Edinburgh to Abuja Air Lingus Ltd Flights

  About Edinburgh

Edinburgh, which is also pronounced as Edinbruh by the Scots, is one of the most beautiful cities in Scotland. It is also a very popular wedding destination and deservedly so. You will fall in love with the city the moment you step foot in it. The lush greenery, magnificent castles and monuments are a treat to your soul and the eyes. It is the perfect holiday destination if all you want to do is relax and soak in the beautiful scenery. Time passes quite slowly in Edinburgh, and it is the perfect break from your otherwise hectic life. The city also hosts art exhibitions regularly, which is a treat to all you art lovers. You can also head to the beaches here and enjoy a breathtaking sunset or ride a bike along a riverside. If you are in the city with your significant other, the city itself adds a lot of romance to your trip.

Best Time to Visit Edinburgh

Summer is a high season in Edinburgh. The temperature ranges from 8 to 19 degree Celsius. You will find a lot of tourists buzzing around in the city during the summer. Booking a hotel in Edinburgh in this season can be quite expensive since it is peak tourist time. Make sure you do so in advance so you can find accommodation as per your convenience. The days are long, and the weather is quite pleasant. You can also attend a lot of festivals that take place in summer. It is also the festivals that make summer a popular tourist season. The Edinburgh International Festival includes theatre, music, performances. The festival lasts three days and celebrates performing arts. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival also celebrates performing arts from all over the world. It also has musicals and events for children. You can also attend the Edinburgh Military Tattoo that happens in August. Make sure you book your flight tickets to Edinburgh well in advance since the availability might reduce and the rates will increase at the last moment.

The city experiences the autumn season in September and October. It's quite pleasant and a good time to visit the city if you don't like a lot of crowds. The temperature ranges from 8 to 16 degree Celsius. There is a decent chance that you will get a good deal on flights to Edinburgh online during Autumn since it is not peak season. You can attend the International Storytelling Festival if you are visiting in October. None of your plans to go sightseeing or outdoor activities will get affected in this season either. You might even get to indulge in all of the activities at a minimal price.

November to March is winter in Edinburgh and the days are shorter than usual. The temperature reaches a maximum of 8 degree Celsius and drops to as low as 0 degree Celsius. This is a low season for the city, and there are high chances that you will get cheap flight tickets to Edinburgh. The hotel rates also drop considerably, which makes this the perfect season to visit Edinburgh if you are on a budget. January and February are the coldest months in Scotland. If you are in the city during Christmas, you are in for a treat. The city looks gorgeous during Christmas till the New Year's. April and May give you a certain relief from the cold months. You will see fewer tourists during this season, too. The hotel prices and flight fares are also low. The temperature ranges from 3 to 14 degree Celsius. It is a decent time to plan a trip to the city if you want to avoid peak season tourists and enjoy pleasant weather.

Places to Visit in Edinburgh

Settled on top of an extinct volcano, the Edinburgh Castle is one of the most iconic tourist attractions in the city. The view from the castle is stunning, and so are the interiors of the castle. You will fall in love with the architecture and structure of the castle. You can also visit St Margaret's Chao, Half Moon Battery and National War Museum if you are visiting the castle. After you are done exploring the castle, you can head over to Arthur's Seat, the highest point in Holyrood Park. The spot offers a mesmerizing view of the sea and the nearby tourist attractions. If it is more history and art that you are looking for, you can visit the National Museum of Scotland. You will find a lot of interactive displays and art exhibitions here that will leave you impressed and wanting for more. Catch the breathtaking view of the entire city of Edinburgh from the Carlton Hilltop. This is also a popular spot for locals to host musicals and comedy shows.

Explore the wildlife at Edinburgh Zoo. The zoo is home to over 1000 animals like the giant pandas, flamingos, koalas, chimpanzees and other species of animals. If you are visiting the city with your family, this is the perfect place for you to visit. Another recommended tourist spot for art lovers is the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. It is also a great place for aspiring photographers to head to if you are looking for inspiration. Queen's Gallery is another great tourist attraction in the city, that is situated in the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It was opened by the Queen in 2002 for the public, and you will find a lot of things from the royal collection on display here.

Things to do in Edinburgh

Going on a sightseeing tour to the Edinburgh Castle and the museums in the city is a popular thing to do. Edinburgh is also one of the best places for you to challenge the photographer in you. You will find a lot of great spots to take pictures and will fall in love with the city. It is best to explore the city on foot. Head to Old Town's Royal Mile or Holyroodhouse Palace. You can walk up to Arthur's Seat from the Holyroodhouse Palace to catch a stunning view of the city. There are quite a few events and festivals that take place during the peak season, and you cannot miss those at all. Take a tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia to experience royalty at its best. It was where Princess Diana and Prince Charles honeymooned, and so did the Duke and Duchess of York. You can explore the yacht and be amazed at the interiors. Of course, you can also take quite a few pictures inside. One thing you must try in the city is their Scotch Whiskey. Head over to the Scotch Whiskey Experience to learn more about the spirit. It also has the largest collection of scotch whiskey of more than 3300 bottles. It is recommended that you go on a guided tour of the place.

Foods and Restaurants

Scotland is popular for a dish called Haggis, which consists of sheep's heart, liver and lungs mixed with oatmeal, onions and seasoning. You will find a lot of restaurants here that serve all types of international cuisine. From Thai food to Italian cuisine, you will do everything that suits your mood here. You must try the traditional British food like fish and chips or hamburgers. You can also head to some of the famous pubs and bars here for some fine whiskey or a glass of beer. The Elephant House is a highly recommended place for all you Potterheads. This is where J.K. Rowling spent her time writing some of the Harry Potter books. You will find a lot of testimonials and artwork by fans thanking the author for the series. You can also sign up for a guided food tour to get the best that the city has to offer in terms of food. Lynne's Scrumptious Snax is a very popular snack van in Edinburgh that you must try. It is the best place to go to if you want to grab a quick bite. If you want to try Italian food with a glass of wine head over to One20 Wine Cafe. Makars Gourmet Mash Bar is highly recommended for craft beers and healthy British and Scottish food. You will also come across a lot of cafes in the city that you must try.

How to reach Edinburgh

Edinburgh Airport is not very far from the city centre and is one of the busiest airports in Scotland. The flight connectivity to Edinburgh from India is excellent, though there are no direct flights to Edinburgh. Almost all flights have a layover in London, and it is one of the most popular routes to Edinburgh. Turkish Airlines and British Airways are the most popular airlines that frequently fly to Edinburgh. If you book in advance and during the right season, you will get cheap flight tickets to Edinburgh. The airport is well-equipped with lounges, prayer rooms, currency exchange, restaurants, cafes and shopping areas. You will not get bored if you have to wait a long time to board your flight. You will also get a taxi or bus to your hotel from the airport quite easily.

  About Abuja

The city of Abuja, overlooked by the dominating Aso Rock, is the capital city of Nigeria. Located right in the middle of the country, Abuja is a planned city that was developed in the 1980s. It actually managed to replace Lagos to be the new capital of Nigeria.

Best time to visit Abuja

Due to its proximity to the equator, the city of Abuja is hot through most of the year. However, out of the heat that you do face, they are pleasant and mild in some months in Abuja. The city also witnesses some moderate rainfall which adds to the humidity you might face. You will have to prepare yourself mentally concerning the heat as you will face a lot of it. The months January through July though, are pleasant. In fact, January to March is recognised as the best time to visit Abuja. The temperature is at a friendly 26 degree Celsius, and the humidity in the air is quite mild. This helps the tourism industry to attract more crowds. You will actually see a slew of tourists during these months as the mild temperatures are easy on the senses. Due to the peak season though, there is a surge in the hotel prices. You will find cheap hotels also spike up their rates during the peak season. Hence, it would be ideal for making prior hotel bookings to Abuja to avoid the last-minute surge in prices. The good thing is, the flight tickets are quite decent, irrespective of the peak season.

From May through August, you will witness a rise in the humidity level in the air. Even though the temperature is slightly mild, the humidity will make things a little difficult. Travelling within the city or engaging in tourist activities might become tough. You will have to constantly carry bottles of water and ensure that you stay hydrated throughout the day. The humidity will sap out all your energy. Avoiding these months would be the best choice. Unless you're okay with the excess heat, you should at all cost, not plan a trip to Abuja during these months. Instead, you can opt for the months of September through November. These months also see a moderate temperature where the humidity is also not too much. It would be nice to carry equipment such as moisturisers and bottles of water to survive in Abuja. But these mild months would be refreshing and paint a new colour to the vibe of Abuja. You can make prior bookings of flight tickets and accommodations in Abuja to avoid any excess cost. You might even receive some online deals.

Places to visit in Abuja

As part of your Abuja rendezvous, you can start your exploring by checking out the famous Zuma Rock. The rock is composed of gabbro and granodiorite. In the past, the Gbagyi tribe people used the rock to defend themselves from invasions and attacks from neighbouring tribes. You can take up trekking and hiking as an activity to reach the peak of the rock. You should also visit the National Mosque of Abuja. The beautiful structure has a golden dome and boasts Islamic architecture. It is Nigeria's national mosque and holds tremendous religious significance. It was constructed back in 1984 and is open to non-Muslims as well. Aso Rock is another interesting natural granitic rock that is situated on the outskirts of the capital city. Important buildings such as the Supreme Court and the Nigerian National Assembly are both located close by. Another beautiful mosque that you can visit is the An Noor Mosque. The place is quaint and quiet.

Things to do in Abuja

One of the best ways for you to spend your time in Abuja would be to hang out at the Millennium Park. The park is in proximity with the former Presidential Palace. It is beautiful and has the Zuma Rock in the background too. You can actually take a picnic basket and spend your time in leisure at the park. You can also indulge in a boating rendezvous at the Jabi Lake. The scenic landscape is sure to marvel you. You should also visit the National Children's Park and Zoo Abuja. It has some basic animals, including turtles, jackals and more. The IBB International Golf & Country Club is definitely another place that you should visit. The vast expanse is certainly a spectacular sight, plus you can also explore the golf course. Pack yourselves a nice lunch basket and head to Usuma Lower Dam for a lovely afternoon. The place is gorgeous and soothing to the senses, especially since it is not surrounded by the city's noise and bustle. You can also indulge in some waterfalls excursions. The Gurara Falls is one such place that you simply cannot miss. You also should go exploring at the Pedam Lake.

Food and restaurants in Abuja

Abuja's food culture is heavily influenced by the tribal traditions of Nigeria. You would majorly find a lot of dishes that celebrate the Nigerian cuisine and style of cooking. It would actually be a good opportunity for you to try out some exquisite authentic Nigerian cuisine. Their tribal dishes are a rage in the city of Abuja. Over the years though, they have managed to infuse much of their traditional cuisines with European flavours to promote tourism. You will find some lovely African meals favouring European-style cooking. The food culture is a trip on its own and you can make the most of it in Nigeria's capital, Abuja. You can start your culinary excursion in Abuja from the Salamander Café. It is recognised for its cool vibe and manages to attract a slew of native crowds. The quaint cafe offers not just extraordinary coffee but also books to indulge in while you sip on the beverage. The menu is also curated to serve the natives as well as the international crowd. You will find Indian cuisine also in Abuja as the city has the famous Wakkis, a restaurant that boasts Indian cuisine.

From murgh malai to tandoori chicken, if you are in no mood to experiment with the traditional Nigerian cuisine, then you can simply make regular visits to Wakkis. The staff is friendly, and the cooking styles are very indigenous to the raw Indian culture. BluCabana is an interesting restaurant that doesn't just limit to African food but also expands to Middle Eastern cuisine. You will find some exquisite Lebanese food as well as global cuisine such as sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, salads and more. The fish suya is a big seller which basically consists of grilled skewered meat that has been perfectly coated with aromatic spices. At the Bukka at the Hilton, you will find traditional African spread. The dining hall is a vast and beautiful spot which leaves enough room for the fresh breeze to pass through. Not to mention how the classic dishes such as oha soup, pounded yam, jollof rice, egusi soup, to name a few, can be found here. Other restaurants that you can check out are The Charcoal, Vanilla, Jevinik, Dunes Continental and Chez Victor.

How to reach Abuja

As the capital of Nigeria, Abuja enjoys great flight connectivity with other international cities. Abuja does witness some flight action as it is an important city. Although there are no direct flights to Abuja from Indian cities, they do have international airlines that accommodate flights to Abuja. There are many international routes connected to Abuja, such as from Addis Ababa, Kigali, Dubai and Cairo. However, Addis Ababa and Dubai are recognised as the most popular routes to Abuja. Airlines such as RwandAir, Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, Air France and British Airways have flight services to Abuja. Most of these airlines have layovers in their domestic cities. You do not need a specific transit visa when travelling to Abuja. A transit visa is only required when you are travelling from European cities. If you do pick Air France as your airlines to travel to Abuja, then you will need a Schengen transit visa. Similarly, the only other route to Abuja where you would require a transit visa is if you travel by Emirates.

The flight duration of Abuja is quite decent. It takes about 12 hours to 15 hours to reach the city. Flying to Abuja is the only way to reach the Nigerian capital. The flight tickets are a little steep. In fact, they actually start from INR 35,000 and from here, the graph only goes up. Since the flight tickets to Abuja are so pricey, the best way to go about booking a ticket would be to search for online deals. It comes in handy to find great flight deals online to Abuja. You will be surprised by the drastic drop in the ticket prices to Abuja with the addition of discounts. This means you will actually have to invest a lot of time to ensure that you get some good flight deals. You can also use this time to make hotel reservations as that would further reduce the total cost of the trip. These can be found online as various platforms and airlines have sale and discounts. Another way to go about this would be to use up your miles if you are collecting them. You might be eligible for some more discounts depending on the program.

  About Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus is which means 'air fleet', is the national flag carrier of Ireland. The airline was founded in 1936 by the Irish government. The airline was privatised for a decade from 2006 to 2015. Following this, Aer Lingus became a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Airlines Group (IAG). The airline's headquarters is located on the grounds of Dublin Airport in Cloghran in County Dublin. Aer Lingus was also once part of the Oneworld airline alliance. However, the airline walked out of the airline alliance in 2007. It was believed that with International Airlines Group's takeover, Aer Lingus might rejoin Oneworld. However, addressing these claims, Aer Lingus' then CEO Stephen Kavanagh announced that the airline has no plans in the pipeline to join Oneworld anytime soon. Interestingly though, the airline does have codeshare agreements with Oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance members. Along with this, Aer Lingus is also involved in interline agreements with United Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Etihad Airways. As a company that follows a hybrid business model, Aer Lingus accommodates a mixed fare service on its European routes. At the same time, they have full service along with several cabin class flights on the transatlantic routes.

Before International Airlines Group intervened and eventually took over the whole company, Ryanair had some shares in Aer Lingus with 29 per cent of stocks. Meanwhile, the Irish state held 25 per cent of shares before the airline was bought over by IAG. Back in 2006, the Irish government had about 85 per cent of shares in the airline. However, they proposed the idea to float Aer Lingus on the Dublin and London stock exchanges. Other companies related to Aer Lingus namely Aer Lingus Limited, Dirnan Insurance Company Limited, Aer Lingus Beachey Limited and Aer Lingus (Ireland) Limited were listed on the market. These companies are currently wholly owned by IAG, along with Aer Lingus. The government of Ireland did not give in to the negotiations of International Airlines Group as they wanted to retain their 25 per cent stakes in the airline. But after much persuasions and negotiations, the government finally caved and agreed to give away its 25 per cent stakes in Aer Lingus, in 2015. Meanwhile, Ryanair, which held about 30 per cent stakes, opted to sell them to IAG in the same year at the cost of €2.55 per share. With all parties in agreement, the transfer of ownership was officially made with IAG becoming the sole owner of Aer Lingus.

Over the years, Aer Lingus has expanded significantly by acquiring many international routes and domestic routes as part of its operations. In 2007, the airline stated that it plans on establishing its first base at Belfast International Airport, located in Northern Ireland and outside the Republic of Ireland. Operations from the Belfast International Airport commenced the same year. Meanwhile, the airline started to accommodate and renew its fleet for better aircraft. In 2008, they had three Airbus A320 aircraft that was dedicated to serving eleven European destinations.

Further, routes to get a direct connection to London's Heathrow Airport were also initiated as Aer Lingus cooperated with its codeshare partner British Airways, to accommodate a Belfast - London route. Despite its profitability, the airline discontinued its Shannon-London route, owing to a political controversy which took place in the west of Ireland. Once the concern was resolved, Aer Lingus once again reinstated its popular route of Shannon to Heathrow. Following years, the airline brought forth several new services that would connect to more destinations.

Fleet size of Aer Lingus

As of 2020, Aer Lingus collectively holds a fleet of 56 aircraft. The aircraft that are part of the fleet includes 34 Airbus A320-200s, three Airbus A321-200s, four Airbus A321LRs, five Airbus A3302-200s and ten Airbus A330-900s. Aer Lingus is also expecting orders of Airbus A321XLR and its first Airbus A350-900 to join the fleet in the near future. They have placed the orders for four Airbus A321LR,s six Airbus A321XLR and five Airbus A350-900s. In 2017, the airline announced that they intended to finalise on their order of seven A321LR twinjets with a view to developing thinner transatlantic routes. The idea to bring forth such a change in the fleet was to operate profitable flights on the transatlantic routes. Using A330 didn't yield as many profits as the airline speculated, leading them to opt for an affordable and revenue-making aircraft. At the Paris Air Show in 2019, the International Airlines Group signed the deal to purchase 14 Airbus A321XLR aircraft, eight of which would be reserved for Iberia and six to Aer Lingus. With the inclusion of Airbus A321XLR, the airline plans to replace their Boeing 757-200s.

Baggage Allowance

The baggage allowance policy of Aer Lingus differs from continents and destinations. For checked baggage allowance, the airline has specified 20 kg for one bag, 25 kg for larger bags and 40 kg for two bags. For transatlantic routes, Aer Lingus follows the same baggage allowance where economy class passengers are allowed 23 kg per checked baggage. It cannot exceed the specified weight unless passengers opt to purchase additional baggage. As for business class passengers, the airline allows three pieces of checked baggage that should weigh a total of 69 kg. Passengers who are part of some of the airline's mileage programmes can get additional benefits in terms of baggage quantity. The weight is also altered depending on the type of ticket and the cabin class. While the weight can be varied, the baggage dimensions should not exceed 158 cm. It is essential that passengers follow the said requirement with their baggage as it would be easier for the airline to accommodate checked baggage. As for carry-on baggage, the airline allows a maximum weight of 10 kg along with an accessory bag.

In-flight services

Aer Lingus offers exquisite in-flight services for their short-haul, medium-haul and long haul flights. The seats installed in the aircraft are extremely comfortable and also recline to a convenient degree. Passengers can also request for assistance with respect to accommodating baggage in the overhead bins. The flight attendants have been trained to be available for any in-flight requirements. The seats are also equipped with personal entertainment systems in the long-haul flights. Not to mention how the in-flight meal services are definitely worth snagging.

Popular routes and top cities for Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus operates a total of 93 destinations spread across 24 countries, predominantly in Europe, the Canary Islands, North America and a few portions of Turkey. Much of its domestic routes and a handful of international routes of the United Kingdom and France are operated under the airline's regional airline franchise, Aer Lingus Regional. The airline is managed by Stobart Air. Additionally, with codeshare agreements, the airline further caters to about 100 destinations in the world. Aer Lingus has also signed interline agreements with Alaska Airlines, Etihad Airways, KLM, Air Canada, United Airlines and JetBlue. Some of the top cities for Aer Lingus include Toronto, Brussels, Paris, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Dublin, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Lisbon, Barcelona, Geneva, Zurich, Birmingham, London, Boston, Chicago and New York City - JFK. A majority of Aer Lingus' presence is prevalent in countries such as Canada, Germany, Austria, Poland, Croatia, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Why travel by Aer Lingus?

Aer Lingus is one of the few airlines that has sustained its prominence in the aviation sector. As an airline that is fairly old, Aer Lingus has consistently worked towards broadening its facilities and services to accommodate the efficiency and satisfaction of its customers. Over the years, the airline has expanded its reach from mere destinations in the United Kingdom and Europe to North America and Canada. They have better connectivity and newer international routes and domestic routes.

To keep up with the facilities offered by competitors, Aer Lingus has also upgraded its services. These include provisions for web check-ins. Passengers need to wait in long lines at the airport's check-in counter anymore as web check-ins and personalised kiosks are available at airports. Similarly, Aer Lingus' official website also has updates on flight status and flight schedules. Depending on the ticket type and cabin class, the in-flight services and baggage allowances are also shared with the passengers. Booking an Aer Lingus flight ticket online is also easier as the website has slots available. The ticket type also comes with benefits such as choosing seats and raking in other such benefits.

The airline has also introduced many mileage programmes as part of the International Airlines Group. Although in the past, when Aer Lingus was part of Oneworld alliance, it did have more benefits with respect to miles that passengers could earn not just from Aer Lingus but other airlines too. But the association of the airlines with IAG is also quite beneficial as it enables passengers to rake in miles from British Airways and Iberia too. In fact, passengers can also receive airport lounge access as part of the flight ticket.