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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 Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines, which was formerly known as Ethiopian Air Lines (EAL) is also referred to as Ethiopian. The airline is the country Ethiopia's flag carrier and is completely owned by the government. Ethiopian Airlines was founded in 1945 while the flight operations commenced later in 1946. The airlines finally expanded its international flights operations in 1951. originally started as a government venture, the firm was converted to share company in 1965, when the name changed from Ethiopian Air Lines to Ethiopian Airlines. Since 1959, the airline has become a member of the International Air Transport Association. It also became part of the African Airlines Association from 1968. The airline is also part of the Star Alliance carrier, which happened in 2011. Ethiopian Airlines' hub is in Addis Ababa with its headquarters at Bole International Airport, also located in the city. The airline offers a network of 125 passenger destination, with 20 of them in domestic and 44 international destinations. Along with Addis Ababa, the airline's secondary hubs are in Togo and Mawali.
The management of Ethiopian Airlines is working towards extending its head office from Addis Ababa to a newer facility. With a view to involving more firms in designing and constructing a better building, a contest was also held in 2009. However, the plans failed to launch and led to the second round of the contest, which took place in 2011. Eventually, BET Architect PIc won the contest and contract to construct the new headquarters. An estimated Br300 million worth complex is slated to be constructed on 540,000 sq ft plot at the Bole International Airport. The project hasn't taken off due to the legal suit that the company in the fourth place has stated. The company has accused the airlines of not providing due consideration to the design proposed by them. The airline is recognised worldwide as the 4th largest with respect to connecting to a slew of countries.
As of 2017, Ethiopian Airlines has Tewolde Gebremariam as the new CEO, who replaced Girma Wake in 2011. The Government of Ethiopia has shown no involvement in the airline's functioning, including in times of significant turmoil as well as some domestic hardships. The main aim of the government of Ethiopia is to enhance the efficiency of the airline with respect to customer service and enable it to match up to global standards. The airline has been recognised tremendously for its expansion and excellence. In fact, Ethiopian Airlines was also featured on The Economist in late 1987 when economist Paul B. Henze called it as one of the most reliable and profitable aviation ventures in the Third World countries. It continues to wear the crown of most profitable ventures that have been praised by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA).
The fleet size of Ethiopian Airlines
As of 2020, the fleet size of Ethiopian Airlines is 125 with 14 Airbus A350-900 and 18 Boeing 737-800. In 2005, the airlines signed the agreement to purchase about ten Boeing 787 Dreamliners. With this move, it became the first African carrier to have so many 787s in their fleet. The carrier became the first African airline to order and operate the massive Boeing 777-200LR and took possession of the same in 2010. For its long-range passenger services, the airlines have 14 Airbus A350-900XWB, 19 Boeing B787-8, six Boeing B787-9, four Boeing B777-300ER, six Boeing B777-200LR and six Boeing B767-300ER. With respect to medium-range passenger services, the operating fleet includes 18 Boeing B737-800, four Boeing B737 MAX (Grounded) and ten Boeing B737-700NG. For regional passenger services, it has 27 Q400 Bombardier and for Cargo and non-scheduled services include 10 Boeing B777-200LRF and two Boeing B737-800F.
In 2016, Ethiopian Airlines acquired its first Airbus A350 XWB. Later in 2017, the airline also announced to add ten Airbus A350-900s and also committed to purchasing two Boeing 777 aircraft. In the same year, the airline received its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, becoming the first airline in Africa to operate the said type of aircraft. In 2018, Ethiopian Airlines also signed an agreement to lease two Boeing 737-800SF freighters. The airline further repeated their order for a Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft. Additionally, the airlines also ordered ten Q400s in a deal that is worth about USD332 million. In the same year, after the addition of a Boeing 787-9, Ethiopian Airlines created history by crossing the 100th aircraft mark. It became the first airline in Africa to manage and operate over 100 flights as part of the fleet expansion.
Baggage Allowance
Ethiopian Airlines' baggage allowance differs from the cabin that you fly in. With respect to business class, the airlines allow two pieces of baggage, each weighing about 7 kgs and not more. If you do have extra baggage that exceeds the said weight, you will need to pay some fee for it. With respect to economy class, the passenger is allowed to carry one piece of the bag with a weight of 7 kgs, free of cost. The passenger is also allowed to carry a smaller bag that fits the placement in the overhead rack as well as the space under the seat. The dimensions for the same should not exceed 23 x 40 x 55 cm. Along with the stated baggage, the passengers are also allowed to carry specific carryon luggage that should not exceed 5 kg. These items could include a lady handbag with contents such as a purse, pocket book, travelling dress, etc. A laptop is also allowed as is an overcoat, a blanket, a small camera, a decent amount of reading material, duty-free items, food consumption items for infants, a pair of binoculars and more. Additionally, wheelchairs and crutches are also allowed within the aircraft cabin for individuals suffering from mobility issues.
In terms of check-in baggage, the restricted weight per single luggage comes to 32 kg for business class and 23 kg for economy class. This is applicable to all the flights that are Atlantic-bound. Beyond the said weight will not be accepted at the check-in counter. There are some alterations with respect to flying to North America and Canada. It is recommended that the passenger goes through the official website of the Ethiopian Airlines to know more about the baggage allowance and restrictions.
In-flight services
Ethiopian Airlines supports two-class, Cloud Nine and Economy Class.
Cloud 9 (Business class) - The business class comes with a slew of in-flight services in Ethiopian Airlines as well as some amazing perks. The cabin has additional baggage allowance along with access to the C9 lounge. In fact, passengers flying business class on Ethiopian Airlines also have priority boarding facilities. For short-haul flights, the in-flight services include an array of international cuisine with a cocktail or wine as complimentary. The passengers also get to taste the traditional Ethiopian coffee. Long-haul business class passengers get to experience exquisite hospitality with a welcome drink and elaborate in-flight services. The recliner chairs are comfortable, the leg room is spacious, and the cabin crew is always at your service. Personal entertainment decks are also available for the passengers.
Economy class - The economy class has stricter rules in terms of in-flight services in Ethiopian Airlines. The hospitality remains topnotch while the services include personal entertainment decks attached to every passenger's seat. This is accompanied by a spread of lovely meals prepared by high-quality chefs, comfortable chairs and a wide selection of wine and other alcoholic beverages.
Popular routes and top cities for Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines has the best connectivity with domestic routes within the African continent. However, over the years, the airlines have expanded their horizons to accommodate flights to connect to a slew of international destinations. The most popular routes for Ethiopian Airlines include Washington, Nairobi, Frankfurt, Dubai and Asmara. Simultaneously, the passenger traffic received by the airlines to reach destinations, namely, London, Jeddah, Chicago, Beirut and Johannesburg, is also quite high. These easily become the top cities to travel for Ethiopian Airlines.
Why travel by Ethiopian Airlines?
Ethiopian Airlines has found a reputation to be one of the fast-growing airlines in the global aviation industry. The airlines have consistently been acquiring many large aircraft and accommodated the same in its hub airport in Addis Ababa. With the range of domestic routes and international routes offered by Ethiopian Airlines, the connectivity is excellent. Not to mention how booking Ethiopian Airlines flights are also quite easy and convenient. You can check for the flight schedule on their website as well as download the app on the phone to know more about the flight status and more. You can further do your web check-in on Ethiopian Airlines' website or app to make travelling easier. The flight tickets offered by the airlines are also quite cheap and affordable, giving it more reason to be picked over its contemporaries. It can be found on all travel portals and platforms. Not to mention how it is the most ideal airline to pick when travelling to European countries or around Africa.
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.
