Showing 3 South African Airways Flights from Lagos - Starting at Just ₹119,275

  About Lagos

Touted to be one of the most populous city centres of the Sub-Saharan Africa, Lagos, located on the coasts of Nigeria, is a fasting-growing city in the continent. The city's exquisite resorts, cultural museums, nightlife and boutiques make it one of the most sought-after cities in Nigeria. Not to mention how it also stands tall as the financial capital of the metropolis. The port city of Lagos has turned a new leaf and is quite the thriving city with impeccable contribution to the economy of Nigeria.

Best time to visit Lagos

Thanks to Lagos' proximity to the equator, the climate is hot and wet most of the year. The air is always hot and humid, which makes it quite unfavourable for travelling. However, there are some seasons or rather months in the city when the sun and humidity are relatively bearable and ideal for tourism. The peak travel and offseason are perfectly segregated into two halves. The six months from October to April are dry with winters taking over from December to February. The remaining months see wet and humid weather. The beginning of the dry season is called Harmattan in Nigeria. During this season, the weather is extremely tourist-friendly and amiable. The beaches are exceptionally beautiful as the dry season kicks in. December to February easily become the best months to visit the city. However, you should ensure that if you do opt for one of the months from the dry season, you should carry clothes accordingly. The dry season can get a little hot too. Light clothing is the best thing you can opt for when in Lagos. Plus, carrying a bottle of water is also quite essential. More than one, if needed.

Summer and monsoon months are quite unfavourable for travelling. The city is soaked wet with extreme possibilities of floods and other such conundrums. Not to mention how the damp and humid weather only adds to creepy crawlers in the environment. It would be quite risky to travel to the city during the monsoon. The hotel prices are cheap in Lagos during monsoon for this very reason. As it is an offseason, the hotel prices are slashed, and it becomes easier to make reservations. However, it is not advisable to plan a trip around this time just to make some savings in the hotel booking. Instead, opt for one of the dry months which are close to the winter season. The city would be pleasant, and tourist activities would be compelling, without any trouble.

Places to visit in Lagos

Lagos has quite a handful of tourist attractions worth visiting. The Tafawa Balewa Square is one such location that boasts historical significance and plays a memorial to victims of the two world wars. The area also hosts events, concerts and plays the role of a racecourse. You should also visit the Teslim Balogun Stadium, which is the country's national stadium. The place is known for its exceptional sporting facilities and also witnesses some exquisite festivals and events, including football matches, both local and international. The Nigerian National Museum is another attraction that would pique your interest. With archaeological relics from the Nigerian history and ethnographic artworks on display, the place is perfect to learn more about the country's ancient history and culture. Lekki Conservation Centre is acclaimed to be an urban park which boasts lush landscapes, wildlife and a perfect getaway for recreational activities. Lagos' Freedom Park is a place you should definitely visit as it exhibits the creative expression of art and culture of the country.

Things to do in Lagos

To indulge in some more of the vibrant African music culture, you can check out the New Afrikan Shrine. Its compelling and engaging music would have quite an effect on you. Not to mention how the lively atmosphere would be an experience of a lifetime. You can also visit the Jhalobia Recreation Park and Gardens to relish the green expanses and lawns that the park has to offer. It is perfect for photography and picnics. Do not miss out some of their beaches and lagoons that touch the city. With the dry and hot weather, the beaches would be a good escape. La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort would be a nice place to relax and unwind. Hi Impact Planet is also a good place where you can engage in some recreational activities. The amusement park has some fun rides that would elevate your spirits and make you quite happy. To catch some Nigerian movies, you can watch a show at the Silverbird Galleria.

Food and restaurants in Lagos

Lagos is recognised as one of the most populous and culturally eclectic cities in Nigeria. In fact, it is also revered for its cultural stance in the whole of Africa. The city does have a Western air with more emphasis on global music, art and culinary spheres. With such artistic and cultural heritage that Lagos boasts, the food culture is a reflection of the same. You will find not just African and Lagos- specific dishes but an array of fusion food from around the world. Villa Medici is one such place that brims French flavours and adds more panache to it. Some of the highlights that the French cuisine is known for, including frogs' legs and escargot a la bourguignonne, can be found here in this food establishment. Order some fine wine and cocktails to go with the food, and you'll have quite a good time here. Métisse is another recognised restaurant in the city that raves Asian and fusion cuisine. With a nautical decor of the place, the restaurant offers a platter of not just Asian dishes but also Lagos's traditional taste. The place also hosts live music to make the dining experience rich.

While fusion food is something you'll find aplenty in Lagos. However, to get the authentic Nigerian food, you have Terra Kulture, a good establishment predominantly known for its exquisite take on Nigerian cuisine. Indulge in the gastronomical delights of authentic Nigerian food at Terra Kulture. Taste their ofada rice, boiled yam, plantain and catfish. The setting of the place is also quite awesome with Nigerian art exhibited on the walls for customers to relish, aside from their food. The Jazzhole is an interesting and iconic record shop, book shop and a cafe. Basically, it is a quaint cafe nestled in the internal routes of Ikoyi in Lagos. The place is untouched and perfect as it sees less crowd and more peace. Plus, the soothing jazz music with soulful performances goes perfectly well for high tea and books. You can also visit the Eko Sky Restaurant and Lounge to receive the best view of the city and astounding food and drinks. It is away from the city's hustle-bustle and has a very tranquil environment that would go down perfectly well with the food and drinks that they serve.

How to reach Lagos

Flight connectivity to Lagos from India is quite decent. There are no direct flights that connect to Lagos from India, but there are enough connecting flights from Cairo and Addis Ababa. The demand for Lagos from India is not a lot, due to which even the number of flights is limited. However, there are various international routes connected to Lagos which have immaculate connectivity. Airlines such as EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, RwandAir, Turkish Airlines, Kenya Airways, SpiceJet, Emirates, Lufthansa, Swiss, Etihad Airways, to name a few, have flights flying in and out of Lagos. There are various international routes that connect to Lagos from Middle-East to European to even Atlantic. However, there are countless layovers and long durations that make only a handful ideal to pick from. From India, the most popular routes to Lagos are from Addis Ababa, Dubai, Cairo and Istanbul. These cities have direct flights heading to Lagos and have fewer hours of layovers too. There are flight options connecting from European cities such as Frankfurt and Zurich too. However, these cities have multiple layovers and connecting flights, making it a cumbersome ordeal.

Not to mention how you will require a transit visa to board connecting flights from these cities to Lagos. EgyptAir, RwandAir and Ethiopian Airlines offer the best ticket prices to Lagos as well as decent flight duration. The approximate flight duration from India to Lagos is 12 hours and fifty minutes. The flight tickets to Lagos are a little expensive. It would cost you just as much to reach a European country as much it would be for a trip to Lagos. The best thing to do to snag inexpensive tickets would be searching for excessive flight deals online to get a good price for a flight ticket to Lagos. There are always countless deals and offers on the web. You could probably use this time to invest in miles or make use of the already-existing miles to fund the trip. While you're booking your flight tickets to Lagos, also opt to make hotel reservations in the city. The prices of hotels in Lagos could also vary depending on which season you pick for your trip. It would be best to look for combo deals online where your flight and hotel reservations are made for a cheap and affordable rate.

  About African Airways

South African Airways is the official national flag carrier of South Africa and is wholly owned by the government of the country. It has its headquarters in Airways Park within the premise of O.R Tambo International Airport. The airport is also a hub for South African Airways as well as a hub-and-spoke network that links about 40 domestic route cities and international route destinations spread across the continents of Africa, Europe, Asia, North and South America and Oceania. The airline's base is at O.R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. South African Airways joined the Star Alliance group in 2006, becoming the first African carrier to have signed a deal with one of the three major airline alliances. The airline was founded following acquisition of Union Airways (South Africa's first commercial airline) by the government of South Africa, in 1934. The airline was initially operated and managed by the South African Railways and Harbours Administration. In 1997, the airline changed its name from Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiens to South African Airways. Further, as part of their rebranding, the airline also introduced a new aircraft livery and online ticketing services.

The airline bid farewell to its parent company, Transnet in 2006 to operate as an independent entity. It remains to be one of the largest state-owned services in South Africa. South African Airways also owns a subsidiary, Mango, which is a low-cost carrier that caters to the domestic market. The same has established links with South African Express and Airlink. In 2005, the airline became the first non-Saudi airline in the world to operate direct Hajj services to the holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia. The same year, the airline also started operations on the Johannesburg-Accra-Washington, D.C. route four times in a week. For this journey, they used the Boeing 747-400. By 2006, South African Airways enabled an increase in in-flight services to various international destinations. The airline eventually retired the last of its 747-400 fleet in 2007. As the airline became a member of Star Alliance, the codeshare agreement with Delta Air Lines was terminated. To commemorate their association with Star Alliance, South African Airways painted two of its aircraft, an Airbus A340-600 and a Boeing 737-800 with the Star Alliance livery.

In 2007, South African Airways made an announcement by revealing its 18-month comprehensive plan to restructure its functions and operations. The restructuring programme aimed to enhance the company's profitability. The plan was supposed to help the airline save up about R2.7 billion (USD 378.2 million). Interestingly, the airline did manage to save about R2.5 billion by 2009. Two of the retired Boeing 747-400s were reactivated to cater to the Lagos route and eventually Luanda too. By 2012, South African Airways commenced services to Beijing in China. They further announced plans to offer non-stop direct services to Beijing as well as Mumbai, in 2015. Although the airline initially used Star Alliance to operate services to China, they were soon changed with Air China's partnership accommodating flights to Beijing. The airline reported in the same year that destinations such as Munich, Perth, Hong Kong and Frankfurt are the only profit-making long-haul routes for South African Airways.

In contrast, the other destinations didn't add to the revenue. In 2017, the airline cut back on its fleet size by 23 percent of flights and acquired a loan from Standard Chartered Bank too. Despite trying to accumulate finances, the airline hasn't been able to recover from the losses and announced cease operations after serving the state for about 86 years. Instead, a new airline would be introduced to replace South African Airways.

Fleet size of South African Airways

As of 2020, South African Airways had a fleet size of 23 which only operated Airbus aircraft. The airline's fleet configuration included three Airbus A319-100s, ten Airbus A320-200s, one Airbus A330-200, five Airbus A330-300s and four Airbus A350-900s As an airline that was prevalent in the aviation industry for a long time, South African Airways' fleet has seen a considerable number of varied aircraft. While it might presently have aircraft predominantly from the Airbus family, the airline did host a number of diverse aircraft. These included Airspeed AS.6 Envoy, Avro 685 York, de Havilland DH.60 Gypsy Moth, Douglas DC-3, Douglas DC-7, Hawker Siddeley HS 748, Junkers Ju 52/3m, Junkers W.34, Lockheed L-18 Lodestar, Vickers VC.1 Viking and Vickers Viscount, to name a few. South African Airways also boasted a strong fleet of aircraft from the Boeing family at one point in time. They had Boeing 707-300s, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 747-200F, Boeing 747SP, Boeing 767-200ER, Boeing 737-200, to name a few. However, they eventually wiped out their mixed fleet with Boeing to only accommodate Airbus.

Baggage Allowance

South African Airways' baggage allowance is the standard protocol that is followed by major airlines in the world. The business class passengers are allowed to carry two pieces of baggage in the checked luggage, and the weight per piece should not exceed more than 32 kg. As for the economy class passengers, the weight per piece of baggage should not be more than 23 kg. The airline only allows one piece of baggage for the economy class passengers. The dimension of the checked baggage is very important to South African Airways as it is essential to fit all the bags perfectly in the cargo. The total dimension of the baggage should not be more than 158 cm. As for hand baggage, the business class passengers are allowed to take two pieces of baggage along with them. The dimensions of the hand baggage should not be more than 56cm (l) 36cm (w) 23cm (h). As for the accessory bag that the airline does accommodate, the passenger will need to ensure that they fit under the front seat. These bags could be a handbag or a laptop bag. The economy class passengers must also adhere to the same dimensions of baggage, but they are only allowed to carry one piece instead of two. Both the cabin class passengers need to check that their baggage weight is not more than 8 kg.

In-flight services

South African Airways boasts some of the finest in-flight services and experiences. As the airline does have a good fleet with decent aircraft, the seating has been enhanced to cater to the comfort of the passengers. They can enjoy the plush leather seats which are equipped with good legroom and armrest. The international route aircraft owned by South African Airways also have personalised in-flight entertainment systems that have been installed in each seat for passengers. Further, the airline also has a trained and friendly staff on board who offer great help in terms of accommodating in-flight services such as ordering meals, requesting for blankets, pillows and other amenities. The meals that can be availed on board are quite exquisite with the menu boasting global cuisine. Passengers certainly have quite a comfortable experience when travelling with South African Airways.

Popular routes and top cities of South African Airways

South African Airways had an illustrious list of cities and destinations that it operated in from domestic routes and international routes. They had regular flights to international destinations such as Perth, Sydney, Vienna, Brussels, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Beijing, Hong Kong, Copenhagen, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Accra, Athens, Milan, Rome, Osaka, Nairobi, Luxembourg City, Port Louis, Amsterdam, Lagos, Abuja, Mahe, Colombo, Zurich, Abu Dhabi, London, New York City, Lusaka, Harare and Victoria Falls, to name a few. However, they have shut down a majority of all their operations owing to the airline ceasing existence altogether. During its heydays, the airline's top cities and international routes were from Johannesburg to London, Hong Kong, Perth, Frankfurt and New York City. The airline's domestic routes were also quite strong as it held a good position in the domestic aviation market. However, following mergers, the airline gave away much of its domestic functions and operations to partners such as Mango, South African Express and Airlink.

Why travel by South African Airways?

South African Airways has followed a strong legacy ever since its inception. Over the years, the airline has further acquired the latest trends and facilities to ensure that their loyal customers and passengers receive the best treatment and services when flying with South African Airways. Aside from acquiring new international routes and domestic route connectivity, the airline has revamped its fleet to bring in aircraft that have better efficiency and possibilities to enable good in-flight services.

Some of the perks of South African Airways include the fact that they have allowed web check-ins as part of their services. Web check-ins make it easier for travellers as it reduces a lot of procedures that must otherwise be conducted at the airport's check-in counter. Simultaneously, the airline has also updated its website with the latest South African Airways flight schedule. Passengers can put details of their ticket to know the flight status as well as baggage allowance deals. Further, booking a South African Airways flight ticket on the airline's official website and other travel portals is quite convenient.

  About Murtala Muhammed Airport

Murtala Muhammed International Airport, also known famously as Lagos Airport, caters to international operations and is situated in Ikeja, Lagos. It is one of the major hubs that serve the airport in the entire state. It was originally built in World War II and has been named after the fourth military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammed, in the 1970s. The most popular destinations that are often opted for from Murtala Muhammed International Airport are cities such as London Heathrow, Abuja, Enugu, Addis Ababa, Port Harcourt, Dubai, Owerri and Accra. The airport has a capacity to accommodate 6,367,478 passengers as of 2017.

About Airport Terminals

The Lagos Airport has two terminals, one dedicated to international operations and the second one for domestic activities. The two terminals use the same runway with respect to flight activities. The domestic terminal was originally the old Ikeja Airport. When the new international terminal opened in 1979, all the flight operations moved to the new terminal. Meanwhile, the old Ikeja Airport was transformed to cater to domestic operations. However, after a fire incident took place in the domestic terminal in 2000, the airport's operations were shifted to the old Lagos domestic terminal while a new terminal was constructed. The new terminal, also known as MMA2, was constructed and eventually commissioned in 2007. The international terminal was designed keeping Amsterdam Airport Schiphol's model in mind. The new terminal caters to Nigeria's biggest airline, Arik Air.

About Airport Authority

Murtala Muhammed International Airport is currently owned and operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. FAAN's headquarters is located in Ikeja, Lagos. Originally established as Nigeria Airports Authority (NAA) in 1976, the airport authority was renamed as Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria in 1995 after the Federal Government restructured and reformed the norms of the aviation industry. FAAN has since been working towards an ambitious rehabilitation programme to upscale the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. The airport has managed to finish about 90 per cent of the work that they planned. In the recent times, the airport has seen some tremendous changes under the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria's management.

Murtala Muhammed International Airport's infrastructure has seen some good developments with the air conditioning improved and luggage belts repaired to perfection. The airport has also been cleaned and sanitized with many recent restaurants and food establishments being installed in the vicinity. Duty-free stores have also been opened with to make the airport fancier. After Bilateral Air Services Agreements were signed between Nigeria and a bunch of countries was revived, many airlines received landing rights again. With airlines such as Emirates, Delta Air Lines, China Southern Airlines and Ocean Air receiving rights and interest to land at Nigeria's Murtala Muhammed International Airport, the country has become easier to reach. In fact, Lagos Airport has become the largest international airport in Nigeria.

Top airlines flying from Murtala Muhammed International Airport

Muhammed International Airport majorly sees a lot of African airlines. However, the airport also accommodates a slew of international airlines in many global cities. The airport also has reserved a space for an Indian airline, Air India. Air India operations from Muhammed International Airport flies to Mumbai and Delhi. In terms of travelling within the continent, Lagos Airport sees a blend of many African airlines. Some of the airlines that operate from Muhammed International Airport include Aero Contractors, Africa World Airlines, Air Peace, Air Senegal, Arik Air, Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways.

Along with the African airlines operating from Muhammed International Airport, there are also a few international ones. Some of the prominent international airlines operating from Muhammed International Airport are Air France, British Airways, China Southern Airlines, Delta Air Lines, EgyptAir, Emirates, Etihad Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

Facilities at Murtala Muhammed International Airport

WiFi - Murtala Muhammed International Airport offers free WiFi services that you can avail. All you need to do is visit the information desk of the airport and ask them for instructions. Some of the instructions are also available on various internet kiosks spread across the airport terminals.

ATM and foreign exchange - Currency exchange booths are located at the arrival and departure zones of international terminals. The airport also offers decent exchange rates. In case you haven't had the time to make the exchange during your trip, the airport is the best place to exchange currencies. There are ATMs of local banks also present at the airport. You can withdraw or even transfer money within the premise.

Medical services - Kupa Aerospace Clinic offers medical services at the airport. They have been placed within the premise of the airport to help with emergency cases that might crop up. The clinics are spread out in proper intervals at the domestic and international terminals. Along with clinics, the airport also has pharmacies installed at the terminals with most of the medicinal drugs.

Nursing stations - The airport has installed nursing stations for parents travelling with infants. The rooms are available for mother's to feed their infants and even clean them. There are baby products such as diapers, baby powders and other such essentials. This has been kept in the rooms, in case they run out of supplies.

Special assistance - Facilities to help special cases falling under the restricted mobility category are also available at the airport. For this, you will have to speak to your airlines and inform them that you require special assistance. The airport, with its trained staff, will accommodate the same for you. You can request for wheelchairs and porter services as well.

Restaurants and cafe - Much like all the airports, you can find restaurants and cafes at Lagos Airport as well. There are a few good options for restaurants with global cuisine. The airport has witnessed some massive upgradations and has since accommodated more restaurants and food establishments. They are available at the international and domestic terminals.

Prayer rooms - The airport has prayer rooms at the departure and arrival zones of the terminals. You can spend some time at the airport's multi-faith rooms. You can also meditate in the quiet rooms as a way to calm your nerves, in case flying concerns you.

Conference room - There is one dedicated conference room that is present within the airport premise. In case you need to hold a conference or a business meeting, the location is quite convenient, especially if it is for an international group of delegates. The conference room is well-equipped with modern amenities to cater to the needs of the host. Anything beyond what is available, you can request the same and ask Muhammed International Airport to help you out.

Lounges - Muhammed International Airport has quite a few lounges at the international as well as domestic terminals. At the international terminal, there are airline lounges as well as some by the airport. You can find Air France/KLM Lounge, British Airways Lounge, Premium Lounge, Skyway Premium Lounge, Gabfol Lounge, First Lounge, Oasis Lounge, SDS Lounge Services and SDS Llegada Arrival Lounge. All the lounges are open 24/7 and offer world-class facilities. They have a plush seating arrangement, snacks, liquor, play area for kids, smoking zones, entertainment decks, free WiFi, restaurants and more. Some of them even have sleeping beds and shower services. VIP Lounge and Platinum Membership Lounge are available at the domestic terminal and offer similar services.

Baggage - Baggage services are available but split into the domestic and international terminals. Depending on which terminal you are at, the baggage services would be offered. The international airport provides specific facilities such as baggage wrapping to prevent theft and mishandling, trolleys, porter services to carry the luggage and more. The domestic terminal has comparatively fewer services. However, you can request for specified services to your airlines, and the airport would provide them.

How to reach Murtala Muhammed International Airport

Public transport

There are bus services available that will reach you to Murtala Muhammed International Airport. However, there is no definitive route that would connect you to the airport from the city. From the Ikeja region, there are no specific routes or even fares that would be fixed to reach you anywhere within Lagos. Further on this, it is not safe to take a bus at certain hours during the day and night. You need to be very careful of the fact that some areas are unsafe and shouldn't be travelled by bus. Hence, the best way to reach Murtala Muhammed International Airport would be to take the taxi instead of a bus.

Taxicabs

The trip from the airport to Lagos city could take a lot of time, approximately one to three hours. This is because the routes have terrible roads. Plus, the distance to the city centre is also quite a lot. However, it is safer to reach Murtala Muhammed International Airport from anywhere in the city of Lagos. Again though, avoid taking a taxi in the night as the roads are not safe.