Hamburg to Abu Dhabi Swiss Flights

  About Abu Dhabi

While Abu Dhabi is not exactly a tourist destination when compared to Dubai, it is definitely a place where you can go just to relax and feel rejuvenated. Abu Dhabi is also the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Even though Dubai is considered as a more happening place, Abu Dhabi also has a certain charm to it. The Ferrari World is one of the major highlights and tourist attractions in Abu Dhabi. Not only will you get to see a lot of Ferraris, but you can even drive them to get a glimpse in the life of a race car driver. The city also has waterparks for everyone who is planning a vacation to the capital of the UAE with their family or group of friends. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is not only beautiful, but it is also a marvellous piece of art architecturally. It is also a safe place for solo female travellers. You will find a lot of malls, too, to satisfy the shopaholic in you.

Best Time to Visit Abu Dhabi

November to March is an ideal time to visit Abu Dhabi since it is winter and the weather remains quite pleasant. It is the best time for you to go sightseeing. Since it is also a peak season in Abu Dhabi, you might even get a good deal on flights to Abu Dhabi during this time if you book well in advance. Make sure you also book your hotel in Abu Dhabi in advance since the prices tend to increase in winter. Since this is high season, you will find a lot of tourists in the city. You will also get to go sightseeing without feeling all dehydrated. This is also the best time for you to hit the beach and spend some time there. If you are travelling in March, you can attend the Abu Dhabi Festival or the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon.

The temperature ranges from 19 to 42 degree Celsius from April to October. While April and May are pleasant because of Spring, the months following May get hot, hotter and hottest. Hotel prices do stop dropping April onwards. For all the book lovers, you can attend the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair in April and May. The temperature increases considerably in June till August, but if you just want to be by the pool or indulge in expensive spa treatments and pamper yourself, you can plan a trip during these months. The hotel prices also drop a lot during these months since the city does not have a lot of tourists. It also rains inconsistently during these months, which might put a damper on your sightseeing plans. The temperature starts dropping during September and October since it is the end of summer. This is also one of the best times to head to Abu Dhabi if you want to attend the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, the Emirates International Date Palm Festival or the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Places to Visit in Abu Dhabi

Yas Mall at Yas Island and Marina Mall is the most popular malls in Abu Dhabi for tourists. The Ferrari World is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and quite the luxurious ones, too. You also get to drive one of the cars to experience what it is like to be an F1 driver. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the two mosques in UAE that is open to non-Muslims, too. It is also one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in the country. Abu Dhabi does not deprive you of the beach fun that you might want. You can head to the Saadiyat Public Beach or the Corniche. You can also visit Al Lulu Island to indulge in beach and water activities. It is another tourist destination in Abu Dhabi that is quite popular. You can attend free concerts at Corniche or just enjoy the sunset by the beach with a cup of ice cream. You can also book a hotel in Abu Dhabi in Corniche and stay here for a couple of days.

While you are in Abu Dhabi, you might also want to stay at the Empire Palace for a night or two. Even if you are not, the resort is open for non-guests to book spa treatments here and indulge in a traditional hammam experience. Not to mention, you might also want to put on your fanciest outfit here. You can also head for a desert safari on a jeep or try any of the other desert tours arranged by tour companies here. It is one of the major highlights of Abu Dhabi. Head over to the Emirates Park Zoo with your family, and you'll get to see over 1700 animals here. The zoo is home to lions, cheetahs, Siberian bears, white tigers and so on. You can also have breakfast with giraffes and parrots here. Another lovely tourist attraction is the Warner Bros World. It is a fun theme park that has rides like The Joker Funhouse, Tom and Jerry: Swiss Cheese Spin, The Scooby-Doo: Museum of Mysteries and so on. You can also visit the Al Jahili Fort and Heritage Village in Abu Dhabi.

Things to do in Abu Dhabi

Sightseeing is one of the major tourist activities in the city. You can go to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to know more about the culture and to admire the sheer architecture of the mosque. You can also spend a day shopping at some of the best malls in Abu Dhabi. If you are travelling during the sale, you might even get to buy a lot of high-end fashion products at an affordable price. Visit the Emirates Palace. If you are not staying at the majestic resort, you can still indulge in self-pampering spa treatments and a relaxing hammam (a Turkish bath). You can also indulge in water and beach activities at Corniche. Going on a desert safari is another popular activity that tourists in Abu Dhabi take up. Spend a day at Ferrari World and take lots of pictures, too.

Food and Restaurants in Abu Dhabi

Like Dubai, you will find a variety of cuisine in Abu Dhabi, too. Be it Indian cuisine or Mexican, Korean, Chinese, or even Russian food, and you will find whatever you feel like eating here. However, trying out the local food is a must to complete your holiday experience at Abu Dhabi. Some of the important ingredients include the famous Middle Eastern spices like cinnamon, saffron, turmeric and cardamom. Cuisines made of chickpeas are also quite popular in Abu Dhabi. If you want to grab a bite as soon as you land, before you head to your hotel, you can go to Madang Korean Restaurant which is near Terminal 2. Cabana Beach Bar and Grill at Corniche is a popular place to have healthy food or European cuisine. You can also head to The Terrace On The Corniche or Kuzbara for authentic Middle Eastern food. Khayal Restaurant is popular for its variety of cuisines. It offers Japanese, Arabic, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Asian food in its menu. Treat yourself to delicious burgers and shakes at Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes at Yas Mall. Hoi An is an interesting place to head to if you want to try out Vietnamese or other Asian food. The service is great, so is the ambience. Dino's Bistro Italiano and Villa Toscana are known for their expertise in Italian cuisine. In fact, at Villa Tuscana, you can also choose between the Mediterranean, Tuscan and European food. Desert Lotus Thai Bisto & Sushi has the best Thai food in the city, and you will simply love the sushi here. If you want to try authentic Indian food, you can head to Punjab Grill at The Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal.

How to reach Abu Dhabi (Transportation)

The Abu Dhabi International Airport is the second busiest airport in the United Arab Emirates. The flight connectivity from Abu Dhabi to other cities and countries is excellent. There are a few direct flights to Abu Dhabi from India on a daily basis, and it takes about 3 to 4 hours only to reach. While you might choose Etihad Airways or Emirates to fly to the Middle East, other airlines like GoAir, British Airways, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, Srilankan Airlines frequently fly to and from Abu Dhabi. The airport is only 30 km from the main city, and it is quite easy to get a taxi service from the airport to your hotel. Abu Dhabi International Airport is quite a luxe with a lot of facilities. It has airport lounges, premium spa facilities, sleeping pods, children's play area, shopping areas and a lot of international dining options. You will certainly not get bored if at all if you have to wait for a few more hours to board your flight. If you are travelling by Etihad, they also have premium lounges and spa facilities for their passengers at the airport.

  About Swiss International Airlines

Swiss International Air Lines, also popularly known as Swiss or Swiss Air Lines, is the national flag carrier of Switzerland. The airline operates scheduled services across Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa. While Zurich Airport serves as the airline's single hub, Geneva Airport is the focus city for Swiss. The airline came into existence in 2002, after Swissair, Switzerland's former flag carrier, filed for bankruptcy. Swiss was built around Swissair's regional subsidiary Crossair. Hence, Swiss International Air Lines continues to retain Crossair's IATA code instead of Swissair's code. The airline is part of the Star Alliance and is also a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group. Originally, Swiss wished to be part of the Oneworld airline alliance. However, it was blocked by British Airways to which it played a competition with respect to long-haul routes. However, Swiss decided to go with Star Alliance instead as they didn't wish to integrate with the current frequent flyer program of British Airways' Executive Club. Further on this, Swiss also assumed the relationship to be one-sided with British Airways sapping out all the benefits with nothing left for Swiss.

With the revival of Swiss, the airlines managed to recover half the losses by recording a net profit of USD220 million. Further, the net profit more than doubled with the net profit turning USD570 million in 2007. In 2005, with the birth of the airlines, German-based Lufthansa Group announced that they would be taking over Swiss starting from 11 per cent of stake. Eventually, the operations of Swiss were integrated with Lufthansa's by the second half of 2005. A complete takeover took place in 2007. Following the takeover, Crossair's regional fleet Embraer ERJs and Saabs to Avro RJs that were owned by Swiss Global Air Lines. In 2010, Swiss and Lufthansa were announced in the European Commission investigation due to reports of price-fixing. However, they were not fined as they acted as a whistle-blower. Following the incident, in 2011, Swiss brought forth their new company logo, which resembled the original logo of the Swissair. Initially, Swiss International Air Lines' head office was the same as the head office of Crossair. But it has been moved to Zurich Airport for all operations.

Swiss' headquarters is located at EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg near Basel in Switzerland. Part of the office is at Zurich Airport in Kloten, Switzerland. Some of the subsidiaries of Swiss International Air Lines Group are Edelweiss Air, Swiss AviationSoftware, Swiss Aviation Training, Swiss WorldCargo and SWISStours.

Fleet size of Swiss International Air Lines

Swiss International Air Lines is currently handling a fleet size of 89. The aircraft are majorly Airbus variants with one 12 Boeing 777-300ERs. The highest number of aircraft include 20 Airbus A220-300 and 19 Airbus A320-200. Swiss International Air Lines' regional carrier, Helvetic Airways, majorly operates ten Embraer 190 aircraft on behalf of its parent company. Meanwhile, Adria Airways also operated under Swiss and had two Saab 2000s connecting the Zurich - Lugano route. However, the airline was suspended following them filing for bankruptcy in 2019. For the longest time, Swiss Global Air Lines also operated Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A220-100/300 as part of its fleet. The subsidiary was ceased in 2018 with a view to administer costs and to simplify the fleet structures of Swiss International Air Lines. The airline has brought together the aircraft in its fleet. The aircraft fleet of Swiss International Air Lines has been christened after the local towns and cities since 2007. The names feature on the fuselage of all the aircraft as the cabin interiors have the coat of arms of the town or city.

In 2010, on behalf of Swiss, Lufthansa announced that they would be ordering 48 new aircraft for both the airlines. Later in 2013, the airline ordered six Boeing 777-300ERs. Additionally, in 2015, Swiss confirmed that Lufthansa is ordering three more Boeing 777-300ERs on their behalf. The airline also announced that they would be upgrading their first-class cabins and install eight private suites along with a 32-inch TV, business class seats to be converted into full flatbeds and about 270 economy class seats with a 3-4-3 configuration. Swiss also plans to replace much of their Airbus A340 aircraft with Boeing aircraft.

Meanwhile, five of the A340s will be refurbished and carried by airline. Swiss International Air Lines recently completed refurbishing all the A320s of their fleet with newer interiors and top-class facilities. Before the fleet converted to Airbus and Boeing, Swiss also accommodated Avro RJs, McDonnell Douglas aircraft and Saab 2000. However, these lines have been passed on to the regional subsidiaries of the airline.

Swiss International Air Lines Baggage Allowance

Baggage allowance in Swiss International Air Lines is segregated as per the domestic routes and international routes where the carrier connects. For the European routes, the airline allows a total weight of 23 kg that can be carried in checked baggage. This is strictly reserved for classic and flex cabin of the economy class. You can only carry one bag with you that can be checked. Meanwhile, the business class allows 32 kg, which rounds up to a total of 64 kg for two bags that can be checked. One of the big benefits of business class is that you can carry more luggage with you. While the weight capacity is diverse for different ticket types, the dimension of the baggage cannot exceed 158 cm, including handles, wheels and pockets. However, the maximum for a business class passenger's baggage would be 292 cm and cannot exceed the same. For additional baggage, you will be charged a certain fee that you might have to pay at the airport. Again, the baggage allowance on Swiss International Air Lines does tweak a little if you are a frequent flyer member or a Star Gold member.

International route flights have some additions with respect to the baggage limits. Since the international aircraft are equipped with the economy, business and first-class, the allowance for passengers to carry bags also vary accordingly. Swiss Economy allows a maximum of one luggage which should weigh no more than 23 kg and cannot exceed 158 cm dimension. Passengers flying from Swiss Business are allowed to carry two maximum baggage which should weigh no more than 32 kg each. The bags should also not exceed the dimension of 292 cm, inclusive of height, width and length. As for Swiss First, the airline allows three bags to weigh 32 kg each. The airline allows a total of 96 kg for first-class passengers. The hand baggage allowed are one for the Swiss Economy, two for Swiss Business and Swiss First respectively. The dimensions of all the bags should not exceed 55 x 40 x 23 cm. Along with the carry-on baggage, the passenger is also allowed to take a personal piece to the cabin, which could be a handbag, a laptop bag or a briefcase.

Swiss International Air Lines In-flight services

Swiss First - Swiss First class' in-flight services are exemplary as they offer personal space with armchairs that can be converted into full flatbeds. Along with the comfortable seating, the airline also has a gourmet meal that can be availed on long-haul flights. The dishes are mostly inspired by Swiss cuisine and is always accompanied by fine wine of your choice. The seats are also equipped with entertainment systems and magazines. Along with the exquisite services and hospitality, the airline further offers a pillow and blankets by La Prairie and amenity kit by fashion brand Bally.

Swiss Business - Although Swiss Business lacks the comfort of privacy that the first-class allows, the in-flight services are exemplary. The business seats are spacious and have a dedicated workspace for the passengers. One can easily convert the seats into a 2-metre long flatbed and also has massage facilities. The dining is exquisite as the airline is recognised for its award-winning in-flight meals. Not to mention how the business and first-class also have entertainment facilities such as adjustable screens and a magazine. Swiss also offers a travel kit to the passengers, which contain high-end products for the passenger's comfort.

Swiss Economy - The economy class of Swiss International Air Lines has comfortable seating with adjustable headrest and availability of extra legroom. The airline also has personalised entertainment systems attached on each seat for the passengers. They have TV shows, blockbuster movies and many award-winning documentaries. You will need to book for meals in advance and get the best of Swiss' in-flight services.

Popular routes and top cities for Swiss International Air Lines

Swiss International Air Lines is known for its excellent connectivity with a majority of international hubs. The airline's strong domestic route and international route connectivity are what makes it stand out. Top cities for the airline include Beijing, Shanghai, Montreal, Brussels, Paris, Nice, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Delhi, Mumbai, Dublin, Rome, Venice, Florence, Tokyo, Nairobi, Luxembourg City, Amsterdam, Oslo, Warsaw, Singapore, Barcelona, Stockholm, Bangkok, London, Los Angel/es, Newark, New York City and San Francisco, to name a few.

Why travel by Swiss International Air Lines?

What makes Swiss International Air Lines one of the most sought-after airlines in the world is its world-class in-flight services as well as extensive network. The airline caters to the comfort of the passengers by offering web check-ins, intimations of the flight status, flight schedules of Swiss and convenient booking of a Swiss flight. It is practically perfect and also enables comfort and affordability.

  About Abu Dhabi Airport

Abu Dhabi International Airport is the only airport in Emirates of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, to cater to international flights and airlines. After Dubai International Airport, Abu Dhabi International Airport is the second largest in UAE, which can accommodate 20 million passengers. The airport has three operational terminals for passengers. It is sprawled across 8,500 acres of land and provides services to over 30 airlines which fly to over 120 destinations. The airport is primarily the hub for Etihad Airways, which is also UAE's second flag carrier airline, after Emirates. The airport sees tremendous air traffic and passenger traffic for being a hub city and the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

About Airport Terminals

The airport has three terminals in total. Terminal 1 is the oldest building at the Abu Dhabi International Airport. The terminal features arrivals and departure areas with nine gates and jetbridges. The airport also has check-in and arrivals equipped in a separate location that is connected to the building. Terminal 2 is comparatively new and located on the east side of Terminal 1. There are 19 check-in counters along with two baggage claim conveyor belts. It mainly caters to low-cost carriers only. Terminal 3 is fairly new from the other two terminals and has the capacity to hold bigger flights, including Airbus A380s that are flown by Etihad Airways.

About Airport Authority

Abu Dhabi International Airport is currently operated by Abu Dhabi Airports Company, which came into existence in 2006. ADAC has since offered a plethora of services to the aviation industry and Abu Dhabi airports. Along with Abu Dhabi International Airport, the organization also caters to managing Al Bateen Executive Airport, Al Ain International Airport, Sir Bani Airport and Dalma Airport.

Top airlines flying from Abu Dhabi International Airport

Abu Dhabi sees tremendous passenger traffic from Indian cities and hence, accommodates flights from an Indian airline. Some of the airlines that operate from Abu Dhabi International Airport are Air India, Air India Express, GoAir and IndiGo.

In terms of international airlines, the ones that operate from Abu Dhabi International Airport include, AnadoluJet, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, British Airways, EgyptAir, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, KLM, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air, Pakistan International Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Saudia, SriLankan, Turkish Airlines and Turkmenistan Airlines.

Facilities at Abu Dhabi International Airport

WiFi - You can connect to the airport's free wireless network. All you would need to do is to follow some steps to get access to Abu Dhabi International Airport's WiFi connection. Plus, there are internet kiosks available for free. At the departure terminals, you can find about 50 internet kiosks. It is free of cost so you can simply just go over to the kiosk and use the facility. Airport lounges also have wireless connections that you can avail.

ATM and foreign exchange - The airport has many ATMs and foreign-exchange booths available at regular intervals. There are about 16 currency exchange facilities that are present at Abu Dhabi International Airport. There are local banks also present at the airport where you can make transfers and deposits along with cash withdrawals. The prices are also quite reasonable for foreign exchange. A dedicated agency, Travelex, is available at the airport.

Medical services - Abu Dhabi International Airport is also equipped to take care of medical emergencies that take place at the premise. There is a 24-hour clinic to ensure that medical services are available at all times. There is also a paramedic with an ambulance which will take the emergency case to the nearest local hospital. The information desk and 'May I Help You' counters will assist you with this service. Plus, the airport also has pharmacies installed at regular intervals.

Smoking zones - All terminals at Abu Dhabi International Airport are non-smoking buildings. Hence, there are specific smoking zones that have been installed. Smoothing lounges and booths are located in each terminal and are enclosed. The booths also have good air quality that you can enjoy while you smoke a cigarette.

Multi-faith room - Separate prayer rooms have been installed for men and women at Abu Dhabi International Airport. They are present at all terminals of the airport. Intending to value diverse faith, the airport has ensured to have multi-faith rooms at all levels of the terminals. Wheelchairs are also accessible at the prayer rooms.

Airport lounges - Overall, Abu Dhabi International Airport has six airport lounges. In fact, four of the airport lounges are actually owned by Etihad Airways. While terminal 1 has Al Reem Lounge, Al Dhabi Lounge, Etihad Premium Lounge, Terminal 3 houses Etihad First Class Lounge and Spa, Etihad Premium Lounge and Etihad US Premium Lounge. These lounge experiences are one of a kind. Not to mention how the airport also has a dedicated Etihad Arrivals Lounge as well for international travellers. The facilities at the lounge are top-notch with exceptional services and hospitality.

Airport hotels - An in-house hotel is also available at Abu Dhabi International Airport. You can visit Aerotel to benefit from their world-class facilities and to unwind. The hotel is located in Terminal 1 and has been aesthetically designed to please the senses of international travellers. Premier Inn Hotel is also present within the airport premise that you can check out. Premier Inn is also very convenient and recognized for its high standards with respect to providing quality services with modern amenities.

Baggage services - The airport offers a plethora of baggage services ranging from wrapping to storage. In case you need to save your luggage from possibilities of theft and mishandling, you can get them wrapped in plastic. Further, on the same, you can also seal your baggage to prevent them from external damages. You can ship your luggage to a delivery address too instead of going yourself. There are storage facilities also available at the airport where you can keep your luggage, especially if it's a layover or if you need to spend time at the airport before the next flight.

Spa - There are two spas available at the airport's premise. Six Senses Spa is located within the Etihad Diamond First and Pearl Business Class lounges. Meanwhile, TOSA Spa, an award-winning spa chain of the Middle East, Maldives and India, is also available at the airport's Terminal 1. You can avail a string of services from the spas for relaxation. Body massage and other treatments are also there with separate rooms for women and men. Along with this, they also have separate changing rooms for men and women.

Special assistance - The airport caters to special assistance services that travellers require. This includes helping out passengers with reduced mobility and to take care of their trolleys, among a few. You can speak with your airlines in advance to book special assistance. The trained staff will help you through the process and even enable a comfortable experience at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Nursing stations - For all the parents who are travelling with infants and young babies, there are dedicated nursing stations available at all terminals. There are entertainment decks for kids as well as nursing rooms for new mothers with infants. Plus, the rooms are sanitized and kept in a hygienic condition.

How to reach Abu Dhabi International Airport

Public transport

One of the best things about the airport is its facilities that enable direct connections to the city centre. If you need to reach Abu Dhabi International Airport, you can always take a bus as it is economical and convenient. The air-conditioned buses are available from the bus stop to within the city. You can find the stops outside Terminals 1, 2 and 3. There are blue and white signs that indicate to the bus stops. You can follow them, or you can ask for more details at the airport's information desk. You can reach Abu Dhabi International Airport from any part of the city thanks to their bus services. Depending on where you wish to go, the buses have services to those routes. The ticket cost is also very affordable and menial. It would take close to 45 minutes to reach the Abu Dhabi International Airport from the city, depending on the traffic.

Taxicabs and rentals

There are luxury airport taxis that you can find at the airport. They are available at all the terminals, close to the arrivals. A clear signpost is also present to indicate the taxi services. There are male and female drivers who are well-equipped with the city's geography as well as international languages. You can also reach the Abu Dhabi International Airport by availing tax services. In fact, you can actually book for a ride online or check with your airlines for provisions of the same. Hotels in Abu Dhabi also have facilities for an airport shuttle. You can benefit from the same to reach Abu Dhabi International Airport without any hassle. As long as you make prior bookings, you wouldn't have to worry about anything with respect to reaching the Abu Dhabi International Airport.