Mumbai30 Nov 23 1 Traveller Economy
Showing International Flight from Madrid
About Madrid
Madrid is one of the hottest holiday destinations in Spain and no, and we are not talking about the weather here. It's not as popular as Barcelona, but it is definitely a city that you must visit. Spain is one of the cheapest holiday destinations in Europe compared to other countries and is worth every penny spent. Madrid is an architectural marvel and is also known for its rich culture. You will occasionally run into an old Spanish Grandma or another local who is all excited to help you with directions or hand you a list of the best attractions to visit in the city. There are high chances of you befriending a lot of locals and staying in touch with them later on through social media. Not to mention, the city is musically inclined, and you will find yourself attending quite a few music festivals here. Of course, Madrid is also popular for its food, and you will want to visit the city again just for the gastronomic experience.
Best Time to Visit Madrid
Summer is one of the most popular times for tourists to plan a vacation to Madrid. However, a lot of local shops are shut during this time since the owners also take a vacation. If you don't mind the scorching heat, this is the best time to fly to Madrid. The temperature ranges from 15 to 31 degree Celsius in summer. You might also want to book your hotel in Madrid well in advance if you are planning to visit the city in summer. You can attend quite a few festivals and events during summers like the International Gay Pride, Mad Cool Festival, Feria del Libro and Veranos de la Villa. Tourists also prefer taking a taxi to get around the city instead of walking around to avoid the heat.
September to November is the autumn season in Madrid and quite pleasant, too. The temperature ranges from 6 to 26 degree Celsius, and this is also when most locals return from their vacations. The shops remain open, and you get to enjoy the highlights of the city at its best. You can also attend the Autumn Festival that happens in October and November. December to February are the coldest months in Madrid. The temperature ranges from 2 to 12 degree Celsius, January being the coldest month. This is also the best time to book a hotel in Madrid or get cheap flight tickets to Madrid since it is not a high season.
Spring season is from March to May and is a pleasant time to head to Madrid. It is right before the high season, so the locals are preparing to welcome a lot of tourists. The hotel prices are low this season and flight tickets are also pretty cheap. The temperature ranges from 5 to 21 degree Celsius and a lot of tourist spots are also open. The best part is that you get to hog the city to yourself since it is not very crowded.
Places to Visit in Madrid
Plaza Mayor, originally called Plaza del Arrabal, is a major tourist attraction in Madrid. You will find yourself admiring the architecture of the place and take lots of pictures. Royal Palace of Madrid is yet another tourist spot that has a lot of historical importance. It was built right where the Moorish Castle was destroyed in 1734 after a tragic fire broke out. It is one of the most important tourist spots in the city. You can also visit the National Museum of History, called the Museo Nacional Del Prado. It houses some of the best masterpieces by renowned artists like Van Dyck, Goya, El Greco, Rembrandt and so on. You will find paintings that date back to the 11th and 18th century. The Temple of Debod was a gift to the city by former Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser. Catch the best of artist Francisco Goya's paintings at the Royal Chapel of St Anthony of La Florida. The church also has the remains of the artist who was buried in front of the altar.
Teatro Real, or the Royal Theatre, is considered to be one of the best opera houses in all of Europe. It has a seating capacity of 1745 people, and you can even get a guide to take you through the theatre. You can also visit the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, a monument that took approximately 20 years to construct. Watch some of the most beautiful fountains at the Plaza de Cibeles. It is also home to the bank of Spain, Linares Palace and Buenavista Palace. Madrid also has a happening nightlife scene. You can head to Barrio de La Latina for some delectable tapas, go dancing and have some amazing beer. However, if crowded places are a deal-breaker for you, you might want to steer clear of visiting the place on weekends.
Things to do in Madrid
You can go on a guided tour of the city. Reserve a day for museums, another day for art tours and a few days to sit back, relax and party. Madrid's nightlife scene is quite exciting. Make sure you visit museums like Museo del Prado, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Museo Sorolla and Museo Reina Sofia. It would be advisable to hire a guide for your museum tour. You'll get to know a lot more interesting facts about the city. You will find yourself appreciating the architecture, and you will be amazed at everything that you see in the museums. If you want to spend your evening relaxing at El Retiro, one of the most beautiful parks in Madrid. You can either plan a picnic on the grass or go boating around the lake in the park. If you are at Plaza Mayor, make sure you try the squid roll here. You will find a lot of restaurants here that serve delicious squid rolls. It is one of the most popular dishes to try here. You can head to Gran Via for a shopping spree and to La Latina for some tapas. Madrid is also easily accessible to other cities in Spain, and you can also cover other major cities in Spain like Barcelona, Seville, Granada, Ibiza and more. Madrid is a place you can visit with your family or your friends. You can also pack your bags and head for a solo trip to Madrid.
Food and Restaurants in Madrid
Traditional Madrid food consists of meat, bread and cheese. It's best tasted in tapas, samples of small plates of Spanish dishes. They come free with the drinks that you order at the bars. Mercado de San Miguel, a popular market that is located right outside Plaza Mayor, offers tapas along with cocktails, dessert, coffee and produce stalls. You can head over to El Tigre if you want to try some complimentary tapas along with your favourite cocktail. The restaurant serves a large plate of tapas, and even though the place is quite loud, you will enjoy your time here. You can also try paella (which is rice with fish), croquetas (fried breadcrumb rolls dish that is filled with mashed potatoes, meat and cheese), Espanola (potato omelette that you will fall in love with) and gazpacho, which is cold soup. You cannot leave Madrid without trying the famous jamón Iberico, one of the most expensive hams in the world. You will also find a lot of Indian, Asian, Chinese and Latin American cuisine in Madrid. Kathmandu Tandoori House Nepali serves the best Indian and Nepali cuisine. You can head to Antonio of Italia a Tavola for authentic Italian food. If you want to try street food that's also healthy, you can try Azotea Forus Barcelo and to Empanadas Malvon Retiro for Argentinean cuisine. Gramabar is a popular spot for everyone who is in the mood for American, Caribbean and Venezuelan cuisine.
How to reach Madrid (Transportation)
Madrid International Airport is called Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport and is situated in the Barajas district. It is about 12 km away from the city centre. The flight connectivity to Madrid from India is excellent. Turkish Airlines, EgyptAir, Lufthansa, Air France are some of the airlines that fly to Madrid quite frequently with layovers at Istanbul, Cairo, Munich and Paris; these are the most popular routes to Madrid by air. If you book in advance, there are high chances that you get cheap flight tickets to Madrid. You will also come across decent flight deals to Madrid online. Madrid Airport is well-equipped with WiFi, lounges and also has a sleeping room in case you want to reach the airport early and wait for your flight. There are lots of taxi and bus services from the airport to your hotel. If you are on a Europe trip and Madrid is on your itinerary, you can also take the Eurail that connects to France and Italy as well. Though you can reach Madrid by rail and road from any other European country, taking a flight to Madrid is one of the most convenient ways to travel.
About China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited or famously called China Eastern is a Chinese airline which has its headquarters located in China Eastern Airlines Building, within the premise of Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Changing District in Shanghai. The airline is one of the top three in China with operations to a slew of domestic routes, international routes and a handful of regional routes too. China Eastern Airlines is the second-largest airline in the country with respect to the number of passengers carried. The airline follows China Southern Airlines as a top airline in China. China Eastern Airlines is a subsidiary of Shanghai Airlines which became the 14th airline to join the SkyTeam airline alliance, in 2011. The airline's parent company is China Eastern Air Holding Company. It was founded in 1988 by the Civil Aviation Administration of China Huadong Administration. Following the unprofitable China General Aviation in 1997, China Eastern Airlines took over the operations and put up the company shares for grabs on the international market, making it the first in the country.
In 2001, the airline wholly acquired a few airlines such as Great Wall Airlines, China Northwest Airlines and China Yunnan Airlines under its wing to form the China Eastern Airlines in 2003 eventually. The government of China holds a massive stake in the airline with a whopping 61.64 per cent of shares while the other shares are owned publicly. In 2006, the airline received more attention from foreign investors as a report of Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines and Emirates eyeing to invest in China Eastern Airlines were confirmed. A final agreement regarding the same was signed in 2007, and a combined 24 per cent of shares were purchased with Singapore Airlines holding 15.73 per cent and Temasek Holdings to acquire 8.27 per cent of shares. Although Cathay Pacific did plan on quashing Singapore Airlines' expansion plans in China but eventually, they opted out of it. In 2009, China Eastern Airlines announced that they would be merging with Shanghai Airlines. One of the main reasons for this move was to reduce the excess competition prevalent in the zone and at the same time, to consolidate Shanghai's status as an international hub in China.
While retaining its brand name and livery, Shanghai Airlines became a wholly-owned and operated subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines in 2010. Later the same year, China Eastern Airlines also acquired China United Airlines to enhance its expansion plans. A joint consortium between China Eastern Airlines and Qantas Group to commence a new low-cost airline, Jetstar Hong Kong, with a base at Hong Kong International Airport was proposed. However, following some issues including a rejection from the Hong Kong authority to issue an operating license, the plan didn't take off. In 2012, the airline received the title accolade Gold Ting Award, at the China Capital Market Annual Conference 2012 as one of the most valuable Chinese brands. It was also acknowledged in the top ten rankings of FORTUNE China in 2013. In 2020, the airline introduced OTT Airlines (One Two Three Airlines) as a subsidiary with a view to operating domestic-manufactured aircraft, including Comac C919 and Comic ARJ21, specifically in the Yangtze Delta region, along with business jet operations.
Fleet size of China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines' current fleet size is a whopping 566 with 150 more aircraft that are in order. As one of the major airlines in China, China Eastern Airlines holds an abundant fleet to ensure that the operations for both international routes and domestic routes are conducted without any hassle. The airline presently holds a fleet that comprises of Airbus A319-100, Airbus A320-200, Airbus A320neo, Airbus A330-200, Airbus A330-300, Airbus A350-900, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737 MAX 8, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 787-9, Comac C919 and Comac ARJ21-700. It was the first Chinese airline to order for an Airbus, a European aircraft-manufacturing enterprise. China Eastern Airlines' most important aircraft are all variants from the Airbus family with special emphasis on the services of the A320 series. They are predominantly used for domestic route services. In 2005, the airline announced that it would be placing an order for 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. However, they cancelled the order, owing to the continuous and massive delays faced. Instead, they swapped the 787 order to Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft. In 2011, the airline placed an order for fifteen Airbus A330s while in 2012, they placed an order for 20 Boeing 777-300ERs. China Eastern Airlines received its first Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in 2014.
Baggage Allowance
China Eastern Airlines has 'free checked baggage along with ticket' type of baggage allowance model. The airline basically reserves a specific number of baggage allowance along with the ticket for passengers. This varies depending on the domestic route and international route transit of passengers. According to the airline, passengers who are travelling from the regional and domestic routes are allowed to carry a baggage weight of up to 40 kg. Meanwhile, the baggage allowance for business class and economy class stands at 30 kg and 20 kg respectively. With respect to the baggage piece concept, China Eastern Airlines allows passengers flying from first class to carry around three bags which can weigh no more than 32 kg each. As for the business class, super economy class and economy class, the airline allows passengers to carry two pieces of baggage that should not weigh more than 32 kg. Additional baggage can be purchased at the airport's check-in counter or on their official website. The added tariff is usually levied depending on the extra weight per kg.
In-flight services
China Eastern Airlines, with its illustrious fleet, has ensured to provide the best of in-flight services to its passengers. In fact, they have made some significant upgrades with their seats and in-flight services and facilities. Not just that the seats are comfortable but even other services such as impeccable in-flight meals, amenities like personalised entertainment systems, provision of pillows, toiletry kits, earplugs, eye masks and more, have made it quite the memorable experience for passengers.
Popular routes and top cities for China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines holds a prominent presence in the continents of Asia, North America and Australia. With an increase in its flight frequencies from Shanghai, the airline has managed to become the household name for all domestic route connectivity. Further, they plan to enhance their reach in the international route destinations too by increasing flight frequencies. In 2016, the airline launched non-stop direct routes flights to destinations such as Prague, St. Petersburg, Amsterdam and Madrid, from Shanghai. The domestic route destinations that China Eastern Airlines covers are Altay, Anqing, Baise, Baoshan, Bangkok, Baotou, Bole, Changchun, Changzhou, Chengdu, Chifeng, Changde, Dailan, Daqing, Dazhou, Enshi, Fukuoka, Guilin, Hangzhou, Jinan, Karamay, Korla, Lanzhou, Liuzhou, Mangshi, Nanchang, Ningbo, Quanzhou, Sanya, Shenzhen, Shiyan, Tangshan, Turpan, Wuhanm Wuxi, Xi'an, Yinchuan, Zhengzhou and Zhuhai, to name a few. As for international routes, some of the top cities that China Eastern Airlines operates in include Auckland, Bangkok, Chicago, Clark, Colombo, Delhi, Denpasar, Frankfurt, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Jeju, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, London, Madrid, Melbourne, Moscow, Nagoya, New York City, Ngari, Paris, Rome, San Francisco, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo (Narita and Haneda), Vancouver, Toronto and Yangon, and more.
Why travel by China Eastern Airlines?
China Eastern Airlines is the perfect and ideal airline to pick if a traveller needs to explore the domestic route destinations of China. The airline has expanded its domestic routes tremendously in the past few years and even acquired a series of competitors to ensure that they have a certain quasi-monopoly in the market. This has only extended its domestic route wing to be more attractive and convenient for travellers. Further, they have also extended much of their international routes with the severe competition with Singapore Airlines and even Cathay Pacific. Unfazed by any of the challenges, the airline has worked towards adding more destinations that would get them more passengers.
While the connectivity of China Eastern Airlines is worth mentioning, their fleet is just as amazing. China Eastern Airlines has ensured to provide the best services to its customers, and they are utilising their strong fleet with upgraded facilities for the same. This has enhanced China Eastern Airlines' in-flight services and other facilities too.
Adding to its perks, the airline has also brought in better services with respect to the administration-related chores. China Eastern Airlines has introduced web check-in services along with flight status updates on the website. Along with this, China Eastern Airlines' flight schedules have also been shared on its website. Passengers can receive an updated list on their website as well as the mobile app. Further, travellers can also book a China Eastern Airlines flight ticket online as they have a presence on all travel portals and their website. The airline has ensured to share baggage allowance details once the flight ticket has been booked as it will help them plan accordingly. With such good upgrades, China Eastern Airlines easily becomes the best airline to opt for, especially when travelling to China.
