Los Angeles to Goa Flights

  About Los Angeles

Los Angeles is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States of America. Even though it is majorly popular for Hollywood and a tour of the Paramount Pictures Studios and Warner Bros. Studios, there is more to LA than that. It is one of the fanciest cities to live in and worth every penny spent. LA also has the Malibu, Venice and Santa Monica Beaches that offer a couple of water activities. You can also go hiking at Griffith Park and Angeles National Forest. A lot of tourists prefer a guided tour of the city, but it can take a while since it's a big city. It would, however, help if you plan in advance and make a list of things you want to do and places you want to visit in LA. You also need to make sure that you book your hotel in Los Angeles way in advance. For all you know, you might even run into your favourite celebrity here in LA.

Best Time to Visit Los Angeles

LA is one city that you can visit whenever you want and is at its affordable best if you have planned the trip well in advance. June to August is summer in LA, and it is also a high season. The temperature ranges from 15 to 29 degree Celsius. Booking a hotel in LA during the high season is quite expensive, and you won't even get cheap flight tickets to LA if you are flying during this season. However, if you are not wound up by a budget or have no trouble bearing the heat, summer is ideal for visiting LA for you. You can also be a part of LA Pride that happens in June and the Nisei Week Japanese Festival in August. Since the city is buzzing with tourists, it will also be difficult for you to enjoy some quiet time for yourself. You will constantly find a lot of tourists, almost every place you go to.

March to May is the spring season in LA, and though the prices don't really drop during this season, it is an ideal time to visit the city. The weather remains pleasant, and there are fewer tourists as compared to summer, which makes it all the more better. Though you might not be able to book a hotel in LA at an affordable price, you will come across quite a few discounts and flight deals to LA online. You can attend events like the Los Angeles Marathon, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Jazz Reggae Festival and so on. With fewer tourists, you will also enjoy the Hollywood tour more than you would with tourists overcrowding the city. The temperature ranges from 10 to 23 degree Celsius and makes for quite a pleasant day. The evenings are perfect for you just to take a stroll around the city or the beaches if you are planning to visit any.

September to November is another best time to visit LA since this is when the tourists leave. The weather turns quite pleasant, hotel prices drop and so do prices of flight tickets to LA. The temperature ranges from 11 to 28 degree Celsius. You won't have to worry about splurging more than your budget or stepping out in the sun a lot if you are visiting in autumn. If you are lucky enough, you might even get a chance to attend the Emmy Awards or at least the red carpet as a fan. Make sure that you have your passes arranged in advance. December to February is winter and temperature range from 8 to 20 degree Celsius. It rains quite a lot during winter and LA is not as cold as the other cities in the US like New York or Boston. However, you will bump into celebrities here since the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and Grammys are also hosted during this season. Don't forget to catch the Hollywood Christmas Parade if you are going to be around during the festival.

Places to Visit in Los Angeles

A Hollywood Tour is a must when you visit Los Angeles. Paramount Pictures Studios, Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Warner Bros. Studios are popular tourist attractions in the city. You can go on a guided tour of the studios and might even run into your favourite celebrity. If you want to spend a day near the ocean, you can head to Santa Monica Beach, Venice Beach, Zuma Beach or Malibu Beach. You can also head to the Universal Studios. Not only will you get to visit popular movie sets here but you can also try the movie-themed rides that the place has to offer. Be it The Simpsons, Harry Potter, Walking Dead or Transformers, you can try whichever one is your favourite or all of them. The Museum of Jurassic Technology is another tourist attraction in LA that you would not want to miss. It's a blend of fact and fiction and has very little to do with dinosaurs. If you are heading to the Los Angeles Zoo, you can also visit The Griffith Observatory later. It is a planetarium that lets you observe the moon and stars through a Zeiss telescope.

Take a stroll along the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Now you don't have to hire a guide here necessarily if but you might come across interesting stories if you do. You can head to the Chinese Theatre later on that has hand and footprints of popular actors. Disneyland is another famous attraction that you can visit with your friends or family. It has two waterparks and four theme parks. You can also visit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art if you are an art lover. LACMA, as it is called, opened in 1965 and showcases artefacts from Islamic to European artists. If you want to do a little window shopping or go on a shopping spree, head over to Rodeo Drive, you will come across a lot of high-end designer stores, and you will also spot a lot of expensive, fancy vehicles.

Things to do in Los Angeles

Park near Lake Hollywood or go on a hike at Griffith Park to take a picture with the iconic Hollywood sign in the background. It is one of the most popular landmarks in LA. Griffith Park is one of the most popular places to go hiking in Los Angeles. Venice is an eccentric neighbourhood in Los Angeles, and you might want to catch the sunset at Venice Beach. You will find numerous street vendors, tattoo parlours, international cuisines and a few street performers. You will have a great time here. You can also try bicycle tours in the city, a very eco-friendly way of getting around the city. You can reserve a day for museum tours and other sightseeing tours, another day for studio tours and another one for Disneyland. Heading to the beach and indulging in water activities in another popular thing to do in LA. You will certainly not get tired of living the luxe life here.

Food and Restaurants in Los Angeles

LA has a very diverse range of cuisines, and since it is a famous place for celebs to be at, you will find a lot of restaurants here that are either owned by celebrity chefs like Wolfgang Puck and Gino Angelini. You will also find celebrity chefs recreating their signature dishes at other restaurants. If you want to grab a quick bite instead of waiting around at a restaurant, you can try the food trucks that serve sushi burritos, quinoa bowls and loaded hot dogs. You can also sign yourself up for a guided food tour since LA is known for its eclectic dining scene. The city is also known for its nightlife. You can head to The Varnish and ETA, and they are some of the best cocktail bars in the city. Diddy Riese Cookies is a fast food place that serves you delicious food. If you are in the mood for Italian food, you can try Raffaello Ristorante or Angelini Osteria. Tocaya Organica is the place you go to for Mexican or Latin food. Karl Strauss Brewing Company is an amazing brewpub.

How to reach Los Angeles (Transportation)

The Los Angeles International Airport is about 30 km away from Downtown LA. It is the world's third busiest airport. The flight connectivity to Los Angeles from India is excellent. Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, British Airways are some of the popular airlines that fly to LA with layovers at Istanbul, Singapore, Hong Kong and London. The frequency of flights to LA from India is quite good, and you will get to choose from a lot of them. The LA Airport is well-equipped, and you can expect first-class treatment even if you are not a VIP. There are restaurants, cafes, duty-free shopping areas, taxi services, almost everything that you need here. You can also chill at the airport lounge while you wait for your flight.

  About Goa

Located on the West coast of India is the quaint beachy paradise, also known as Goa. The state of Goa is hardly 3,700 sq. km, with a small population that is known to be one of the biggest tourist destinations in India. The state has a heavy Portuguese influence and culture as it is a former colony. Thanks to their Portugal-influenced, the culture and outlook of Goa are visibly diverse from the other parts of India. Goa sees a regular throng of tourists as Indian and international travellers constantly flock over to the tropical state. The domestic and international routes are well-connected, making travelling by flight to Goa, an easy task.

Best time to visit Goa

The best season to visit Goa is undeniably winter! The winters in Goa call for a celebration as the temperatures drop to offer a pleasant atmosphere. The months starting from October to February are peak season where Goa sees an abundance of travellers. The flight tickets to Goa during this season is also quite expensive as the demand is high. However, with various music festivals, Christmas and the spirit of New Year's taking over, Goa easily becomes one of the best places in winters.

The monsoon season that stretches between June to September is ideal for nature enthusiasts. While many assume Goa's beaches to be its identity, the green expanses of the Western Ghats that passes through Goa get some love from nature enthusiasts. The state's hues change from sparkling blue to emerald green, and it is worth exploring.

The summers are considered to be bad as the tropical region faces sweltering temperatures. Often the mercury spikes up to 40 degree Celsius, making it unbearably hot. The flight tickets to Goa are cheap during this season for obvious reasons. If you can handle the heat, then you can make use of good flight deals and book flight tickets to Goa.

Places to visit in Goa

Museums and art galleries

The state might be known for its tourism, but they also indulge in arts and culture. There are many art galleries around the Old Goa region. The state's Portugal roots can further be explored by visiting the Goa State Museum. You should also visit the Museum for technology and Art, which goes by the name Sensistan. Benaulim's Houses of Goa, Goa Chitra Museum and many other religious art museums have intriguing stories that should be explored.

Beaches

Goa's highlight is the beaches, the cuisine and the nightlife. The pristine blue waters by the coasts sparkle under the sun and attract people from all over the world. The most famous and best beaches in Goa include Palolem, Vagator, Chapora, Anjuna, Arambol, Morjim, Colva, Candolim, Mandrem, Butterfly, Agonda, Calangute, etc. The best thing to in Goa to travel within would be to rent a vehicle and beach hop as every beach caters to a certain kind of audience. Depending on your vibe, you might enjoy a certain stretch of beach. The beautiful beaches are definitely worth it.

Churches

The famed Bom Jesus Basilica with the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier is a legendary church. Built in 1605, the church's distinctive architecture using wood, gold, stone and granite gives it a vintage vibe. Not to mention how you will get to witness the miraculous undecomposed body of Francis Xavier, whose body is preserved by the church officials. Other notable churches include the Church of St Francis of Assisi, Church of St Catejan, Se Cathedral and Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

Things to do in Goa

Water sports

Goa has copious amounts of water sports activities that would keep you indulged all-day. Right from learning how to surf to snorkelling to kayaking in the wide sea, there are various water sports that you can take up. Specific beaches host scuba diving and snorkelling activities while some are known for their parasailing, banana boat ride, ferry tours and other such activities. Depending on which part of the state you're in, you'll get to experience the said kind of water sport.

Beach hopping

The beaches of Goa can either by calm and quaint or loud and noisy. Depending on which neighbourhood you choose, you'll find your own sweet nirvana. The North beaches are more commercial with Baga, Calangute, Candolim, Anjuna, Vagator and more, experiencing excessive crowd. The South beaches are quaint and quiet with luxury settings and fewer crowds. If you wish to indulge in water sports and other such activities, then you should head to North where they happen in abundance. If taking strolls at the beach or going for a swim is what you wish to do then the South beaches are it for you. You can rent bikes or cars and go on a beach-hopping spree.

Ocean treks

To reach some beaches in Goa, you will have to trek the trails. The Butterfly Beach in South Goa is one such beach where you need to trek up the stony trails to reach the exquisite and quaint beach. It is undoubtedly one of the best beaches in the state. Parts of Cabo de Rama beach also expects you to do some trekking, which only adds to the fun of diving in the sea. North Goa's Arambol beach is also famous for ocean treks.

Quad Biking

If you wish to take a day's break from the beaches and the water, you can head to the adventure side of Goa where you'll find quad bike tours. Basically, you can do dirt bike riding on muddy terrains created. You don't need to be an expert to indulge in this activity as it doesn't require any levels of riders.

Casino and cruises

Goa's nightlife is just as lit as the beaches it offers. While there are regulated parties that take place on the beaches and even some nightclubs, there are dedicated cruises and casino parlours too. Try some play of dice at one of these casinos or hit the party scenes to experience the nightlife of Goa.

Food and Restaurants in Goa

As a coastal state, Goa's staple food involves fish curry and rice. The place serves the most exquisite seafood that one can ask for. The beach shacks have Continental, Seafood and Indian food cuisines as options. A majority of the tourists usually choose seafood over everything else. For the best ambience and piquant seafood, you should visit Curly's in North Goa and Fisherman's Wharf in South Goa. Other places with great seafood are The Lazy Goose, Amavi, Starlight, Ritz Classic, Gunpowder, etc.

While seafood is a staple, the iconic Goan dishes are actually made from pork. Acquaint yourself with names such as Vindaloo, Xacuti, Chorizo and Sorpotel as these Goan dishes are a big hit. From street food to lavish restaurant dining, you'll meet with all kinds of experiences in Goa, and they will all be memorable. The beach shacks also have Goan dishes in their menu so you can always mix up the platter. If seafood is a little too much for you to deal with, then an Italian rendezvous at Da Tita might go down well with you.

How to reach Goa

By Air

Goa's Dabolim Airport, located in Vasco da Gama, is the only airport in the State. Due to the popularity of the state, and the fact that it is the most sought-after destination for Indians, as well as international tourists, the flight connectivity to and from Goa, is incredible. Direct flight to Goa is available from Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Jaipur and more. International flights from Goa are also available as some direct planes are flying to Kuwait, UAE, Doha, etc. Although no direct flights are connecting Goa to Western Europe, USA, Russia and the UK, great connectivity and layovers have enabled these international destinations to be connected to Goa.

Nonstop domestic airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, GoAir, Air Asia and Vistara are available. It would be ideal to book your hotels ahead of your trip as shuttle services to pick you up from Goa airport would be convenient. On off-seasons, the flight tickets are cheap and affordable. However, if you wish to travel during their peak season, it is best to book flight tickets in advance for great flight deals online.

By Rail

There are two main railway stations namely, Madgaon Junction and Thivim, which connect other cities to South and North Goa respectively. Direct trains following domestic routes to Goa are also available from Mumbai, Delhi, Mangalore, Kochi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, to name a few.

By Road

A majority of crowd from the Mumbai and Pune region often use the road as a means to reach Goa. There are overnight buses that travel from Mumbai to Goa, which makes travelling convenient. Various public and private bus service providers have sleeper and Volvo seater buses going to Goa. You can either get down at Mapusa Bus Stand for North Goa or Panjim Bus Stand and Madgaon Bus Stand if you're opting for the South beaches. The State-serviced Kadamba Transport is also available and connects to various neighbouring states such as Karnataka and Maharashtra.

  About Los Angeles Airport

Los Angeles International Airport is located in Westchester, about 30 km away from Downtown Los Angeles. It is the primary airport that serves Los Angeles county and all the metropolitan that surrounds it. The airport is recognized to be the third busiest airport in the world with respect to passenger traffic, domestic and international. It is also the second busiest airport in the United States and follows Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The airport is easily the largest international airport on the West Coast of the US.

In fact, Los Angeles International Airport also serves as a major getaway for international flights and operations to the US. The airport is also renowned for its status as the world's busiest origin as well as the destination airport. This means the airport sees travellers either commence or conclude their journey than use it for connecting flights. Los Angeles International Airport also operates the four legacy carriers of the US, American, United, Alaska and Delta. Hubs have been designated to the airlines.

About Airport Terminals

Los Angeles International Airport has a total of nine passenger terminals which comprises of 132 gates in total. The arrangement of the gates is in the form of the letter U and have been numbered to make it easier for the passenger. Tom Bradley International Terminal is completely out of the equation though. With the expansion of the Midfield Satellite Concourse North, international flights can now be accessed from the Tom Bradley Terminal (TBIT). With TBIT, 12 new gates have been added to the Midfield Satellite Concourse North. The terminal and runway have also undergone tremendous improvement. Terminal 1 is reserved for domestic flights as well as international check-in counters are also available. Terminal 2 has been allotted to Aer Lingus Airlines, Aeromexico, Virgin Atlantic, West Jet and Delta Air Lines. Virgin Atlantic also has a Clubhouse that has been installed in the terminal premise. The structure has a luxurious overview that has been inspired by the West Coast luxe lifestyle. Terminal 3 has recently been given wholly to Delta Air Lines. The airlines plans to make some extensive upgrades to accommodate better passenger experience. The terminal also has check-ins of airlines such as Interjet and Virgin Australia, Avianca and Copa.

Terminal 4 has been taken over by American Airlines. The upgrades to the terminal were recently completed and with ticketing counters, restaurants and a direct connection from the terminal to the newly opened Tom Bradley International Terminal. The link has been created to enhance connectivity for passengers who need to reach the other terminal for connecting flights. Terminal 5 sees airlines such as Hawaiian Air, Air Canada (only arrivals), American, American Airlines, Allegiant Air and Frontier. They have recently upgraded the face of the terminal with additional restaurants and ticketing lobby. New baggage carousels have also been installed. Terminal 6 has the departures for Air Canada and all operations of Alaska Airlines, Boutique Air, Thomas Cook, Viva Aerobus and Mokulele Airlines. Latest check-in kiosks have been installed as well as numerous security screening points. Even the lobby's decor has undergone alterations. Terminal 7 is again reserved for domestic airlines, United Airlines and United Express. A new United Club Terminal 7 lounge has recently been opened. Terminal 8 also has flights of United Airlines and United Express with better ticketing lobby and enhancing seating.

About Airport Authority

Los Angeles International Airport is owned and operated by the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWAL). LAWA is actually a branch of the city of Los Angeles and has a team of seven members on the Board of Airport Commissioners. They govern the management and administer the airport's functions. The statutory body owns Los Angeles International Airport as well as Van Nuys Airport, which is located in the San Fernando Valley. Los Angeles World Airport was acquired in 1928 by the Los Angeles Department of Airports to take up operations of Los Angeles Municipal Airport (as it was named earlier). Later in 1997, the Department of Airports took on a new identity and named itself Los Angeles World Airports. The organization was previously owned and operated by Palmdale Regional Airport along with Ontario International Airport. However, it is now an independent body. The authority has managed to bring about tremendous changes in upscaling the passenger experience and infrastructure of the Los Angeles International Airport. They even received the Sustainability Award after the renovation of their Tom Bradley International Terminal.

Los Angeles World Airports has enabled its department of police that go by the name Los Angeles Airport Police. They are often referred to as LAXPD or LAWAPD too. The department is recognized as the fourth largest law enforcement entity in Los Angeles County. There are about 1,100 law enforcement, staff and security personnel employed by the LAWAPD. They sometimes even patrol jointly with the county's police department (LAPD). Additional police personnel have been assigned to LAX security too.

Top airlines flying from Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport caters as the focus city to airlines such as Air New Zealand, Qantas, Volaris, Southwest Airlines, Allegiant Air and Norwegian Air Shuttle. Meanwhile, it is also known to be the only airport in the United States to cater to all four US legacy carriers, namely, American, Alaska, United and Delta. In fact, designated terminals have been allotted to accommodate these airlines at the Los Angeles International Airport. Aside from the legacy carriers, the airlines also see tremendous action on the international front. Airlines such as Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Copa, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Japan Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airways, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Saudia, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Volaris and WestJet, have dedicated flights flying to Los Angeles Airport on a regular basis.

Facilities at the Los Angeles International Airport

Nursing stations - Nursing stations or child care rooms are present at the airport for mothers with infants. The room is regularly sanitized and kept clean to ensure that it doesn't cause discomfort to the mother or the baby.

WiFI - WiFi connections can also be availed at the airport for free. You can get details of the same at the information desk. The WiFi services are unlimited so you can use it for as long as you want.

ATMs and currency exchange - Dedicated ATM kiosks and currency exchange counters are also present at the arrivals of the airport.

Medical services - Medical centres and emergency rooms are also available at the Los Angeles International Airport. You can make medical purchases. In case of an emergency that takes place at the airport terminal, there are paramedics available to immediately tend to the case.

Animal relief centre - There are provisions of animal relief areas where travellers flying with pets can visit. The areas are reserved specifically to help out pets and their family.

Art programs - The airport has a one of a kind art experience where they host programs that travellers can indulge in.

Lounges - Los Angeles International Airport has exquisite lounges and VIP rooms. The lounge is available for VIPs as well as first-class and business-class. The hospitality is great while the lounge also offers spas and other such services.

How to reach Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport is well-connected to the city centre and has various modes of transport available to and from the airport. You will be able to reach the Los Angeles International Airport with much easy if you simply opt for FlyAway bus service that is available at the official website of the airport. The service basically helps bridge the gap between Los Angeles International Airport and Union Station. It also caters to other locations in the city so you can easily reach the Los Angeles International Airport without much hassle. The buses also work on regular schedules so you might have to learn a bit about the same before you plan your travel options. Los Angeles International Airport's website has already shared the bus schedules on their website so you can peruse through the same to get answers. 11:40 PM is the last bus while it starts at 5:40 AM. The timings can change depending on the air traffic and other such conditions. There are free shuttle buses that can reach you to different terminals within the LA Airport premise.

Car rentals and taxis are other options you can choose to reach the Los Angeles International Airport. You can either book them on apps such as Uber, or you can also hail a taxi from the street. The chances of getting those might be limited in LA, but you can always try. As for rentals, if you have just landed at Los Angeles International Airport, you can find rental booths at the arrivals area. You can make your car rental bookings here and leave for the city.

  About Goa Airport

Dabolim Airport is the sole domestic and international airport in the state of Goa. Situated in Dabolim, about 4 km from Vasco da Gama and 23 km from the oldest city Margao and 30 km from the state capital, Panjim, the airport is perched up the Arabian Sea. The airport is a civil enclave (a joint-use airport) and is also operated by the Indian Navy's naval airbase, INS Hansa. Goa Airport witnesses a plethora of international passengers throughout the year, especially from the European continent and many from the United Kingdom as well. IN 2013, the airport inaugurated its integrated terminal to increase the passenger handling capacity. The airport recorded capacity of 7.6 million passengers in the fiscal year 2017-18.

Dabolim Airport witnesses many European-charter airlines with flights flying to and from the city on a seasonal basis. There are dedicated charter flights from the United Kingdom, operated by TUI Airways or popularly known as just TUI. These charter flights function from the UK as well as the Republic of Ireland. Along with flights from the UK, Dabolim Airport also witnesses seasonal charter flights from Russian cities. With a consistent increase in passenger traffic and air traffic congestion, a proposal to introduce a second airport in Mopa has been granted a green signal. Mopa Airport is set to complete construction by 2022 and will see flight operations soon.

About Goa Airport terminals

Currently, Dabolim Airport accommodates two terminals for domestic and international flight operations. Terminal 1 handles all flight activities for domestic airlines. Meanwhile, Terminal 2 takes care of international flight operations ranging from landing to take off. The domestic terminal covered an area of 21,527 square feet and was constructed in 1983 while the international terminal came into existence in 1996, covering an area of 10,763 square feet. However, with a tremendous increase in passenger congestion and air traffic, the airport constructed an integrated terminal building to cater to both domestic as well as international passengers. The same was opened in 2013 with extensive features.

The design and layout of the building are aesthetic which comprises of glass and large steel span structures along with frameless glazing. The integrated terminal sprawls across 36,000 square metres and has been designed to accommodate five million passengers in a year. The terminal is also equipped with eight aerobridges. Some of the outstanding features of the terminal include an in-line baggage scanning system, 75 check-in counters, 22 immigration counters for departures, 18 immigration counters for arrivals and a total of 14 security check counters. The check-in counters are located on the ground floor, while the first floor has security checks. Following the installation of the new integrated terminal building, the old ones have been closed.

About Airport Authority

Dabolim Airport is currently being operated under the Airports Authority of India. The government statutory body which falls under the Ministry of Aviation has worked tirelessly towards enhancing the structure of Goa Airport. Over the years, the airport has undergone several upgradations and modernisation. All the expansion projects have been undertaken by the Airports Authority of India. This includes funding and management decisions concerning the projects. Under the AAI, the airport renewed its terminal building into an integrated one that would cater to accommodating international and domestic activities. Some of their works also include installation of the multi-level car parking facility to enable parking of about 570 cars along with parking bays for aircraft. They have also asked for the Indian Navy and the State Government to help them acquire lands to expand the aprons and the older international terminal building space.

The airport is spread across 1,700 acres of land and also accommodates a civil enclave of 35 acres. On a daily basis, Dabolim Airport witnesses about 180 flights with a large concentration of passenger traffic between 1 PM to 9 PM on weekdays. The airport is supposed to function between the slated time slot during weekdays for civilian as it has some naval restrictions. The military requires flight training activities to continue during a specific time period and hence follows the specified rules throughout the year.

As the airport is jointly operated by the Indian Navy and the Airports Authority of India, the two parties entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2017, to construct a full-length parallel taxi track that would be suitable to accommodate aircraft like Boeing 747. Both parties will share the construction cost. For the expansion project, Dabolim Airport also received environmental clearance in 2018. The project has been divided into three phases and is set to be completed in a scheduled manner. The first phase of the airport was completed in 2019, which resulted in an increase in the runway's capacity from 15 air traffic activities in an hour to 18-20 air traffic movements per hour.

Facilities at the Goa Airport

Lounge – Goa Airport has a VIP lounge that only caters to travellers with specific access passes or ticket types.

WiFi – Dabolim Airport offers free WiFi services to everyone. There are no restrictions as such. The same good speed can be availed at the common lounge as well as VIP lounges too.

ATMs and currency exchange – As it is an international airport, provisions for currency exchanges and ATMs are also present at Dabolim Airport. You will receive decent exchange rates for the currency exchange. Further, you can also transfer money to your overseas accounts.

Baby care facilities – The airport has reserved special rooms for baby care. These rooms are well-lit and have all the necessary items to cater to a baby and a new mother's comfort. A cosy chair, as well as a changing table, is also available in the baby care room. Plus, the room is private and only allows mothers with babies to enter.

Restaurants – Some many restaurants and cafes are present in the premise of Dabolim Airport. These restaurants majorly have Goan cuisine. However, there are continental, and other global cuisines also present in the airport. As you wait for boarding, indulging in food could be a good way to kill time.

Medical services – The airport has a dedicated team of medical experts that clock in 24/7. Along with professionals, Dabolim Airport also has a room reserved for doctors to take the emergency cases to. These rooms are well-equipped with basic first aid kits and medical facilities. A paramedic is also present in the airport vicinity.

Spa - A dedicated spa service is available at both the terminals of Dabolim Airport. If there are any flight delays or you have enough time in hand, you can avail their excellent spa services.

Top airlines flying from Goa Airport

Many domestic airlines are operating from Goa Airport. These include AirAsia India, Air India, Alliance Air, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, TruJet and Vistara. These airlines have flights connecting Dabolim Airport to major cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mysore, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Nagpur, Amritsar, Srinagar, Varanasi, Kochi, Lucknow, Nashik, Surat, Madurai, Hubli, Guwahati, Coimbatore and more. In terms of international flights that operate from Goa Airport, these include Air Arabia, Oman Air and Qatar Airways. They connect to cities such as Muscat, Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, Kuwait City and more. The airport also accommodates seasonal airlines such as TUI Airways, Air Ukraine and Thomas Cook Airlines during peak season as the demand for the state is quite high in terms of tourism.

How to reach Goa Airport

Reaching Goa Airport is quite convenient, even though it is in the outskirts of the city. Passengers can take buses, taxi cabs and trains as well to reach any part of the state.

By Bus and taxi cabs

With respect to buses, the city of Vasco da Gama is only 4 km away. Several public buses can be taken to reach Goa Airport. The closes stop to the airport is Chicalim bus stop, which is located about 1.5 km apart. Many public buses run by the state are connected to Vasco da Gama. From the city of Vasco da Gama, you can always take taxi services to reach Goa Airport. Provisions of local mini-buses are also available to the airport from Vasco da Gama and Chicalim. Similarly, taxi cab services are available within the city. The city of Goa has its mobile app to book prepaid taxis and vehicles to smooth the process of travelling within the state and reaching Dabolim Airport. The government is also working towards constructing a 6-lane expressway that would make connections to the airport easier from major cities in Goa. Similarly, a monorail system is also being proposed.

By Rail

Dabolim has a railway station going by the same name. It is the nearest station from Goa Airport. You can take the train service to reach Dabolim Airport from various parts of Goa such as Tivim in North Goa, Ponda and Margao in South Goa. The railway station is quite in proximity to the airport and is hence, considered to be one of the cheap and affordable options to reach Goa Airport.