Kabul to Ahmedabad FlyDubai Flights

  About Ahmedabad

The city of Ahmedabad is known to be the fifth largest in India and is quite the commercial hub of the state. It is easily one of the fastest-growing cities in India, which also plays a centre for education and various industries. Even though it is not the capital of the state, Ahmedabad has immense scope for development and has been rapidly growing. The city plays an excellent host to a traveller who wishes to experience more of the city's history, development and spirituality. While the development sphere continues to expand in the city, the authorities are further following the Swachcha Bharat campaigns to maintain a neat town.

Ahmedabad is impeccably connected with the rest of the major cities in India. Besides, the international flight connectivity from Ahmedabad is excellent. Reaching the city is easy from all means of transport. As for accommodations, abundant options are ranging from luxury hotels to hostels for all kinds of travellers. You can opt for a fun staycation by booking your hotels in Ahmedabad and make the most of your time in the city. The city also has some great educational institutions that one can consider. In fact, the student crowd in Ahmedabad is rising as the opportunities are immense.

Best time to visit

Ahmedabad's summers can get pretty rough and hot, but the monsoon and winter are equally pleasant. Interestingly, the Gujaratis actually have specific dishes for every season. For summer, aam ras and dishes made from mango. As for winter, their famous undiyo takes over the kitchens and streets! The monsoon also has some cool street food that one can indulge in, when in the city.

Monsoons are typically dedicated to fun street snacks such as roasted corn, boiled corn and some essential roasted dishes. You can primarily find these on the streets as several vendors indulge in selling smokey flavoured street snacks. During this time, the city also welcomes festivals such as Raksha Bandhan and Janmashtami, which are celebrated with gusto.

Undoubtedly though, winter becomes the best season to visit Ahmedabad as it comes with a plethora of cultural relevance as well as sublime atmosphere. The temperature actually drops down to 5-20 degree Celsius, so do pack thermal wear for your trip. Not to mention how festivals such as Navratri, Diwali also take place during the winter months. This means you can actually indulge in some fun Garba as well as dress up for the occasion. Navratri food is another reason why you would want to take a trip to Ahmedabad during the winters.

Places to see

Gandhi Ashram

The Sabarmati Ashram, popularly known as the Gandhi Ashram is the place founded by Mahatma Gandhi. What makes this one of the major tourist attractions of Ahmedabad is the rich historical relevance it holds. The premise of the ashram has teachings of Gandhiji etched on the walls. Interestingly, the ashram continues to work with the principles set by the freedom fighter as the premise also contributes to the handicrafts market with their handmade products. In fact, the ashram also has a handmade paper factory and a spinning wheel factory located within the premise.

ISKCON

The Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and Lord Rama is prevalent in many parts of the country and even the world. The inspiring stories of the two deities as well as their teachings resonate with many followers. The temple is beautiful and has a festive air which will soothe your soul.

Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum

Established by Muni Shri Punyavijayi and Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai, the museum is a haven for a bibliograph as it is an abode to priceless book collections, manuscripts and text materials from a long time ago. From Vedic scriptures of Jainism to poetic verses written in ancient India, the manuscripts and published literary work would be of interest to you if you're an avid reader or someone interested in history.

Auto World Vintage Car Museum

At the Auto World Vintage Car Museum, you will find yourself in awe of some of the swanky rides owned by Shri Pranlal Bhogilal, who opted to convert his private collection to public viewing. Not only will you get to see some fancy rides such as Maybach, Cadillac, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Chrysler, Lincoln, etc. but will also get to take one for a spin! Of course, you'll have to pay a token to take one of the cars out for a drive.

Bhadra Fort

The Bhadra Fort was once a pristine palace with lush gardens and gorgeous sights. Built back in 1411, the fort vicinity also has a temple of Goddess Bhadrakali. The fort has some historical significance as well as some spiritual relevance. One can take up a stroll around the Bhadra Fort and learn more about the rich backstory.

Calico Museum of Textiles

Ahmedabad or rather Gujarat, in general, is known for their contribution to the textile industry. In fact, they are the frontrunners in the textile industry. Many might assume that credit goes to Mahatma Gandhi's Swadeshi movement, which enabled them to opt for handwoven khadi garments and produce the same. However, Ahmedabad's history with textiles dates back to the 1700s! Please take a tour through the Calico Museum of Textiles to learn more about their history and more.

Things to do

Drive-in theatres are a big hit here. You can probably rent a vehicle and head straight to Drive-In Road in the city but ensure to check the show timings before making a plan to watch a movie. Law Gardens is a bustling capital for the shopaholic in you. As long as you can handle some impeccable haggling, Law Gardens is the best place to shop Gujarati ensembles and clothes representing their culture. From glasswork on the fabric to shimmery outfits, you will have a lot of options to pick from at this shopping street.

A heritage walk is usually conducted in the city where you are taken through a tour of some of the historical streets of the town. The walk is organised by Ahmedabad's municipal corporation and happens daily. The walk starts at Swaminarayan Temple in Kalupur and stretches up to the Jama Masjid. You can choose a day of leisure by hanging out at the Victoria Garden. It is close to the Bhadra Fort.

Food and Restaurants

Gujaratis fondness towards food is no big secret. They love food and are always game to explore the variety. In fact, much recently, a man found fame for selling pineapple and rabdi sandwiches! Speaking of which, if you do wish to check out this melange of flavours then you should head to Manek Sandwich in the city's Manek Chowk. For lip-smacking Gujarati thalis, you should check out Vishala. Tadka Punjabi, Sankalp is also some famous food joints in Ahmedabad with impeccable cuisines. While you're here, you should undoubtedly visit Havmor ice cream parlours and get some of that action.

There is something known as Kathiyawadi Food which is an Ahmedabad speciality. In case you're in the mood for some adventure, this is an excellent way to go about your gastronomical journey. Visit Bardi at CG Road for the same. There are more options available at CG Road such as Choice Snacks, Mirch Masala, to name a few that you can check out.

How to reach Ahmedabad (Transportation)

By Air

Ahmedabad has impeccable flight connectivity as various domestic as well as international airlines have flights in and out of the city. The main airport is the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport located approximately 15 km from the city centre. The airport is looking at some significant expansion plans to bring in more space for international airlines. Some of the global flight connectivity from Ahmedabad is with cities such as Kuwait, London, Doha, Singapore and Muscat, to name a few. As for domestic destinations, the flight connectivity from Ahmedabad is brilliant as a majority of the domestic airlines have flights in the city. You can fly to a majority of the metropolitan cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Surat, Goa, Kolkata and more.

By Rail

The Ahmedabad Central Railway Station is also well-connected in terms of daily availability of transport. There are dedicated trains from Mumbai heading to Ahmedabad regularly with multiple connections to other major cities such as Rajkot, Pune, Delhi, Jaipur, Indore, Udaipur, Kolkata, Varanasi, Lucknow, Bengaluru Coimbatore, Chennai, etc. Other important junctions include the Sabarmati Junction and Maninagar Railway Station which connect to the central railway station.

By Road

Driving up to Ahmedabad is actually a fun ride as the roads are exciting and the highways are not risky. You can either book a bus ticket for yourself or rent a car or even drive yourself. People travelling from Maharashtra, Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh often opt for buses as the best option if railway tickets aren't confirmed. The buses are comfortable too as you have options such as semi seater and sleeper to choose from. You can easily reach Ahmedabad from any corner of the country.

  About Flydubai

Flydubai or legally referred to as Dubai Aviation Corporation is a government-owned low-cost carrier in Dubai. The airline has its head office located in Terminal 2 of Dubai International Airport. Even the flight operations take place from Terminal 2 of the airport. Currently, the airline majorly serves Asia, Africa, Middle East and European cities from Dubai. It has about 95 destinations under its wing and offers excellent connectivity at a lower ticket cost. The airline came into existence in 2008 after the government of Dubai founded it. flydubai is not officially a part of the Emirates Group, but the conglomerate did support the young airline in the initial stages of establishment. Following its genesis, flydubai made its first form order with the American aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, at the Farnborough Air Show. They ordered for 50 Boeing 737-800s which valued up to USD3.74 billion. The airline did receive an option to tweak the order for a longer and larger range Boeing 737-900ER. The following year, the airline's received its order, and scheduled flights kicked off in the first half. These flights connected to Middle Eastern cities of Beirut in Lebanon and Amman in Jordan.

The domestic and international route network of flydubai has since expanded significantly. In 2013, flydubai announced that it would be introducing business-class services to all its flights. This would feature a 12-seated cabin with an aisle and window, three-course meals, access to the business class lounge, fine Italian leather seats as well as access to a plethora of entertainment content with power outlets that are suitable for plug points of over 170 countries. The airline has claimed tremendous financial loss, following the growth of Boeing Max 737 aircraft. CEO of flydubai, Ghaith Al-Ghaith claimed that an interim settlement agreement had been made with Boeing to compensate for some of the losses incurred by the airline due to the aircraft company. Details of the agreement have been kept confidential, but flydubai had a severe setback with more than 220 orders put to a halt. The airline does plan to get out of this conundrum and continue their quest for world domination by providing world-class services and hospitality on their flights.

Founded as a venture of the Government of Dubai, the airline received some help from its sister concern, The Emirates Group, before eventually running an independent show. As part of their expansion plans, flydubai set up a centre in Hyderabad, India called Indian Development Centre, to cater to the airline's IT and technology innovations with respect to Passenger Service Systems (PSS). IDC is a software hub that is intended to explore further the fields of software development, research and operations. With flexible fares and world-class in-flight services received on flydubai, it has managed to reach a comfortable position in the global aviation industry.

Fleet size of Flydubai

As of 2019, flydubai's fleet comprises of 54 aircraft, all from the Boeing 737 family. Currently, the airline has about 40 Boeing 737-800 aircraft with 11 Boeing 737 MAX 8. Additionally, they have ordered for 50 Boeing 737 MAX 10 and plan to replace Boeing 737-800 wholly. In 2013, flydubai announced that they would be committing to acquire about 100 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and 111 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft in their fleet. The same was announced at the Dubai Airshow. The deal was valued at USD 11.4 billion, making it the largest ever purchase for Boeing single-aisle airliner, in the Middle-East. The airline made a final order of 75 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and 11 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft in 2014. They also received purchase rights for 25 of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The entire order valued at USD 8.8 billion. In 2017, the airline received its first delivery of Boeing 737 MAX 8 and became the first airline in the Middle East to accommodate and operate the aircraft. At the 2017 Dubai Air Show, flydubai signed a massive deal of receiving 175 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with purchase rights to 50 of the aircraft.

Flydubai Baggage Allowance

Flydubai's baggage allowance standards are similar to the ones followed by major airlines in the world. Depending on the fare and ticket type selected by the traveller, the baggage allowance would differ. For the business class passengers, the checked baggage allowance is up to three pieces of baggage which should collectively weigh not more than 40 kg. Beyond the weight allocated, the airline will charge excessive fees and will also depend on the space the airline can accommodate in the flight. The dimensions of the bag are also important and must be followed. The maximum dimension for the baggage should not exceed 75 x 55 x 35cm. Interestingly, the economy class also follows a similar baggage allowance as the number of luggage includes up to three pieces. However, you will need to make prior payments for the bags. The maximum weight for checked baggage ranges from 20 kg to 40 kg. The maximum dimension for the baggage is also 75 x 55 x 35cm. The checked baggage also has some specific guidelines that the airline recommends that the passengers follow. The same can be found on their website.

As for hand luggage, flydubai's baggage allowance includes one bag for economy class and two for business class. The weight of the bags should not exceed seven kg each. The dimension should also not exceed 55 x 38 x 20 cm. It is imperative that the passenger follows the said protocol as the baggage needs to fit in the overhead bin. Along with the cabin luggage, the airline also allows one bag to be carried that can pose as a laptop bag, purse or handbag. These bags can include important documents such as business papers, passports, securities, jewellery, precious metals, money and other valuable items.

flydubai In-flight services

Business-class - flydubai's in-flight services for Business Class is as fancy as it can get. The airline proposes a superior experience for passengers starting from arrival at the airport to when onboard. The business class seats in the airline's Boeing 737-800 aircraft are spacious and comfortable as opposed to the ones that can be found on economy class. The seats are wider and offer better legroom for travellers to relax better. The Italian-crafted leather seating makes for a comfortable journey. Not to mention the seats can be reclined at a convenient pitch to allow the passenger to sleep well. Business-class of flydubai also has WiFi packages that will enable you to stay connected to the world while you are miles up in the sky. You can work on your emails and other office-related work without having to miss out on anything. The seat can easily be turned into a work station. Other in-flight services on flydubai include a personal 12-1-inch screen that is loaded with entertainment content. There are the latest TV shows, movies and other online content to keep you entertained through your journey. You can also choose from an array of meals and snacks available on the flight which have been inspired by global cuisine.

Economy class - Economy class is ergonomically comfortable with designs and layouts that work towards a good experience for the passengers. The seats do offer good legroom, which enables you to stretch out and relax. In fact, you will be allowed to choose seats with extra legroom too. The same can be availed on the website of flydubai. The airline offers a variety of meals and snacks to choose from in-flight. Further, the airline also offers beverages. However, the passenger will need to make prior booking for meals online. The airline's customer centre or their website will help you place the order for in-flight meals. The seats are also connected with HD screens to cater to the entertainment quotient for passengers. The system has more than 2,000 hours of entertainment with the latest TV shows, movies, games, music and more. Further, the economy class is also equipped with WiFi systems to help passengers continue with their professional commitments. The WiFi packages can be purchased on board, and you can access the internet on your phone as well as your laptop.

Popular routes and top cities for flydubai

flydubai operates in more than 90 destinations that cater to domestic routes as well as international routes. The most popular cities that the airline connects to is Mumbai, Kochi, Manama, Addis Ababa, Dhaka, Delhi, Hyderabad, Amman, Kuwait City, Muscat, Doha, Moscow, Abha and Tashkent, to name a few. The airline predominantly caters to the Middle East, Central Asia and India.

Why travel by flydubai?

Flydubai has grown into one of the biggest airlines in the Middle East. Thanks to the impeccable domestic routes and international routes that the airline caters to, it has been recognised. Not to mention how booking flydubai flights are cheap and affordable. You can get your web check-in done as well as know about the flight status on the airline's official website and mobile app. Further, flydubai's flight schedule is also available on the airline's website and other travel portals.

  About Ahmedabad Airport

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport serves as an international airport to the city of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar in the state of Gujarat. The airport is about 9 km to the north of central Ahmedabad. The airport has been named after the First Deputy Prime Minister of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It falls in the top ten list of busiest airports in India with respect to passenger traffic. In fact, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport stands at the seventh spot for being one of the busiest airports in India. According to reports received in 2018-19, the airport recorded a whopping passenger capacity of 11.17 million in a year. Ahmedabad Airport also serves as the focus city for GoAir airline.

The airport was originally set up in 1937 for domestic operations. However, the airport eventually received its international operations stature in 1991. In 2000, Ahmedabad Airport was added in the category of international airports in India. In the same decade, works to create a new terminal also commenced. In 2010, the airport's new terminal 2 came into existence, and it was inaugurated to handle international passengers.

Further, a towering 18 foot-tall statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was also erected at the airport. The airport has been recognised internationally for its world-class facilities and modern amenities. In fact, it also received an award in 2017 for being the 'Most Improved Airport' in Asia-Pacific, by the Airports Council International.

About Ahmedabad Airport terminals

Terminal 1 - Terminal 1 caters to domestic operations and comprises of two floors. The design and layout of the terminal are exquisite and is capable of handling 1400 passengers during peak hours. The terminal has also reserved spaces for parking cars which can accommodate 250 at one go. It comes with various facilities, including WiFi services and several food establishments. There are about 32 check-in counters as the terminal is sprawled over 480,000 square feet. Just recently in 2018, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport opened a new Plaza Premium lounge in the domestic terminal 1. The lounge is located right next to Gate 4 on the first floor of the terminal building. The lounge has world-class facilities and caters to Priority Pass. You can also use other select bank cards to get access to the lounge. Business-class passengers depending on the airlines that they fly from will also get access to the lounge.

Terminal 2 - Terminal 2, also known as T2, was inaugurated in 2010 and commenced operations the same year. Thanks to the exquisite Steel Structure built by the management, the terminal won accolades for the same at the 2009 edition of National Structural Steel Design and Construction Awards. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport's Terminal 2 accommodates four aerobridges with 32 check-in counters. The terminal's floor area sprawls across 41,000 square meters approximately.

With this, the terminal has the potential to accommodate over 1,600 passengers at all times. Similar to the terminal 1 lounge, terminal 2 also has a new Plaza Premium, which was opened in 2018. The new lounge at the terminal has been reserved for business class and first-class passengers. In fact, passengers who have special Priority Pass and other bank card are also given access to the terminal 2's lounge. Along with great facilities, the terminal also accommodates a 51,975 square metre long apron that enables parking bays for nine A-321 and four ATR-72 types of aircraft.

Terminal 3 - Terminal 3 is located next to terminal 1 and is used for domestic flight activities. The terminal is yet to start functioning, but as of 2019, the airport has managed to lay the foundation. Construction work has already commenced for the new terminal. The terminal building is set to accommodate a parking facility of 200 cars and will predominantly be used for Hajj season.

Terminal 4 - Terminal 4 is reserved for cargo activities. The airport has the capacity to accommodate about 51,637 tonnes of cargo, this includes gold and silver. Sixty per cent of the cargo is derived from various domestic sources. Presently, cargo airlines such as Blue Dart Aviation, Emirates SkyCargo, Ethiopian Airlines Cargo and Qatar Airways Cargo operate from Terminal 4 of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

About Airport Authority

Airports Authority of India is the owner and played as the operator of the Ahmedabad Airport. However, in 2015, they announced to privatise the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Until 2015, much of the airport's management and operations were handled by the Airports Authority of India. Following a bid to transfer the ownership or rather operations of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Adani Group has become the management now. Plans of expansion and upgradation under the operations of Adani Group have not been revealed yet.

Facilities at the Ahmedabad Airport

Lounge – The international and domestic terminals of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport have dedicated lounge services. Called the Plaza premium lounge, the two lounges have great hospitality and comfortable facilities.

Medical services – With a view to handle medical emergency cases, the airport has installed medical services and first aid rooms too. These are present in the domestic as well as international terminals.

WiFi – The airport offers free WiFi facilities for passengers. One can avail the free internet services without having to pay an extra tariff of any sort. Also, the internet connection is strong and can be utilised from various spots in the airport premise.

Currency exchange - Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is an international airport and hence has a foreign exchange counter available in the terminal. You can get your currencies exchanged for a decent rate and also get money transfers done.

Child care rooms – There are provisions for parents travelling with kids to relax at the child care room. These rooms have been installed specifically to help parents calm their kids and to cater to their needs. The rooms are private in nature and have facilities such as changing tables, comfortable chairs and more. They also have baby products such as powders and diapers, in case the parent runs out of these essentials.

Spa – Ever since the airport has undergone upgradation, they have installed some interesting new features. One of them is a spa service. You can avail the spa services at the airport's terminals and relax ahead of the flight. They are mostly present in the international terminal.

Restaurants – There are dedicated food courts available at both the terminals of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. You can find famous restaurants and food joints from around the world at the airport. Famous establishments such as McDonald's, Subway, KFC, to name a few, are also part of the airport terminals. Affordable food joints and beverage points are present at the airport as well. You can pick from the most upscale establishments to the cheap and affordable ones at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

ATMs – The airport facilitates various ATM kiosks of local banks at selected spots in the international and domestic terminals.

Top airlines flying from Ahmedabad Airport

As one of the most important airports in India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport accommodates several domestic and international airlines. The domestic airlines that operate from Ahmedabad Airport include Air India, AirAsia India, Air Deccan, Alliance Air, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Star Air, TruJet and Vistara. These airlines connect to major cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Varanasi, Pune, Nagpur, Visakhapatnam, Patna, Kozhikode, Kochi, Bagdogra, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Indore and Dehradun, to name a few. Meanwhile, the international airlines that operate from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport are Air Arabia, AirAsia X, Druk Air, Emirates, flydubai, Iraqi Airways, Kuwait Airways, Jazeera Airways, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai AirAsia and Thai Smile. These airlines connect to international destinations such as Sharjah, Kuala Lumpur, Paro, London, Baghdad, Kuwait, Doha Singapore, Jeddah, Dubai, Bangkok and Abu Dhabi, to name a few.

How to reach Ahmedabad Airport

By Bus

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is approximately 8n km away from the bus stand. From the bus stand, you can easily find taxis and private buses that will directly reach you to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. There are several prepaid taxi booths also available near the bus stand for you to reach Ahmedabad Airport. Reaching Ahmedabad Airport from the bus stand is quite convenient and comfortable. You can also find transportation facilities on Ola and Uber to reach Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. It would take approximately 20 minutes to reach Ahmedabad Airport. However, depending on the city traffic, the duration can vary.

By Rail

The railway station is also located about 8 km from the airport. If you have a flight to catch from Ahmedabad Airport and if you are travelling to Ahmedabad from other parts of Gujarat, it would be a comfortable journey. You can get various taxi cabs and other such vehicle services at the railway station to reach Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Private cabs are available at the station and would take you around 20 to 25 minutes to reach Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.