Mumbai30 Nov 23 1 Traveller Economy
Showing International Flight from Istanbul
About Istanbul
Istanbul is one of the popular cities in Turkey which has been split by the Bosphorus Strait to have parts of it in Europe as well as Asia. The old city is known for its rich Byzantine heritage, which can still be witnessed in a majority of the monuments and tourist attractions. Istanbul is the financial, economic, historical and cultural hub of Turkey and witnesses a great turnover of tourists every year, especially during peak seasons.
Aside from being one of the largest cities in the world, Istanbul's population is quite high for a European city. The city is always crowded and can often get overwhelming with the excess crowd. There are various ways to reach the city, such as flights to Istanbul and cruises to the city's port from the Mediterranean Sea.
As a tourist hub, the city witnesses tourists flocking over from all directions. While their airport is busy with a plethora of flights flying in and out of Istanbul, even their sea routes see the same fervour. Ships and cruise voyages are a big hit among tourists who have the luxury of time and who also enjoy the luxe lifestyle. Many cities such as Barcelona, Nice, Athens, Sardinia, and more, have regular cruises heading to the port of Istanbul.
Some of the major highlights of the city are the Byzantium structures such as the Basilica Cistern, Chora Museum, to name a few. Accommodation prices fluctuate depending on the travel season.
Best time to visit Istanbul
Istanbul witnesses the best climate between March to May and September to November. As the city faces tremendous humidity to the point of annoyance, the summers and winters are also not ideal for travelling to Istanbul. However, Istanbul still receives an extensive crowd between June to August, summer. Even with the temperatures soaring high, many folks from the cold countries flock over to enjoy the hot sun and humid weather. It might be taxing to the ones already living in hot and humid atmospheres. The demand for Istanbul's summers is surprisingly high. The peak season comes with high-priced tags on hotel rooms in Istanbul. Even flights to Istanbul during the summer months are expensive. However, if you're planning a trip from India, which already enjoy its share of hot and humid weather, summer is definitely not the best time for you.
Months leading to winter and summer though, they are really pleasant and favourable for travelling and engaging in touristy activities. September to November bring the city's temperatures down as the roads are blessed with a cold breeze and quaint environment. Even the flight tickets to Istanbul drop, and there are cheap and affordable flight deals that you can acquire. These months usually witness rain showers, due to which, the tourism is put at a standstill. For a budget-traveller though, it is the best time to visit. The accommodation prices drop exceptionally in the city during this season, paving way for booking hotels in Istanbul for cheap. Another perk of this season is how various cultural festivals take place. Istanbul Biennial, Istanbul International Puppet Festival, Istanbul Theatre Festival, Contemporary Istanbul and Akbank Jazz Festival, are some of the festivals organised by the city to entertain the locals as well as the tourists. The March to May months are just as pleasant before summer takes over. Despite the humidity in the air, the spring and fall season caters to the tourism industry by keeping the heat and stickiness at a bare minimum.
Places to visit in Istanbul
Istanbul exquisite palaces and ornate religious structures have always been a fancy for history enthusiasts and tourists driven by cultural relevance. The city's major tourist attractions are centrally located, making traversing to the place convenient. However, thanks to the proximity, this has led to the city of Istanbul being excessively noisy, crowded and chaotic. That shouldn't stop you from exploring the streets of the city though You should visit the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia Museum. These two attractions are known to be the most important ones in Istanbul and should not be missed. Istanbul's Faith district's another pearl is the Süleymaniye Mosque, which is known to be one of the perfect architectural structure in Ottoman-style. The Bosphorus Strait of Istanbul is a natural wonder on its own with the strategic waterways that connect the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and simultaneously, dividing the city of Istanbul into two separate continents. This is easily one of the best sights and definitely worth checking out. You can even find fancy restaurants that overlook the strait.
The Basilica Cistern (also called Yerebatan Sarnici) is the largest Byzantine cistern that has managed to survive all through centuries. It is a beautiful site with an underground water reservoir, which is roughly calculated to be the size of two football fields. Another relic from the Byzantine period is the Chora Museum, which was originally a church from the old era. There are some modern structures too that add to Istanbul's charm with the Istanbul Modern museum being one of them. It is a private museum which collects and exhibits artwork that has contemporary significance.
Things to do in Istanbul
Located very close to the Blue Mosque is the Grand Bazaar, which is one of the oldest and massive shopping markets across the globe. With over 5,000 shops and 60 streets, the bazaar tends to overwhelm tourists with its colossal size. Not to mention how the place is constantly bustling with overzealous salesmen. The bazaar also has many quaint cafes and restaurants where you will find a lovely amalgam of cuisines ranging from the Mediterranean to Turkish to Middle Eastern. Many tourists have advocated that simply opting for a stroll around the city streets is the best kind of tourist activity one can indulge in when in Istanbul. Interacting with people and learning new stories about the place is definitely something people would enjoy. Plus, it would also be a good learning experience as you will have many more stories to return with from Istanbul.
Food and Restaurants in Istanbul
Istanbul's dreamy scenic landscapes and cityscapes are not the only marvels that would steal your heart. The city's lovely melange of cuisines from Turkish to the Mediterranean is quite impressive and will go down well with you. The fusion food from the Middle East and Asia further add to the charm of the exquisite delicacies sold on the streets of Istanbul. You will particularly enjoy their kebabs and mezes (tapas-like plates), a popular dish known across Turkey as well as other Middle Eastern countries. The cuisine comprises meat, beans, vegetables and nuts, which combine to make quite the flavour that to get your attention. Another important ingredient for the Turkish is yogurt, which is used as a companion for a majority of their meals. The street food is just as marvellous with döner and simit, to name a few staple dishes. Besides, if the food expedition gets too heavy and makes you conk off, you can also down some impeccable Turkish coffee and feel rejuvenated.
To experience some of the high-end luxe restaurants in Istanbul, visit Ulus 29 which faces the famed Bosphorus, Râna Meyhane for some lip-smacking Ottoman and Mediterranean cuisine. You can take this food expedition further by visiting Banyan to savour some Asian delicacies and St. Regis Brasserie to indulge in some French food. These places are fancy and have some of the best views of the city's Bosphorus Strait. To resort to a more fun and noisy backdrop, head to some meyhanes, located in every nook and corner of the city. Babel Cafe and Restaurant would give you one of the best Turkish dishes.
How to reach Istanbul (Transportation)
Istanbul's international airport, also known as Ataturk International Airport, is the city as well as Turkey's busiest airport. As a city that attracts a lot of tourists, the international airport is well-connected with several major cities in the world. Flight connectivity to Istanbul from India is exceptional. There are direct flights that fly to Istanbul from major cities in the country, including, Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. Turkish Airlines, Oman Air, Aeroflot, Ukraine International Airlines are some of the major airlines that have services for direct flights to Istanbul from Indian cities. The distance from India to Turkey is quite decent and can be covered in about seven to ten hours. Depending on whether you choose a connecting flight or a flight with a layover, the duration to reach Istanbul from India would differ accordingly. Turkish Airlines offer direct flights without any layovers and connecting flight business from Mumbai, which takes only seven hours to reach. Direct flights come with a setback of burning a hole in your pocket.
As long as you don't mind paying extra money and spending less time on the flight, you can opt for direct flights. However, if you wish to snag cheap flight tickets to Istanbul, you will either have to pick the flights with longer durations or the ones with layovers. While booking your flight tickets, ensure to book your hotel room in Istanbul as well. You might receive some online flight deals for booking Istanbul flight and accommodation.
About Air Arabia
Air Arabia is a low-cost Emirati airline that operates in the United Arab Emirates. The airline has its head office in the A1 Building Sharjah Freight Centre, in Sharjah International Airport. It caters to a plethora of destinations, 151 to be precise, which are spread across North Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Indian subcontinent. The airline's main hub is at Sharjah International Airport while its focus cities are Casablanca and Alexandria. Air Arabia is also a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization. The airline came into existence in 2003 and was founded by an Amiri Decree, which was issued by Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, the reigning ruler of Sharjah. He is also a member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates. Air Arabia commenced as a low-cost carrier and became the first one to be established in the Middle East. Operations of Air Arabia were also kickstarted the same year as its first flight flew from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Bahrain International Airport. Within its first year of operations, the airline managed to rake in revenue and became a profitable venture for the state. Eventually, by 2007, the airline was listed on the stock market and was opened for an initial public offering. Fifty-five per cent of its stocks were launched as the initial offering in 2007.
It was listed at the Dubai Financial Market and was traded under the ticker symbol (DFM: AIRARABIA). Currently, the airline is a holding company which has assets worth up to AED 10 billion. As soon as the airline commenced operations, it started making profits which helped the investors realise its profitability. In recent times, Air Arabia holds various subsidiary airlines and enterprises that cater to the travel and tourism industry with services prevalent across the Middle East and North African destinations. The airline's board of directors have seven members in total. Out of this, Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Thani is the chairman of the board. At the same time, Adel Abdulla Ali is the Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Director of Air Arabia.
Meanwhile, Dr Ghanem Mohammed Al Hajri, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani, Sheikh Khalid Bin Issam Al Qassimi, Mr Waleed Al Sayegh and Mr Matar Al Blooshi are independent members of the board. The board of directors keeps track of the operations of Air Arabia along with prospects of newer destinations and fleet. The airline also keeps a close eye on the board's actions and has discouraged the trading of shares of Air Arabia, within the board members. With its headquarters in Sharjah, the airline's office is about 15 km away from central Dubai.
Intending to enhance better connectivity, Air Arabia formed joint ventures with bases in four international cities. Details of the same are mentioned below -
Egypt - Air Arabia formed Air Arabia Egypt in the year 2010 and is still operational. The airline announced its joint venture with an Egyptian travel and tourism agency Travco Group. With the consortium formed, the airline was formed with its base at Alexandria in Egypt. The airline also received its operating license the same year, and the first commercial flight kicked off. The airline's Egypt fleet consists of three aircraft out of which two are scheduled to carry passenger services while one of them carries charter traffic from Europe to the Red Sea.
Jordan - In 2015, Air Arabia stated that it planned to acquire 49 per cent of stake in Petra Airlines. The remaining 51 per cent of shares in Petra Airlines was held by RUM Group. However, the consortium brought forth a rebranding which led to Petra Airlines changing to Air Arabia Jordan in 2015. The airline initially operated with two Airbus A320 aircraft. Right after commencing operations in 2015, the new airline also announced that they planned to launch new destinations to be operated from Jordan. These included Kuwait, Erbil, Jeddah and Sharm El Sheikh. The airline ceased to exist in 2018.
Morocco - Air Arabia Maroc came into existence as a joint venture between Air Arabia and a few Moroccan investors. They set up a secondary base in Morocco's Casablanca and commenced operations by 2009. They have since expanded operations across the African and European continent.
Nepal - With Fly Yeti, air Arabia did start flight operations in Nepal with its base in the country's capital Kathmandu. The airline catered to the Asian and Middle Eastern market. The joint venture was signed, and the low-cost carrier was formed. However, with tumultuous political situations and economic concerns, the operations of FlyYeti was suspended within a year.
Fleet size of Air Arabia
As of 2019, Air Arabia's fleet size stands at 55, which only consists of Airbus aircraft. The airline currently operates 52 Airbus A320-200s and three Airbus A321LRs. However, they have also placed a bulk order to acquire 73 Airbus A320neo, 20 Airbus A321neo and 23 Airbus A321XLR. The airline plans to extend its fleet size to 119. They are yet to receive their orders. The airline has been following the same livery design on all its aircraft from the fleet. The aircraft's body has been painted in three diverse colours such as white, red and grey. The tail of all the aircraft engine has the company logo of Sharjah painted in the form of a bird. Over completion of the airline's 15 years in the industry, in 2018, the airline introduced a new livery which is set to replace the original livery. The same will be incorporated gradually to the fleet. The new livery features a large red bird logo which is seen flying down from the tail to the rear fuselage. It has grey accents painted behind its wings, and a stylised AirArabia title is written in English on the front of the aircraft. The same is also written in Arabic, right under the title.
Baggage Allowance
The baggage allowance of Air Arabia can be modified when booking the flight ticket. The airline does not restrict its passengers to have a specific number of baggage pieces that they can carry. However, they do have specific weight constraints that the passenger needs to follow with their baggage. The airline allows 32 kg per piece of baggage. Additionally, the passenger can add 20 kg while paying the excess baggage tariffs. The baggage dimensions should be no more than 160 cm. It is necessary that passengers follow the dimension rule as it will help accommodate the baggage. The hand baggage allowance is also quite generous as the airline allows 10 kg with a dimension that shouldn't exceed a total of 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm.
In-flight services
Air Arabia might be one of the only low-cost carriers to have made a debut in the Middle Eastern soil, but their in-flight services are incomparable. The airline offers some of the best in-flight services that fall under the low-cost bracket. The airline's fleet brings about extremely cosy seats with a good reclining degree. Further, the airline also offers in-flight meals and entertainment decks that would further ensure that the passenger's journey is wholesome and happy.
Popular routes and top cities for Air Arabia
As of 2020, the airline caters to international routes that are predominantly in the Middle Eastern, North African, European and Indian subcontinents. Some of them are Kabul, Yerevan, Baku, Bahrain, Chittagong, Dhaka, Brussels, Sarajevo, Urumqi, Cairo, Luxor, Sohag, Asmara, Paris, Nice, Strasbourg, Lyon, Frankfurt, Shiraz, Najaf, Dublin, Rome, Amman Almaty, Nairobi, Kuwait City, Beirut, Kuala Lumpur, Casablanca, Agadir, Muscat, Amsterdam, Kathmandu, Karachi, Lahore, Moscow, Abha, Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh, Medina, Tabuk, Madrid, Colombo, Palma de Mallorca, Stockholm, Tunis, Trabzon, Odessa, Sharjah and London. The airline is yet to come up with operations and international routes to connect to the North and South American continents. They also lack extensive connectivity in Southeast Asian countries. Owing to the extensive demand for the Middle Eastern destinations from India, the airline has dedicated operations from cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Coimbatore, Jaipur, Kochi, Bangalore, Nagpur, Kozhikode, Goa and more.
Why travel by Air Arabia?
Some of the highlights of booking an Air Arabia flight is that it comes with some good benefits. As a low-cost carrier, the flight tickets are already cheap and affordable. Not to mention how the airline' standard of quality remains top-notch despite the low cost. Air Arabia's website has also been upgraded to ensure that the passengers are able to receive all updates regarding the flights and operations. Passengers can do web check-ins on their website and also get updates on the flight status.
Similarly, Air Arabia's flight schedule is also mentioned on their website with up to date details. Travellers can peruse through the portal and even learn more about their baggage allowance and in-flight services to check if it falls in lines with their requirements. The airline's excellent connectivity with various destinations in the domestic routes and international routes further makes it one of the best travel airlines to choose.
About Istanbul Airport
Istanbul Airport is one of the biggest airports in Turkey and serves as an international airport. The airport is situated on the Arnavutköy district, which falls on the European side of the city. Istanbul Airport is reserved for passenger use and should not be confused with Istanbul Atatürk Airport. The airport previously served for commercial flight services. However, the passenger flights were shifted to Istanbul Airport. Istanbul Atatürk Airport is closed for passenger flights, and only Istanbul Airport serves to allow operations of commercial flights.
Istanbul Airport is currently working on expansion plans. Some of the phases of infrastructural development and upgradations are yet to be completed. In fact, the airport authorities have segregated the expansion plans into various stages to enable consistent work. The eventual aim is to accommodate a whopping number of 200 million passengers in a year.
Istanbul Airport has four runways with one terminal that caters to both domestic and international flight movement. While there is only one terminal, the airport as been divided into five concourses and lettered alphabetically, A, B, C, D, F and G. Further with respect to the airport security, they have about 3,500 security personnel. These include 1,850 police, 750 immigration officers, providing airport security.
About Airport Terminals
Currently, the Istanbul Airport has one functioning terminal which services domestic and international flight activities. There are four runways that are operational and made of asphalt. The terminal does have a total of five concourses lettered A, B, D, F and G along with 143 total boarding bridges for passengers alphabetically. Since the one terminal takes care of both, domestic and international flights, the concourses divide the passengers flying from within Turkey and internationally. The Istanbul Airport has 3,500 security personnel dedicated to keeping the vicinity safe. Not to mention how a total of 1,850 police along with 750 immigration officers who are expected to join the airport security. The Istanbul Airport does have extensive plans to expand the terminals from the functional ones. The main terminal is known to have the capacity of passenger 90 million annually. It poses a tough competition with Dubai International Airport Terminal 3, which also boasts a large floor area. Istanbul Airport's runways are quite large, with one of them being 4,100 metres long.
About Airport Authority
Istanbul Airport is owned by General Directorate of State Airports Authority. However, it is being operated by Istanbul Grand Airport. The General Directorate of State Airports Authority is primarily a Turkish government body that takes care of the smooth functioning of a majority of airports in Turkey. They are also responsible for the regulation and overseeing the air traffic in the airspace that falls under the Turkish territory. Although the authority takes care of operations of many airports, the exceptions include Istanbul Airport, Milas-Bodrum Airport, Antalya Airport and Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport. The operations of Istanbul Airport are undertaken by Istanbul Grand Airport. They have been working extensively on enabling the airport to be one of the best in the world.
Much recently, the authority came up with a project called Istanbul Airport City, which is set to bring about an intriguing urban development design. The airport city's design has since been enhanced with provisions for world-class amenities to support the Istanbul Airport's functions. The Airport City's unique concept has been undertaken by Perkin+Will, a renowned international design company. Istanbul Airport City model's location is parallel to the Istanbul Airport. The best part about the project's design is how it resembles the city of Istanbul. IGA aims to make the Istanbul Airport City as the cultural and economic hub for Turkey. The Istanbul Airport City will have four main zones which would be directly connected to the core zone of Terminal 1. The Istanbul Airport City is also slated to have an aviation academy and university, retail, hotels, hospital facility and more. IGA is also planning on bringing sustainable practices to enable a positive approach to environmental management.
Top airlines flying from Istanbul Airport
Istanbul Airport is gifted with great airlines connection. There are many flights that fly to and from the Istanbul Airport and have dedicated park bays too. In fact, the airport also sees Indian airlines, IndiGo. It is the only Indian airline that is available at the Istanbul Airport. In fact, the airline has devoted direct flight to IndiGo. Along with the Indian airline though, the Istanbul Airport further sees a lot of international connections too. With Turkish Airlines taking the majority of air traffic, the airport does witness flights of airlines such as Aegean Airlines, Aeroflot, Air Albania, Air Astana, Air France, Air Moldova, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, British Airways, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Iran Air, Jazeera Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Libyan Airlines, Oman Air, Pegasus Airlines, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Singapore Airlines, Tunisair, Sichuan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International Airlines and Uzbekistan Airways. The Istanbul Airport does lack cargo operations as a majority of the operations are being taken up by Istanbul Atatürk Airport.
Facilities at the Istanbul Airport
ATM and foreign exchange - ATM kiosks and forex counters are available at regular intervals at the airport. In fact, you can find the forex counters at the arrivals section of all terminals. It would be best to go through the airport's website if you need to know the exact location of the forex counters. The information desk would also perfect place for you to visit.
Baggage - The airport offers a slew of baggage-related facilities such as baggage delivery, baggage wrapping, porter services and more. These services are perfect as they would help you with all your luggage woes.
Prayer rooms - Dedicated multi-faith rooms have been installed at the airport. They can be availed by visitors, and there are 44 rooms in total. Half of them serve men, and the other half serve women. You must know the ones that you can enter.
Restaurants and cafes - Food courts, establishments and upscale restaurants are also present at the airport terminals. You can find them at the departures and arrivals spaces. In fact, many of the lounges in the airport also cater to an exquisite culinary experience.
Lounges - The Istanbul Airport accommodates a slew of airline lounges, including VIP rooms and business conference halls. These make it convenient for the passengers who are travelling with first-class and business-class tickets. The lounge also has spas and upscale restaurants to make it a good experience for travellers.
Medical services - Medical services such as emergency teams and pharmacies are also available at the airport. You can visit the information desk to find out more about their paramedic services. Pharmacies are also present at the departures and arrivals sections of the terminals. This is to ensure that an emergency situation is catered to immediately.
Nursing rooms - For new mothers with infants, dedicated nursing rooms have also been installed. The rooms are perfectly hygienic and sanitized to ensure that the mothers feel safe about the environment. The area also has baby products and essentials such as baby powders and diapers.
Special assistance - Special assistance and porter services are also offered at the airport. In fact, you can inform your airlines about the services you require which need special assistance and the airport would provide you with the same.
Smoking zone - To keep the air of the airport fresh, they have restricted smoking in public. There are dedicated smoking rooms in the airport lounge that you can visit. In case you do not have any on you. Provisions to purchase the same is also available.
How to reach Istanbul Airport
Public Transport
Much recently, the Istanbul Airport worked on bringing forth a dedicated public transportation link that would be connected to the city. There are many scheduled rides that would reach you to the Istanbul Airport as well as the city. There are taxis and other public transportations that are available at the airport. Not to mention how you can find them from anywhere in the main city too. You can find bus routes to take to reach the Istanbul Airport on their website.
Rentals and taxis
You can find taxis and rental cars that would reach you to Istanbul Airport. It might be nice to take up cars and taxis for a relaxed departure. It is essential for you to plan your route in advance to make sure that you reach the Istanbul Airport on time. Maps would guide you perfectly to the airport. It is essential that you keep a check on the traffic that the Istanbul city possesses. Since Istanbul is known to be extremely crowded and busy at all times, it would be best to plan a route in advance to reach the Istanbul Airport without any delay in the schedule. The airport does offer 24/7 taxi service that can be found at several counters. You can book a ride from the departures as well as the arrivals.
