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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 Canada
Air Canada is perceived to be the largest airline in Canada and is also the flag carrier of the country. The stature is with respect to fleet size and passenger traffic. Founded in 1937, Air Canada provides a scheduled air transport as well as cargo to about 207 international destinations. The airline is recognised as one of the founding members of Star Alliance. The airline's headquarters is located in Montreal, Quebec. Meanwhile, its hub is at Toronto Pearson International Airport. A subsidiary of Air Canada to cater to domestic routes of the country is Air Canada Express. Originally started as Trans-Canada Airlines (TCA), the airline was founded in 1936 by the Canadian federal government. The first transcontinental flight operations of TCA commenced in 1938. Much later, in 1965, Trans-Canada Airlines was renamed to Air Canada, after the airlines received a government approval for the same. Although it was wholly owned by the government, in the 1980s, with the deregulation of the Canadian airline market, Air Canada was eventually privatised in 1988.
In 2000, Air Canada obtained the airline's largest competition in the aviation market, Canadian Airlines. The airlines filed for bankruptcy protection back in 2003, following which it once again emerged after some reorganisation of the management. After Air Canada's privatisation in 1989, the airlines are now listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Air Canada Public Participation Act (ACPPA) limits the ownership of Air Canada's voting interests, especially by non-residents of the country. To ensure that Air Canada's articles sustain its Canadian roots, the Canada Transportation Act has added some restrictions in terms of voting interests for licensed Canadian carriers.
Over the years, Air Canada has further expanded its operating divisions which include subsidiaries such as Air Canada Cargo, Air Canada Jetz, Air Canada Express, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Vacations. These subsidiaries also include private jet charters and leisure flights. Not to mention how there is a specific airline under Air Canada that only works towards vacation packages. Air Canada Jazz, Air Canada Tango and Zip were formerly part of Air Canada. However, they are not marketed under the airline anymore. The regional partner further adds to the airline's revenue. Along with the regional partners who are part of the fleet, the airline collectively operates about 1,613 scheduled flights on a daily basis.
Fleet size of Air Canada
Air Canada currently handles a total of 173 fleets operational from the airline's hub at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Part of their fleet majorly operates Airbus and Boeing types of aircraft. Some of the fleet combinations include 19 Boeing 777-300ER (77W), 12 Airbus A330-300 (333), 29 Boeing 787-9 (789), eight Boeing 787-8 (788), 15 Airbus A321-200 (321), 24 Boeing 737 MAX 8 (7M8), six Airbus A220-300 (223), 35 Airbus A320-200 (320) and 16 Airbus A319-100 (319).
In the past, Air Canada's Douglas DC-8-63 fleet was restrained from passenger services in 1983. In fact, out of the total, six of them were converted to DC-8-73F freighters in 1984 and reused as a cargo freight for Air Canada. Eventually, the aircraft were sold off around 1990 and 1994. Similarly, Douglas DC-9-15s were used by Air Canada in 1968. Out of these, the DC-9-32CF was used for commercial cargo flights that operated until 1977. Meanwhile, McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32s were utilised by the airline from 1967 to 2002, until they were finally suspended. Airbus A340-500s were used by Air Canada but were later replaced with Boeing 777-200LRs in 2007. It has been recorded that Air Canada was the only airline in North America to operate the A340. The Airbus A340-300s also retired in 2008 and were replaced to add Boeing 777-300ERs by Air Canada. More aircraft from Air Canada were retired, including Boeing 767-200ER fleet that bid farewell to the airline by the end of 2008. many aircraft from the subsidiary fleet were also retired, and the newer fleet was added.
Baggage Allowance
When it comes to baggage allowance in Air Canada flights, it is essential for you to know exactly how much would be ideal for carrying in the cabin as well as for check-in. For overhead bin baggage, the standard dimension is 55cm x 23 cm x 40 cm. The weight could differ depending on the cabin class that you have opted for. For business class and first-class passengers, the weight that can be carried is different from the economy class. As for a personal bag that is also allowed for the passenger to carry, the dimension cannot exceed 33 cm x 16 cm x 43 cm. The contents of the baggage are also specific, so you will need to check the airline's website for all specifics on the same. An additional bag for infant products can also be carried if you are travelling with a child. A complete list of items that can and cannot be carried in flight have been mentioned, which you can peruse through to be certain.
Passengers who are members of the Star Alliance group have the liberty to add extra free baggage that they can carry along with them. The perks of Star Alliance members can also be found out at the official website of Air Canada. The check-in baggage should not weigh more than 32 kg and should have a total linear dimension of 292 cm. Baggage allowance in Air Canada for check-in baggage also comes with some rules and regulations that need to be followed. Certain items are restricted and cannot be carried during travel. For passengers who have taken the codeshare flights which are associated with Air Canada, it would be best to go through the diverse baggage policies that have been applied by the said carrier. A thorough perusal through the website of Air Canada will help you gain better insights.
In-flight services
There are three classes of facilities that Air Canada's in-flight services offer, such as Business/Signature, Premium Economy and Economy. For most of the long-haul international routes for Air Canada, all the three classes are offered. However, for short-haul domestic routes, only business class and economy class are featured in the aircraft.
Signature class (Business class) - Air Canada's in-flight services for business class are available on all the widebody aircraft. They comprise of the executive pod and classic pod to provide privacy, noise cancellation headphones and features AVOD )Audio Video on Demand). The reclining seats can be stretched into flatbeds that extend up to 6 ft 7 inch. The services also include complimentary meals with alcoholic beverages for passengers along with other services such as free WiFi, plug points for laptops and other gadgets.
Premium economy class - The premium class is present in all Airbus A330 along with Boeing 777and Boeing 787 aircraft. The features of the premium economy include larger seats, recliner seats and a seat which can stretch up to 37 to 38 inches. The premium economy class also comes with personalised entertainment decks that can be availed. There are AVOD services available and sent by XM Satellite Radio. The airline also offers in-flight meals and WiFi services. You can even ask for blankets from the cabin crew.
Economy - Compared to the business class and premium economy class, the economy class seats are smaller and have decreased seat pitches that recline up to 4.5 to 6 inches. Personalised AVOD is available for all the passengers, as are other features such as in-flight meals, WiFi services, complimentary non-alcoholic beverages, to name a few.
Popular routes and top cities for Air Canada
Air Canada is quite popular as it is not only one of the founding members of Star Alliance but also has an excellent connection with a plethora of domestic and international routes. International routes include Sydney, London, Dusseldorf, Paris, Munich, Berlin, Zurich, Vienna, Delhi, Manchester, Brussels, Madrid, Prague, Singapore, Mumbai and Lisbon. These are the top cities that Air Canada caters to and see excellent services as most of the aircraft used are Boeing and Airbus.
Why travel by Air Canada?
As one of the most popular airlines in the world, Air Canada gives travellers many reasons to pick them over the other airlines. Some of the highlights include the same terminal connection. The airline's hub has one linear terminal connection that makes it easier for passengers to reach for their connecting flights. The airline also offers customs pre-clearance to avoid standing in long queues. You can book Air Canada flights without any hassle as it is available on all travel platforms, including the website of the airlines. Further, you can download the official app of Air Canada on your phone to get flight status as well as flight schedules. Not to mention how web check-in is also possible through their mobile app and website. This makes the procedures simpler for a traveller. Air Canada's in-flight services are also a testament to why it should be chosen over the other airlines for travel. The domestic and international routes taken by Air Canada make their flight connectivity excellent. The airline caters to all your need and hence should be considered.
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.
