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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 Flydubai

Flydubai or legally referred to as Dubai Aviation Corporation is a government-owned low-cost carrier in Dubai. The airline has its head office located in Terminal 2 of Dubai International Airport. Even the flight operations take place from Terminal 2 of the airport. Currently, the airline majorly serves Asia, Africa, Middle East and European cities from Dubai. It has about 95 destinations under its wing and offers excellent connectivity at a lower ticket cost. The airline came into existence in 2008 after the government of Dubai founded it. flydubai is not officially a part of the Emirates Group, but the conglomerate did support the young airline in the initial stages of establishment. Following its genesis, flydubai made its first form order with the American aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, at the Farnborough Air Show. They ordered for 50 Boeing 737-800s which valued up to USD3.74 billion. The airline did receive an option to tweak the order for a longer and larger range Boeing 737-900ER. The following year, the airline's received its order, and scheduled flights kicked off in the first half. These flights connected to Middle Eastern cities of Beirut in Lebanon and Amman in Jordan.

The domestic and international route network of flydubai has since expanded significantly. In 2013, flydubai announced that it would be introducing business-class services to all its flights. This would feature a 12-seated cabin with an aisle and window, three-course meals, access to the business class lounge, fine Italian leather seats as well as access to a plethora of entertainment content with power outlets that are suitable for plug points of over 170 countries. The airline has claimed tremendous financial loss, following the growth of Boeing Max 737 aircraft. CEO of flydubai, Ghaith Al-Ghaith claimed that an interim settlement agreement had been made with Boeing to compensate for some of the losses incurred by the airline due to the aircraft company. Details of the agreement have been kept confidential, but flydubai had a severe setback with more than 220 orders put to a halt. The airline does plan to get out of this conundrum and continue their quest for world domination by providing world-class services and hospitality on their flights.

Founded as a venture of the Government of Dubai, the airline received some help from its sister concern, The Emirates Group, before eventually running an independent show. As part of their expansion plans, flydubai set up a centre in Hyderabad, India called Indian Development Centre, to cater to the airline's IT and technology innovations with respect to Passenger Service Systems (PSS). IDC is a software hub that is intended to explore further the fields of software development, research and operations. With flexible fares and world-class in-flight services received on flydubai, it has managed to reach a comfortable position in the global aviation industry.

Fleet size of Flydubai

As of 2019, flydubai's fleet comprises of 54 aircraft, all from the Boeing 737 family. Currently, the airline has about 40 Boeing 737-800 aircraft with 11 Boeing 737 MAX 8. Additionally, they have ordered for 50 Boeing 737 MAX 10 and plan to replace Boeing 737-800 wholly. In 2013, flydubai announced that they would be committing to acquire about 100 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and 111 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft in their fleet. The same was announced at the Dubai Airshow. The deal was valued at USD 11.4 billion, making it the largest ever purchase for Boeing single-aisle airliner, in the Middle-East. The airline made a final order of 75 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and 11 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft in 2014. They also received purchase rights for 25 of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The entire order valued at USD 8.8 billion. In 2017, the airline received its first delivery of Boeing 737 MAX 8 and became the first airline in the Middle East to accommodate and operate the aircraft. At the 2017 Dubai Air Show, flydubai signed a massive deal of receiving 175 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with purchase rights to 50 of the aircraft.

Flydubai Baggage Allowance

Flydubai's baggage allowance standards are similar to the ones followed by major airlines in the world. Depending on the fare and ticket type selected by the traveller, the baggage allowance would differ. For the business class passengers, the checked baggage allowance is up to three pieces of baggage which should collectively weigh not more than 40 kg. Beyond the weight allocated, the airline will charge excessive fees and will also depend on the space the airline can accommodate in the flight. The dimensions of the bag are also important and must be followed. The maximum dimension for the baggage should not exceed 75 x 55 x 35cm. Interestingly, the economy class also follows a similar baggage allowance as the number of luggage includes up to three pieces. However, you will need to make prior payments for the bags. The maximum weight for checked baggage ranges from 20 kg to 40 kg. The maximum dimension for the baggage is also 75 x 55 x 35cm. The checked baggage also has some specific guidelines that the airline recommends that the passengers follow. The same can be found on their website.

As for hand luggage, flydubai's baggage allowance includes one bag for economy class and two for business class. The weight of the bags should not exceed seven kg each. The dimension should also not exceed 55 x 38 x 20 cm. It is imperative that the passenger follows the said protocol as the baggage needs to fit in the overhead bin. Along with the cabin luggage, the airline also allows one bag to be carried that can pose as a laptop bag, purse or handbag. These bags can include important documents such as business papers, passports, securities, jewellery, precious metals, money and other valuable items.

flydubai In-flight services

Business-class - flydubai's in-flight services for Business Class is as fancy as it can get. The airline proposes a superior experience for passengers starting from arrival at the airport to when onboard. The business class seats in the airline's Boeing 737-800 aircraft are spacious and comfortable as opposed to the ones that can be found on economy class. The seats are wider and offer better legroom for travellers to relax better. The Italian-crafted leather seating makes for a comfortable journey. Not to mention the seats can be reclined at a convenient pitch to allow the passenger to sleep well. Business-class of flydubai also has WiFi packages that will enable you to stay connected to the world while you are miles up in the sky. You can work on your emails and other office-related work without having to miss out on anything. The seat can easily be turned into a work station. Other in-flight services on flydubai include a personal 12-1-inch screen that is loaded with entertainment content. There are the latest TV shows, movies and other online content to keep you entertained through your journey. You can also choose from an array of meals and snacks available on the flight which have been inspired by global cuisine.

Economy class - Economy class is ergonomically comfortable with designs and layouts that work towards a good experience for the passengers. The seats do offer good legroom, which enables you to stretch out and relax. In fact, you will be allowed to choose seats with extra legroom too. The same can be availed on the website of flydubai. The airline offers a variety of meals and snacks to choose from in-flight. Further, the airline also offers beverages. However, the passenger will need to make prior booking for meals online. The airline's customer centre or their website will help you place the order for in-flight meals. The seats are also connected with HD screens to cater to the entertainment quotient for passengers. The system has more than 2,000 hours of entertainment with the latest TV shows, movies, games, music and more. Further, the economy class is also equipped with WiFi systems to help passengers continue with their professional commitments. The WiFi packages can be purchased on board, and you can access the internet on your phone as well as your laptop.

Popular routes and top cities for flydubai

flydubai operates in more than 90 destinations that cater to domestic routes as well as international routes. The most popular cities that the airline connects to is Mumbai, Kochi, Manama, Addis Ababa, Dhaka, Delhi, Hyderabad, Amman, Kuwait City, Muscat, Doha, Moscow, Abha and Tashkent, to name a few. The airline predominantly caters to the Middle East, Central Asia and India.

Why travel by flydubai?

Flydubai has grown into one of the biggest airlines in the Middle East. Thanks to the impeccable domestic routes and international routes that the airline caters to, it has been recognised. Not to mention how booking flydubai flights are cheap and affordable. You can get your web check-in done as well as know about the flight status on the airline's official website and mobile app. Further, flydubai's flight schedule is also available on the airline's website and other travel portals.

  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.