Mumbai06 Dec 22 1 Traveller Economy
Showing International Flight from Frankfurt
About Frankfurt
Another beautiful city in Germany worth visiting is Frankfurt. It is home to a lot of world-renowned museums, galleries and historic cathedrals. Not to mention, it promises several stunning views, too. Frankfurt is a popular city for layovers, and if you have to wait for a longer duration, you must head out to explore the city. If Germany is the next destination on your travel list, you must also add Frankfurt to the itinerary. It is the fifth-largest city in Germany and has a lot in store for tourists. Not only does Frankfurt have a lot of tourist attractions but it also has a lot of activities in store for you. The city is also known for its eclectic dining scenes and connects to other cities in the country, along with other popular cities in the nearby European countries. It goes without saying that you cannot get enough of the beer here. Germany is known for its craft beer, and you must certainly try some here. It is also quite easy to book a hotel in Frankfurt on your budget.
Best Time to Visit Frankfurt
April to September is said to be the best time to visit Frankfurt. The temperature is mild and pleasant, and you can enjoy the views of the city without any hindrance. March to May is spring season in the city and June to August is summer. You can attend the largest folk festival called Frankfurt's Ratsweg Fairground and the Frankfurter Sausage Festival that has a lot of arts and crafts markets along with rides that you can enjoy. Spring is not exactly a high season in the city, which makes booking a hotel in Frankfurt quite easy and affordable. You will also see fewer tourists as compared to summer, and this is the perfect time to plan a trip to Frankfurt.
Summer is the most popular season for people to plan a trip to Germany. The days are longer and night shorter. Though the temperature barely crosses 26 degree Celsius during the day, it is best to plan your commute in advance. Travelling by trams or buses that have no air conditioning can be a little bit of trouble if you can't bear the heat. Since it is high season, it is advisable to book your hotel in Frankfurt in advance. Most hotels will be booked and getting decent accommodation at the last moment will be a hindrance. You might have to settle for something you are not entirely happy with, at a higher price. Make sure you also book your flight tickets to Frankfurt in advance, so you don't have to spend extra when there is a surge in prices. This is the best season to binge on Frankfurt'sFrankfurt's Apfelwein, which is basically apple wine. You will find it in a lot of pubs and bars in the city. The city also hosts numerous festivals and events that you can attend. You can check out the open-air screenings or head to the beach bars for a party along the Main River. If you are visiting the city in August, make sure you carry a light jacket with you with an umbrella since there are chances of rains in this month.
September to October are fall season in Frankfurt, and the city sees relief from the scorching heat. Frankfurt'sFrankfurt's version of Oktobeerfest is not as big as it is in Munich, but you will enjoy yourself here. You will also find a lot of events hosted in the city during this time, and you can sign up for the event's newsletter to get all the updates about it to buy the tickets as soon as it is available. You will find fewer tourists in Frankfurt since the high tourist season ends by August end and early September.
November to March is winter in the city, and this is not an ideal time to visit Germany. However, you can still plan your trip to Frankfurt in December if you want to celebrate Christmas here. You can treat yourself to hot gluhwein (mulled wine) to stay warm. Head to St Paul's Square, Hauptwache and Friedrich-Stoltze-Square area and Mainkai, which is the Main Quay. The temperature drops below freezing temperatures, so you might want to pack an extra set of warm clothes. There is also a high chance of rainfall during winter, which is what makes it an unfavourable time to visit the city. You will also get cheap flight tickets to Frankfurt during this time since it is not a big tourist time in the city.
Places to Visit in Frankfurt
Goethe House is a popular tourist attraction in the city that all history buffs can visit. Renowned writer Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe was born here and lived here till 1765. The house suffered severe damage during World War II after the bombarding, but a lot of it was restored after the war ended. Palm Garden is the largest botanical garden in Frankfurt and the best place to go to for an evening stroll. St Bartholomew'sBartholomew's Church was built between the 13th and 15th century with red sandstones. It holds the status of being an Imperial Cathedral and is an important place to visit. You will find yourself admiring the architecture of the Church. Head over to Sachsenhausen to indulge in some apfelwein or ebbelwoi, and these are kinds of apple ciders produced locally. Head over to Hauptwache if you want to go on a shopping spree and grab a quick bite on the way. If you are an art lover, you can visit the Schirn Kunsthalle. The centre hosts a lot of art exhibitions, be it contemporary or historical themes.
Things to do in Frankfurt
If you are a die-hard romantic, head over to Eiserner Steg, a pedestrian bridge near River Main, you will find a lot of colourful padlocks on the railings. You can also give in to the tradition and add a padlock of your own hoping for eternal, everlasting love. Apple wine is a popularly found drink in Frankfurt, and the locals swear by it. You can head to the best pubs and bars in the locality to try some of it. You can also sign up for a local, guided sightseeing tour of the city. You can head to the Dialog Museum where you can experience what a blind person does, for an hour. A blind guide will lead you through the pitch darkness, and you can experience going on a boat ride, buying a drink and other such tasks through your other senses. Sounds fun, right? Head over to the art and history museums in the city if that's what attracts you to the city. Frankfurt is also known for its eclectic dining scene, and you will find a lot of pork-related dishes in the restaurants here. Sign up for a food and beer tasting tour of the city if you don't feel like exploring the city on your own.
Food and Restaurants in Frankfurt
Not just beer but Germany is also known for its cuisines. You can binge on German sausages, commonly called Frankfurter Wurstchen. It is served with a slice of bread, mustard and horseradish. If you are a cheese lover, you must definitely try the Handkaes mit Musik that are served in most gastro pubs and restaurants. Appelwoi is a popular type of beer that the locals enjoy and you must, too. You can also try the other types of craft beer in the city. Germany is popular for its variety of pork dishes. Reserve a table at The Legacy Bar and Grill or Thai and Turf - Steakhouse. You will also find a lot of cafes in the city that you will enjoy. Trattoria I Siciliani is a popular Italian restaurant in the city. If you are in the mood for steak or Japanese food, make sure you head to Kabuki Frankfurt. You can head to the various pubs and bars to have a mug of strong German beer.
How to reach Frankfurt (Transportation)
Frankfurt International Airport is the fifth-largest in Germany and is also the main hub for Lufthansa, Condor and AeroLogic. The flight connectivity to Frankfurt from India is excellent. Gulf Air, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa are some of the airlines that have frequent flights to Frankfurt. If you book well in advance, you might even get cheap flight tickets to Frankfurt. It is quite easy to get a taxi or car rental from the airport to your hotel. The airport also has WiFi, restaurants, cafes, shopping areas, currency exchange and a lot of other facilities that you can use. If you have to kill time during a layover at Frankfurt airport, you will not get bored at all. If you are heading to Frankfurt from another city in Germany or any other nearby European country, you can take the train. The city is well-connected by rails. You can also opt for a road trip, and you will be treated to the stunning views of European cities and cultures.
About Air Astana
Air Astana is the official flag carrier of Kazakhstan which is based out of the capital, Almaty. The airline operates scheduled passenger domestic and international flights. Overall, Air Astana caters to about 64 domestic routes and international routes from its main hub, Almaty International Airport. Its secondary hub is Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport in the Akmola Region of Kazakhstan. The airline is originally a joint venture between the sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna of Kazakhstan and the British multinational, BAE Systems plc. While the wealth fund holds a major stake of 51 per cent in the airline, the remaining 49 per cent of stakes are held by BAE Systems plc. The airline came into existence in 2001 with commercial flight services commencing in 2002. Originally, the airline was conceived for purely domestic route services. However, with BAE Systems' involvement, the airline agreed to participate in a proposed start-up, as requested by the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev. The idea behind acquiring an airline start-up was to facilitate an air-radar contract which was being negotiated by the government.
Sir Richard Evans of the BAE Systems played a key role in finalising the deal with the state. Things didn't materialise the way the British-owned organisation planned and eventually, with subsequent changes in the management and closure of BAE Systems in Kazakhstan, the airline was left with no big stakeholders. Despite the lack of support faced by Air Astana, the airline did take off. The airline's first president and former executive of British Airways, Llyod Paxton took charge. They leased three Boeing 737s from the International Lease Finance Corporation to commence commercial operations of Air Astana in 2002. The following year, the airline acquired Fokker 50s on lease from Aircraft Finance Trading BV along with three Boeing 757s from Pegasus Leasing Corp. The same year, the airline declared a net profit keeping operations of its full year in consideration. With the shutdown of the country's national flag carrier Air Kazakhstan in 2004, Air Astana's operations expanded as its domestic route network along with important international routes were also enhanced. The airline started operations to routes such as Dubai, Moscow, Istanbul, Beijing and later added London and Frankfurt.
The airline did face tremendous challenges within the management as there were disagreements over fleet expansion plans as well as hub strategy. The shareholders and the management were in disagreement regarding these subjects, and it eventually led to a change in the management in 2005. Peter Foster, who made quite a name for himself as a former executive of Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways was roped in to be Air Astana's president in the same year. These changes didn't affect the airline's profitability as it consistently showcased profits and even found itself on the global list of the top 20 most profitable airlines with respect to the net margin. In fact, it was recognised for three consecutive years from 2010 to 2012. Up until 2016, Air Astana was known to be the only airline from Kazakhstan that was allowed to fly to the European Union. In today's time, Air Astana's fleet is recognised as the youngest in the European Union as it consists of about 30 aircraft acquired from Western manufacturers. The airline further restructured its fleet by replacing their old Airbus A320s and Boeing 767s. The airline does have the vision to expand its fleet size to 43 by 2020.
Fleet size of Air Astana
Air Astana's fleet size stands at 32 with an additional 20 aircraft yet to be delivered. Currently, the airline boasts a fleet that has a majority of aircraft from the Airbus and Boeing family along with Embraer. The aircraft in service are two Airbus A320200s, four Airbus A320neos, two Airbus A321-200s, two Airbus A321LRs, four Airbus A321neos, four Boeing 757-200s, three Boeing 767-300ER, six Embraer 190s and five Embraer 190-ERs. The airline is expecting its first Boeing 787-8, three of which are in order and expected to be delivered between 2019 and 2023. Simultaneously, Air Astana's fleet will also see additional Airbus A320neosm Airbus A321LRs, Airbus A321neos and one Embraer 190-E2. The airline is expected to receive its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner which would be used to commence operations to the United States of America. In 2018, after replacing much of its Airbus A320-dominated fleet, the airline received its first Airbus A320neos. The same year, the airline commenced the use of the aircraft to cater to some of the post-Soviet countries. The airline also received its second Airbus A321neo while the fleet's Embraer 190-E2 were replenished to carry flights to post-Soviet countries.
Baggage Allowance
Baggage allowance on Air Astana is quite strict as the airlines refuse to accommodate baggage that exceeds the limit stated. The maximum weight of checked baggage as allowed by the airline is 32 kg. Passengers who arrive at the airport with baggage weight exceeding the mentioned number will be asked to repack and re-accommodate their items to fit the weight allocation. In case you do wish to purchase additional baggage from the airline, prior bookings need to be made and for the airline to be informed about the same. The free baggage entitlement comes with the type of ticket that the passenger has purchased. Based on the ticket type, the passenger will be allowed to carry extra weighing baggage. The dimension for the checked baggage should not exceed 158 cm, a globally recognised measurement. As for cabin baggage, the airline allows the maximum weight to be no more than 8 kg. While the weight rule applies to business and economy class, the passengers of the premium cabin class can carry two baggage instead of one. The dimension for the hand baggage should not exceed 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm.
In-flight services
Air Astana's in-flight services have tremendously improved over the years. Since its inception, there have been some massive changes and upgradations with respect to their in-flight services ranging from their phenomenal cabin class setting, the seating configuration and their in-flight meal services. Passengers can book the meals ahead of the journey or order meals onboard. The airline also offers entertainment systems that have been attached to all the seats for long-haul flights.
Popular routes and top cities for Air Astana
Air Astana caters to 64 routes in total out of which the number of destinations in the neighbouring Central Asian and Russian countries has better connectivity. From 2009, the airline launched flights to cater to routes of Baku, Bishkek, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk and Tashkent, with a view to catering to nearby top destinations. Air Astana further expanded its international routes by going down south and starting flights to Delhi, Beijing, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Hong Kong, to name a few. The airline also launched services to connect to Frankfurt and Seoul from Kazakhstan's Nur-Sultan Airport. The airline's top cities are Baku, Beijing, Paris, Tbilisi, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Amsterdam, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Omsk, Seoul, Bangkok, Istanbul, Kyiv, Dubai, London and Tashkent, to name a few. It's domestic route connectivity to cities namely Almaty, Aktau, Atyrau, Kostanay, Nur-Sultan, Oral, Oskemen, Shymkent and Aktobe. Currently, Air Astana has codeshare agreements with a few airlines namely Air France, Bangkok Airways, KLM, S7 Airlines, Air India, Cathay Pacific, LOT Polish Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa and Ukraine International Airlines. Further, the airline has signed interline agreements with a bunch of airlines including Aeroflot, All Nippon Airways, Korean Air, EgyptAir, British Airways, Thai Airways International, Qatar Airways and Qantas Airways, to name a few.
Why travel by Air Astana?
Air Astana has flourished as an airline in a very short span of time. With strong leadership and expansion strategies, the airline has managed to become one of the most sought-after ones to be opted by passengers in Kazakhstan. In terms of connectivity, Air Astana is perfectly in sync with some of the top cities within the country. Not just its domestic route expansion but the airline has worked towards extending its international route to accommodate more cities. Currently, the airline has a limited number of international destinations, but they do intend to change that soon. The positive here is that the airline has many codeshare agreements which help Air Astana extend its connectivity.
Apart from the good flight connectivity, the in-flight services and facilities provided by the airline are just as good. They have recently enabled web check-ins for passengers travelling by Air Astana. Travellers can sign up on the website and do web check-ins to skip the long queues at the airport. Further, the airline's website is also equipped with other updates regarding the flights such as flight status and flight schedules that can be found on the website. Prospective travellers can book an Air Astana flight ticket on their website too. There are some amazing deals that can be availed with respect to baggage allowance and in-flight services that come with booking an Air Astana flight online. Basically, travelling by Air Astana is quite an affordable and convenient deal.
About Frankfurt Airport
Germany's Frankfurt International Airport is located close to Kelsterbach in Frankfurt. It is an important international airport in the country and also serves as the main hub for Lufthansa airlines. This also includes Lufthansa CityLine and Lufthansa Cargo. There are two passenger terminals and has the capacity to handle an approximate total of 65 million passengers in a year. In Europe, Frankfurt International Airport is the busiest after Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, with respect to passenger traffic.
About Airport Terminals
Frankfurt am Main Airport has two main passenger terminals along with a First Class Terminal that is exclusively used and operated by Lufthansa. It follows the similar structure that London Heathrow Airport, Los Angeles International Airport (Tom Bradley International Terminal) and Toronto Pearson Airport. Chicago's O'Hare Airport is also working towards completion of its First Class terminal called Global Terminal, which would see operations of airline alliances. Terminal 1 is the passenger terminal which is larger in comparison to the other terminals and is also the older one. It is 420 meters long and has experienced constantly expansions multitudes of times. The terminal is divided into four concourses, namely A, B, C and Z. It also can accommodate about 50 million passengers in a year. The terminal is further split into three levels with each dedicated to special services.
The departures level is on the upper floor while the arrival and baggage claim rests on the ground floor. There is a dedicated distribution floor too, which has access to the underground as well as multilevel parking available. The airport authorities have further built separate street to connect the departures and arrivals levels. The terminal has 103 gates in total out of which, 54 gates are equipped with jetways. The terminal primarily caters to Lufthansa and the airlines associated namely, Brussels Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines and Eurowings. Even Star Alliance operates from Terminal 1 with airlines such as Aegean Airlines, Air China, Croatia Airlines, Air Canada, Air India, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Turkish Airlines, Asiana Airlines and United Airlines, to name a few.
Terminal 2 has been reserved for airlines falling under Oneworld (British Airways, Iberia, Kuwait Airways, American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Finnair and more) as well as SkyTeam alliance airlines namely, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airways, Korean Air and more. A handful of airlines that do not belong to the alliances also operate from the terminal. Lufthansa First Class Terminal operates from near Terminal 1 and is reserved for first-class passengers and frequent flyer members of HON Circle.
About Airport Authority
Frankfurt Airport's airport authority is Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide. Commonly recognized as Fraport, the German transport company also works on operations of various airports along with Frankfurt Airport. Fraport is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and Xetra as well. Interestingly, Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide also has ownership and stakes in Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport under the DIAL (Delhi International Airport Private Limited) consortium.
Fraport made it possible for Indira Gandhi International Airport to accommodate A380 operations. The company also has Deutsche Lufthansa AG as a shareholder with about 8.44 per cent stakes. To enhance the climate protection targets as well as contribute to mitigating climate change, they have built green electricity. Fraport plans to make use of renewable energy to meet the climate protection targets. At the same time, they are also rooting for the Frankfurt Airport to slash the CO2 emissions from 170,000 to 80,000 metric tons at least by 2030. Their eventual plan is to make Frankfurt Airport CO-2 free by 2050 with the use of a renewable source of energy.
Further, on the same, Fraport is also aiming at generating its electricity to run the Frankfurt Airport. Solar panels are being installed at the CargoCity South. The authority claims that as and when the panels are completely installed, Frankfurt Airport would generate about 1.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity in a year.
Top airlines flying from Frankfurt Airport
Frankfurt Airport sees a large space reserved for Lufthansa and the Star Alliance partners falling under its account. The airport sees 77 per cent of passengers from flights of Lufthansa and the airlines that fall under Star Alliance. Dedicated airlines are already present as the Frankfurt Airport has been perfectly balanced for various international flight operations. Sixty-five per cent of intercontinental flights in Germany also function from Frankfurt Airport. Lufthansa, which is a German-based enterprise, sees a dedicated terminal reserved for flight operations.
Meanwhile, several international airlines flying from Frankfurt Airport include Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air China, Air Europa, Air France, Air India, Air Malta, Air Serbia, Alitalia, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Condor, Croatia Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Finnair, Gulf Air, Iberia, Iran Air, Icelandair, KLM Royal Dutch Airways, Korean Air, Japan Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Saudia, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways and Vietnam Airlines. They connect to various major international cities such as New York City, London, Bangkok, Addis Ababa, Mexico City, Brussels, Cape Town, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and more.
Facilities at the Frankfurt International Airport
In-terminal shuttle service - There are buggy and shuttle services for quick transit from one terminal to another. These services come in handy when there is a connecting flight that you need to catch in a short period of time. They are available at all the terminals in departures as well as arrivals zones.
Special assistance - There are trained staff at the Frankfurt International Airport you can take assistance from to escort you through the vicinity and offer to be a personal guide.
Porter service - The airport also provides porter services. They will take care of all your luggage and even transport them to the terminals required. You can leet the staff to handle your luggage concerns, and they will do a good job.
Lounge and VIP rooms - Exclusive lounges and VIP room facilities are available at the airport premise. The elegant lounges with exquisite decor and world-class hospitality would certainly be a good way to spend time at Frankfurt International Airport. There are business meeting rooms also available as are conference lounges.
ATMs and foreign exchange - ATM kiosks are spread across all terminals at the airport. The arrivals section also has dedicated foreign exchange counters for international travellers. You can get your money exchanged at the airport itself instead of getting it beforehand and fearing the safety and security of the money you're carrying.
Hotels - There are a plethora of lavish airports in the proximity of Frankfurt International Airport as well as within the terminal. Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel is right at the airport premise. Meanwhile, other hotels around the Frankfurt International Airport include InterCityHotel Frankfurt Airport, Hyatt Place Frankfurt Airport, Park Inn by Radisson Frankfurt, to name a few.
Work stations - One of the perks of Frankfurt International Airport is the provision of workspace. Travellers who have to work on the go can avail this service and take up a workspace within the airport premise while you wait for your flight. It is quite convenient.
Dog hotel - For travellers who cannot take their pets along with them for vacations, you can always avail the airport's Dog Hotel benefits. It serves as a dog hostel where the services are good, and the pets are well-maintained.
Baby care rooms - Frankfurt International Airport facilitates baby care rooms for new mothers with infants. Sanitary products and the well-kept room is ideal for mothers and their babies.
Medical services - The airport also ensures to keep devoted staff to take care of medical emergencies. There are pharmacies also available at the departure as well as arrival zones of all the terminals.
How to reach Frankfurt Airport
Rail
It is easy to reach Frankfurt Airport from the city's regional station. You can find it at Terminal 1's concourse B. There is proper access to S-Bahn commuter rail lines which depart at regular intervals. The connectivity is spectacular as the train would take on 10-12 minutes to reach Frankfurt Central Station from the airport. Additional services to connect Frankfurt Airport and the Central Station are also available. Frankfurt Airport also caters to the long-distance station, which was opened in 1999. From the Frankfurt Airport, you can reach Cologne and even Netherlands and Belgium through Cologne.Buses and coaches
Several transport companies also provide bus services that would reach you to Frankfurt Airport. They also have services that work for long-distance destinations from the airport. You can reach Frankfurt Airport from various parts of Germany by using their buses and coaches operations. Interestingly, All Nippon Airways had a dedicated bus service to Düsseldorf from Frankfurt Airport exclusively for passengers. The connection was perfect and extremely convenient for people who were travelling from All Nippon Airways to reach Frankfurt Airport. However, a separate flight from Tokyo to Düsseldorf was chartered, and since then, the bus services have been suspended.
Rental cars and taxis
Another good way to reach Frankfurt Airport is to take up car rentals and taxis. It would be easy to reach Frankfurt airport without any stress as it would mean you can rest easy in the car.
