleet size to 119. They are yet to receive their orders. The airline has been following the same livery design on all its aircraft from the fleet. The aircraft's body has been painted in three diverse colours such as white, red and grey. The tail of all the aircraft engine has the company logo of Sharjah painted in the form of a bird. Over completion of the airline's 15 years in the industry, in 2018, the airline introduced a new livery which is set to replace the original livery. The same will be incorporated gradually to the fleet. The new livery features a large red bird logo which is seen flying down from the tail to the rear fuselage. It has grey accents painted behind its wings, and a stylised AirArabia title is written in English on the front of the aircraft. The same is also written in Arabic, right under the title.

Baggage Allowance

The baggage allowance of Air Arabia can be modified when booking the flight ticket. The airline does not restrict its passengers to have a specific number of baggage pieces that they can carry. However, they do have specific weight constraints that the passenger needs to follow with their baggage. The airline allows 32 kg per piece of baggage. Additionally, the passenger can add 20 kg while paying the excess baggage tariffs. The baggage dimensions should be no more than 160 cm. It is necessary that passengers follow the dimension rule as it will help accommodate the baggage. The hand baggage allowance is also quite generous as the airline allows 10 kg with a dimension that shouldn't exceed a total of 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm.

In-flight services

Air Arabia might be one of the only low-cost carriers to have made a debut in the Middle Eastern soil, but their in-flight services are incomparable. The airline offers some of the best in-flight services that fall under the low-cost bracket. The airline's fleet brings about extremely cosy seats with a good reclining degree. Further, the airline also offers in-flight meals and entertainment decks that would further ensure that the passenger's journey is wholesome and happy.

Popular routes and top cities for Air Arabia

As of 2020, the airline caters to international routes that are predominantly in the Middle Eastern, North African, European and Indian subcontinents. Some of them are Kabul, Yerevan, Baku, Bahrain, Chittagong, Dhaka, Brussels, Sarajevo, Urumqi, Cairo, Luxor, Sohag, Asmara, Paris, Nice, Strasbourg, Lyon, Frankfurt, Shiraz, Najaf, Dublin, Rome, Amman Almaty, Nairobi, Kuwait City, Beirut, Kuala Lumpur, Casablanca, Agadir, Muscat, Amsterdam, Kathmandu, Karachi, Lahore, Moscow, Abha, Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh, Medina, Tabuk, Madrid, Colombo, Palma de Mallorca, Stockholm, Tunis, Trabzon, Odessa, Sharjah and London. The airline is yet to come up with operations and international routes to connect to the North and South American continents. They also lack extensive connectivity in Southeast Asian countries. Owing to the extensive demand for the Middle Eastern destinations from India, the airline has dedicated operations from cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Coimbatore, Jaipur, Kochi, Bangalore, Nagpur, Kozhikode, Goa and more.

Why travel by Air Arabia?

Some of the highlights of booking an Air Arabia flight is that it comes with some good benefits. As a low-cost carrier, the flight tickets are already cheap and affordable. Not to mention how the airline' standard of quality remains top-notch despite the low cost. Air Arabia's website has also been upgraded to ensure that the passengers are able to receive all updates regarding the flights and operations. Passengers can do web check-ins on their website and also get updates on the flight status.

Similarly, Air Arabia's flight schedule is also mentioned on their website with up to date details. Travellers can peruse through the portal and even learn more about their baggage allowance and in-flight services to check if it falls in lines with their requirements. The airline's excellent connectivity with various destinations in the domestic routes and international routes further makes it one of the best travel airlines to choose.

  About Colombo Airport

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport, popularly known as Bandaranaike International Airport is the international hub that serves Sri Lanka. The airport is situated at Negombo and has been named after SWRD Bandaranaike, the former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

About Airport Terminals

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport stretches about 32.5 km at Katunayake. The airport accommodates three passenger terminals with Terminal 1 being reserved for international airlines and flight activity. Terminal 2 also caters to international activities while Terminal 3 is set for domestic airline functions. Terminal 1 is the oldest and largest terminal in the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport with 12 gates. It opened back in 1967. Departure and arrival are also located in the same terminal and separated horizontally. Currently, all the international operations take place from this terminal. The terminal is connected to one concourse which has all the 12 gates. The terminal also has two lounges with Srilankan Airlines' famous Serendib Lounge being installed. Along with this, the Palm Spirit lounge is also located in proximity. Terminal 1 also has a dedicated cafeteria, day-rooms, showers, duty-free shops and a smoking lounge.

Terminal 2 has been constructed and opened much recently. It has eight gates and accommodates departure and arrival areas which are separated vertically. As per expansion plans, the airport plans to build an extension to Terminal 2 which will be built in stages and phases. The new terminal is set to have eight boarding gates along with 14 passenger boarding bridges. The proposed development plan also has bridge accommodations for Airbus A380. Terminal 3 came into existence in 2012 and has since been used for domestic operations. The departure and arrival zones are strategically separated in a horizontal manner. There is a dedicated Cargo Terminal that takes care of all cargo airline activities. The arrival and departure are separated in the same way as terminal 1, horizontally.

About Airport Authority

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport is owned by the Government of Sri Lanka while it is operated by Airport and Aviation Services Limited (AASL). AASL is a government body that has statutory powers to administer, manage and work on the development of the airport. The statutory body is also known to be a big contributor to Sri Lanka's economy as the civil aviation industry has witnessed tremendous financial revenues from the airport. Other airports that also fall under the AASL umbrella are Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, Ratmalana Airport, Batticaloa Airport and Jaffna International Airport.

The airport has been going through some tremendous expansion plans and developments with a view to accommodating more airlines and flights. A split-level passenger terminal building is being constructed which would be separating both the departures as well as the arrivals vertically. Further on the same, there are constructions for a passenger boarding bridges that would directly connect to the new Airbus A380. Adding to the infrastructure would be a remote apron along with nine parking bays to facilitate air traffic movement. Stage II of the expansion seeks to acquiesce 600 hectares of land for construction of a new runway that can accommodate newer airplanes as well as aircraft maintenance and repair centre.

Top airlines flying from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport accommodates various airlines as it is recognized to be one of the best tourist destinations. With its proximity to India, the airport sees a good amount of flights flying to Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport from the Indian cities. Some of the biggest Indian airlines operate from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport are Air India, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara. These airlines have dedicated direct flights to Sri Lanka. Indian cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Kochi, to name a few, have provisions of direct flight connections to Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport.

Similarly, various international airlines are also linked to Sri Lanka. In fact, some of the international airlines that operate from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport are Air Arabia, AirAsia, Air China, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, Cinnamon Air, Edelweiss Air, Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Gulf Air, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Salam Air, Saudia, Silkair, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and SCAT Airlines. A majority of the flight activities come from the Middle East and Southeast Asian countries. A handful of cargo carriers also fly in and out of the airport. These include Cathay Pacific Cargo, Turkish Airlines Cargo, SriLankan Cargo and Etihad Cargo.

Facilities at Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport

ATM, banks and currency exchange - The airport has a bunch of local banks and ATM services available. If you need to make the currency exchange for travelling within Sri Lanka or if you need some cash in hand for your destination outside the country, it can be arranged at the airport's premise.

Communication services - If you are in need of a local SIM service for your trip, you can get hold of the same at the airport itself. There are booths at the arrivals where they have telecommunication services. With necessary identification documents, you can get hold of the SIM.

Free WiFI - There are free WiFi services available at the airport. You will need to go to the website of Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport to avail the same. Or you can visit the information desk to learn more about how to work around it.

Medical services - To ensure that medical emergencies at the airport are resolved quickly, the airport has also installed designated medical rooms and services. You can find them as well as pharmacies also at the airport. In case you are unable to find them, you can visit the nearest information desk and get more details. The airport paramedic services are known to be of good quality.

Baggage - With respect to baggage services, the airport offers a slew of facilities that would be beneficial. You can get hold of services ranging from wrapping plastic on the luggage, trolleys, storage facilities for the luggage, delivering luggage to the specified destination and more.

Pet assistance - There is room for pet services at the airport too. In case you are travelling with pets, there are professional staff who can take care of your pets as well as their needs. They would require authorized papers and documents from the Department of Animal Production and Health.

Porter service - You can avail porter services at the airport. Basically, you will have to inform your airlines well in advance to book a porter service. The airport staff will escort you through the terminals and take care of your luggage. This would include a security check of the bags, wrapping services, etc.

Airport lounge - There are three lounges at the airport, namely, Lotus, Araliya and Executive. The lounges have been designed in a way to enhance tranquillity and excellent hospitality. You can relax in the lounge, and at the same time, you can avail their services too. These include rich culinary delights, good resting space and complimentary showers and spa.

Restaurants and cafe - Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport has many restaurants and cafes available. The departures and arrivals have good food establishments located perfectly to cater to passengers. Along with restaurants, the airport also as dedicated food courts that is in proximity to the lounge area.

Smoking zone - Smoking in public space is prohibited in Sri Lanka. Hence, the airport has also reserved a space for a smoking lounge. You can make purchases for cigarette boxes at nearby shops within the airport premise.

Transit Hotel - The airport's transit hotel is named Serendiva and offers world-class contemporary decor, aesthetic construction, modern amenities and top-notch hospitality. The interiors are known to bring about the rich culture of Sri Lanka. It is situated on the main pier of the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport's arrival/departure zone. The hotel is also surrounded by duty-free shops, lounges, immigration counters, cafes and more.

How to reach Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport

The airport offers exemplary transport services and is well-connected to the main city. Although you would be required to travel a little depending on your itinerary and which part of the country you'll be visiting. But you will be able to reach the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport from different parts of the country. There are public buses, transport services and taxicabs available.

Buses

Express public buses are available within the city that can reach you to Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport. It would only take about 25 mins to reach Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport from Colombo (Pettah) bus stand. From here, you can traverse through all parts of the country without any hassle. You will need to get used to the crowd because the buses are always packed.

Taxicab services

The city is well-connected by taxicab services that can be availed to reach the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport. In fact, the airport also sees counters and lanes with taxi services outside the airport's arrival section. The arrival porch allows a fleet of 600 vehicles with fixed rates. With the taxicab, you can reach any part of the country, but it might get expensive depending on the distance from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport.