Mumbai07 Sep 22 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 EgyptAir
EgyptAir is the official national flag carrier of Egypt. The airline has its headquarters in Cairo International Airport, which also plays as its main hub. A majority of scheduled passenger flight operations and freight services connect to about 75 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, North and South America. The airline is also a recognised member of the Star Alliance airline carrier and is part of the Arab Air Carriers Organization. EgyptAir came into existence in 1932 after Airwork chairman Alan Muntz expressed his intention to start a new airline in Egypt. The enterprise was originally named Misr Airwork, where Misr stood for the Arabic name of Egypt. The government also granted the company exclusive rights to conduct transport operations. Following the founding of the company, Misr Airwork introduced Misr Airlines as its first subsidiary in 1932. The idea of bringing forth the airline was to promote the spirit of aviation among the youth of Egypt. It managed to become the seventh carrier in the world and had its headquarters in Almaza Aerodrome, Heliopolis, Cairo.
Following its genesis, the airline's operations commenced in 1933 with the use of de Havilland DH.84 Dragon. The flight was connected to Alexandria and Mersa Matruh from Cairo. The same year, the frequency of flight services doubled as the demand increased. Eventually, the airline managed to extend its domestic route network by connecting to cities such as Aswan, Gaza, Lydda, Haifa, Luxor and more. The state of Egypt received sola shareholding power of the company and changed its name to Misair SAE. Following the change in ownership, the airline continued to fly the same routes. Subsequently, the airline also purchased Douglas DC-3s to be deployed for domestic routes as well as a few Arab countries. A few years later, Misair once again changed its name to United Arab Airlines and added Viscounts in its fleet to cater to medium-haul flights. The name was given to the airline following the formation of Egypt and Syria to become the United Arab Republic. International route services to Athens, Rome and Zurich commenced as the airline expanded its fleet with more DC-3s, six Viscounts and six Vikings.
In 1971, the airline was renamed as EgyptAir following a change in the name of the country to the Arab Republic of Egypt. EgyptAir is a state-owned enterprise that has proper legalisation, allowing the management to operate as a private entity would function, without any external interference, especially from the government. The self-financed company has no backing from the Egyptian government. In 2002, EgyptAir underwent tremendous corporate re-engineering as they reworked on the management style from a government-oriented into a holding company. The restructuring of the management happened at the same time as the civil aviation's announcement of the Egyptian government to refurbish and upgrade its airport facilities. EgyptAir owns two subsidiaries, namely EgyptAir Express and Air Sinai. The airline also has a 60 per cent stake in Air Cairo as well as a 20 per cent share in Smart Aviation Company. In 2011, the airline did succumb to tremendous losses after the revolution. An estimated 1.3 billion Egyptian pounds were recorded as losses during the fiscal year 2012-13. However, despite the tremendous loss suffered by the airline, they managed to bring back their A-game in the aviation industry.
Fleet size of EgyptAir
As of 2020, EgyptAir's fleet size stands at 67 with flights from the Airbus and Boeing aircraft family. EgyptAir became the 37th customer for Airbus A330/340s in 1995 after ordering three Airbus A340s. In 1996, the airline received its first 260-seater aircraft which was brought in on lease from Gulf Air. The airline also purchased a 308-seater Boeing 77-200s for a whopping USD 400 million 1995. The GE-90 powered aircraft with A340-200s were brought in as replacements to the fleet's Airbus A300B4 and Boeing 767-200 fleet. EgyptAir also ordered seven Airbus A330-200 aircraft in 2003 to replace its existing Airbus A300-600R fleet. EgyptAir has an old relationship with Boeing aircraft manufacturer. The airline received its first Boeing 707 in 1968. In 2010, 346-seater Boeing 777-300ER was delivered by the aircraft company to Egyptair, becoming the first-ever addition of such a massive seater-aircraft in the airline's fleet. In 2017, EgyptAir also announced that they would be placing an order for a purchase of six Boeing 787-9s and fifteen Airbus A320neos. Eventually, in 2019, the airline made its order at the Dubai Airshow that they are purchasing seven A321neos and eight A320neos.
Baggage Allowance
EgyptAir's baggage allowance rules and regulations are quite diverse as it also accommodates the protocols of Star Alliance's membership perks. Predominantly, the baggage allowance on EgyptAir's economy class differs according to the fare rules shared by the airline. However, the weight per piece of baggage should not exceed 23 kg. The dimensions of the bag should also not exceed 158 cm. While the baggage dimension rule applies to the business class traveller as well, the number of bags allowed is two pieces. The weight per piece of baggage should not exceed 32 kg individually. The perks of travelling by business class in terms of baggage allowance are certainly high. In terms of hand luggage too, the business class receives permission to carry two pieces of baggage on board with each piece weighing no more than 8 kg. The economy class passengers are allowed to carry one piece of hand baggage which cannot weigh more than 8 kg. Along with these bags, travellers are also allowed to additionally carry an extra piece of a small bag which could be a handbag or a laptop bag.
In-flight services
EgyptAir's in-flight services have received tremendous positive responses from travellers around the world. Much recently, the airline did announce that it would be undergoing some refurbishments and upgrades to enhance the experience of passengers flying with them. Since the announcement, the airline has catered to better in-flight services. The seating configuration in their aircraft along with the plush seating has seen a drastic change for the better. It is more comfortable and caters to the needs of the passengers. The recline is pretty decent, and even the provision of personal entertainment systems with engaging and updated content adds to its perks. The aircraft does cater to decent recline as well as legroom that is better than many of the airlines in the world. One can also choose the seats they want ahead of the flight.
The airline provides exemplary in-flight meal services that go down well with the passenger's gastronomical desires. Since one of the subsidiaries of EgyptAir is also the catering service that provides for the airline's in-flight meals, the meals meet with high standards. Depending on the type of journey and distance, the airline offers complimentary meals in-flight. EgyptAir is one of the few airlines in the world that does not serve alcohol on its flights, owing to the traditional Islamic beliefs. The in-flight staff are also quite friendly and accommodating to any requirements that the passenger might need during the journey.
Popular routes and top cities for EgyptAir
EgyptAir was voted as the newest airline to join the Star Alliance airline alliance becoming the first one from an Arab country to join the bandwagon. A ceremony to commemorate the same was held at Cairo International Airport in the same year as it became the 21st member of the alliance body. Over the years, EgyptAir has managed to upscale its connectivity with extensive domestic routes and international routes. It has phenomenal connectivity to various European, African and Middle Eastern cities. As on 2020, the airline caters to international destinations such as Vienna, Bahrain, Brussels, Toronto, Nicosia, Alexandria, Cairo, Luxor, Addis Ababa, Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Accra, Athens, Mykonos, Hong Kong, Budapest, Mumbai, Baghdad, Milan, Rome, Tokyo-Narita, Amman, Kuwait City, Amsterdam, Abuja, Lagos, Muscat, Moscow, Jeddah, Medina, Riyadh, Barcelona, Geneva, Tunisia, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London, New York City and Washington DC.
Why travel by EgyptAir?
EgyptAir is easily one of the archaic airlines in the world and has earned quite a reputation over the years. With an extensive fleet that only has the best-handpicked aircraft along with impeccable in-flight services, it easily becomes one of the best to pick, especially to travel to international routes such as Europe, Africa or the Middle East. EgyptAir's domestic route connectivity is also excellent, making travelling within Egypt convenient. As part of its expansion and up-gradation plans, the airline has accommodated several good services that can be availed on a mobile phone. Passengers can get updates on the flight status as well as do web check-ins on the airline's official website.
Similarly, the airline also enables exquisite in-flight services that would make one's journey cosy. Booking an EgyptAir flight is also easy as it has a global presence and can be found on all travel portals. Not to mention how the travellers can book tickets on the airline's official website itself. Simultaneously, one can also check EgyptAir's flight schedule and pick the most convenient one. The airline is easily one of the most sought-after with great facilities to offer.
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.
