Mumbai08 Feb 24 1 Traveller Economy
Showing International Flight from Manama
About Bahrain
The jewel of the Persian Gulf, the Kingdom of Bahrain is an island nation and an archipelago. With 33 small natural islands in addition to the 51 artificial islands, the country is a haven for tourists who lust the sea. Bahrain is recognised not just for its beautiful beaches and relics of the Dilmun civilisation but also for being a wealthy nation. The World Bank has also acknowledged the same as it has called Bahrain a high-income economy.
Booking flights to Bahrain is quite cheap and convenient from India. The country witnesses a tremendous number of tourists and individuals from India settled in Bahrain.
Best time to visit in Bahrain
The fall season in Bahrain is favoured as the best time for travellers to take a trip to the small archipelago. The temperatures during the fall season are quite pleasant despite the humidity. Basically, you wouldn't have to worry about the fact that the precipitation in the air would make it a hot weather. Thanks to the cold breeze during the fall month, followed by the winter season, the atmosphere is pleasant, and the vibe is favourable. June to August is definitely the worst month to visit. Due to the extreme climates of Bahrain, the summers are quite hot. This might even make stepping out of the hotel room a tab bot difficult. Hence, it should be avoided at all cost. October is the perfect month to visit Bahrain as it has a melange of climates. The residual autumn leaving the city while the cold winter breeze arrives to set camp is quite the time to be in the city. Besides, in October, the flight ticket prices to Bahrain are also quite cheap and affordable. The mediocre range of flight tickets to Bahrain gives tourists the push they need to book tickets to the city.
For those who love the winter breeze and want more of the cold weather action, you should opt for the winters between December to February for travelling. Tourist places will be open although they will be frigid because the temperature gets quite cold. Meanwhile, the accommodation prices also see a drop as many people do not wish to see Bahrain during winters due to its extreme reduction in temperature level. This means the tourist crowd is automatically reduced, giving you ample cheap flight deals and hotel booking options in Bahrain. As the prices drop, budget travellers can take this opportunity to visit the city.
Places to visit in Bahrain
The island nation of Bahrain is famously known for its flourishing history and Arabic lifestyle. As a small archipelago made up of 33 islands, Bahrain doesn't just have exquisite azure blue waters to attract tourists but also a rich culture and historical significance. The city streets look pristine with intriguing architecture, not to mention some archaeological treasures too, that is worth exploring. Visit the Bahrain National Museum and get a glimpse of some of the national history and more insights on the Dilmun civilisation. It easily becomes one of the most prominent and famous places to visit in Bahrain, owing to the preserved past of the island nation. Check out the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Qal'at al-Bahrain, a preserved relic of the Dilmun heritage. The mosques in Bahrain are just as stunning as the waters that touch the island. You should visit the Al Fateh Mosque and relish the exquisite marble work on the walls of the structure.
Bahrain's fame also comes from the motorsport culture and terrains that favour the same. When in Bahrain, do catch a race at the Bahrain International Circuit. You will be surprised to see the karting circuit and races that take place in this space. In fact, Grand Prix is also often hosted in Bahrain. However, if these aren't too touristy for you, then you should visit Manama's Financial Harbour Towers and World Trade Centre. The tall stunning skyscrapers would certainly marvel you. Take a day out to visit the Riff, one of the historical pearls of Bahrain, which boasts Bahraini-styled architecture and lifestyle.
Things to do in Bahrain
Bahrain's azure blue waters beckon you so do not hold up. Book yourself a swanky hotel room in Bahrain and head straight to the waters. The islands in Bahrain are worth exploring and something you should indulge in as soon as you reach the country. From Manama's fancy lifestyle to Muharraq's modern beaches, there are too many beaches in Bahrain that should be visited. You can also take up go-karting at the Bahrain International Circuit. You don't need to be a seasoned driver for the same. Amid the beautiful islands is the Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park. It is engaging and certainly ideal for a family rendezvous. Of course, when in the city, you simply cannot miss the shopping culture of Bahrain. The city's oldest traditional marketplace, Suq Al-Qaisariya, is literally century-old. There are malls as well with City Centre Bahrain takin the cake.
Food and Restaurants in Bahrain
Bahrain, much like all the Middle-Eastern countries, favours Arabic cuisine, which is quite evident in some of the traditional restaurants with a quaint vibe. Before you venture into their cuisine, it is important for you to know what is what. Bahraini cuisine has some standoffish dishes such as balaleet which is basically a breakfast item made from vermicelli and egg omelette. Then you've got the famous shakshooka, a melange of flavours in a pan of tomatoes, spices, peppers and scrambled eggs. You should also try out some of their other famous dishes such as mahiawa, madrooba, ouzi and tikka items. While a majority of their meals have eggs as the primary ingredient, it is the fact the flexibility of these dishes and the flavours it brings forth, that make them delicious. You should also check out lamb chops in Bahrain as they do know how to skewer their meat and present the best on a platter. Eggs and tomato are like staple dishes that are present in almost every traditional Bahraini dishes.
Some of the restaurants in Bahrain have a quaint environment with traditional Arabic vibe in terms of the architectural setting. They are culturally rich and flavourful too. Some of the restaurants that give the best culinary experience in Bahrain include Saffron by Jena Bakery, Leyan Cafe and restaurant, Haji Gahwa, Emma-Wash, Basta 23, to name a few. Bahrain also entertains varied global cuisines such as Mediterranean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Indian, Indonesian and more. You can find these cuisines at Maki Bahrain, Mirai, Jim's Restaurant, Curry Country, Bushido Restaurant, Masso, Zoe Cafe and Restaurant, Veranda restaurant and cafe, to name a few. Overall, you will be happy and satiated with their dishes and the melange of spices they bring forth.
How to reach Bahrain (Transportation)
By Air
The demand for Middle Eastern countries is always high in the country, paving the way to airlines and airports accommodating as many flights to Middle Eastern countries as possible. Flight connectivity to Bahrain from India is also quite excellent. Airlines such as Air India, Air India Express are the only ones who have direct dedicated flights to Bahrain. Cities such as Kochi, Delhi, Kozhikode, Kannur and Mangalore service these flights to Bahrain from their respective airports. Gulf Air, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and many such flights that have connectivity to Bahrain also halt in Indian cities. In fact, due to the excess demand for Bahrain, there are many flights scheduled for the same day to and from India. Bahrain International Airport is one of the oldest airports in the globe. The airport came into existence back in 1927 and had its first commercial flight land the same year. It was a London flight reaching Delhi. The flight tickets to Bahrain from India are quite cheap.
Since a tremendous number of travellers going from India, Bahrain sees great international route connectivity. This very reason has enabled the ticket prices to Bahrain to drop to an affordable rate. The distance from India to Bahrain is not too much, which further adds to the reduction in the ticket prices to Bahrain. You can book flight tickets to Bahrain irrespective of the peak season or off-season, and you will be able to get some cheap and affordable tickets. In fact, during peak season, the ticket prices to Bahrain only increase marginally and not exorbitantly. The accommodations are something you will have to look into before reaching the city. Bahrain enjoys luxury living as well as modest hotels as well. Before heading to the city, make sure you peruse through the internet and book a decent hotel room in Bahrain.
By Water
Interestingly, there are cruise facilities that connect India with Bahrain. Although the cruise passes through Mumbai port, Kochi port and even the Bay of Bengal, it is perhaps a trip you can take if you have the big bucks and the time to invest. The cruise starts Dubai and passes through Bahrain's Al Manamah before heading towards Mumbai port. If leisure is the kind of trip, you're looking at, then you would certainly have a good time on this cruise. In terms of connectivity, the trip would be super time consuming and not ideal for people who don't have enough time to spend.
About Kuwait Airways
Kuwait Airways is the national flag carrier of Kuwait and has its headquarters on the grounds of the Kuwait International Airport, located in Al Farwaniyah Governorate. The airline operates varied international routes across the Middle East as well as caters to the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Europe and North America. The airline has its base at Kuwait International Airport. It is also a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organisation, a non-political and non-profit organisation that accommodates about 30 constituent airlines with members from around 18 countries. Kuwait Airways was founded by a group of businessmen in 1953 and was named Kuwait National Airways. In the initial days of the airline's commencement, the Kuwait government took a 50 per cent share in the airline. The same year, the airline struck a five-year management deal with British International Airlines, a British Overseas Airways Corporation subsidiary located in Kuwait. The management corporation basically handled all the flights along with the maintenance services for Kuwait Airways.
The airline purchased two Dakotas to join its fleet the same year which carried 8,966 passengers in total, in its first year of operations. In 1955, the airline dropped 'national' from its name and adopted Kuwait Airways as the official name for the airline. They also signed a new contract where operations and management handlings were directly taken up by BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation). In 1962, Kuwait Airways ordered two Trident type-aircraft, becoming the manufacturer's first customer. The airline continued to acquire more aircraft to join its fleet as they placed orders for a Comet 4C and three BAC One-Elevens. The following year, they received their first Comet and the airline added one more order for the same aircraft. In the same year, the Kuwait government expressed interest in the airline and increased its participation by 100 per cent in Kuwait Airways. In 1964, the airline chartered a new international route and added its first European destination as a flight to London was inaugurated with Comet. They extended their Middle East reach too by operating in cities such as Beirut, Doha, Bahrain, Adaban, Bombay, Geneva, Karachi, Paris, Frankfurt, Cairo and Dhahran.
By 1980, the airline acquired about 5,400 employees while its fleet expansion included new Boeing aircraft such as Boeing 707-320Cs, Boeing 747-200Bs, Boeing 727-200s and Boeing 737-200. In the mid-1980s though, Kuwait Airways started acquiring Airbus A310-200s to its place to replace the Boeing 707s on the international routes of Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The city of Kuwait witnessed significant demand from the India market which resulted in the formation of Jet Airways, where both Kuwait Airways and Gulf Air held 20 percent of equity stakes each. However, due to some changes in the Indian law to allow foreign carriers to hold stakes in the domestic airlines, Kuwait Airways sold their 20 per cent shares to the chairman of Jet Airways, Naresh Goyal. In 2015, after a hiatus of nearly 17 years, Kuwait Airways resumed the flight operations to Munich in Germany. They further resumed flights to Istanbul-Atatürk as well after a three-year break. In the same year, Kuwait Airways made an addition of a new Indian destination, Bangalore, to be part of its list of top cities.
Kuwait Airways currently holds several subsidiaries that are undergoing privatisation processes. These include Kuwait Aviation Services Co., Automated Systems Co., ALAFCO. Some of the alliances that the airlines associated with during the 1990 War are now defunct. These include Shorouk Air and Jet Airways.
Fleet size of Kuwait Airways
As of 2020, Kuwait Airways' fleet size stands at 31 aircraft that are all variants from the Airbus family with 10 Boeing 777-300ERs. In 2013, Kuwait Airways boasted one of the oldest fleets across the Middle East, which averaged 20 years. The same year, they also commenced a maintenance facility to ensure the conditions of their fleet and keep a check on its maintenance requirements. Kuwait Airways also signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus to acquire around 15 A320neos and ten A350-900s to join the fleet. The deliveries of the mentioned aircraft would be made between 2019 to 2022. Meanwhile, they leased seven A320s and five A330-200s from Airbus, while awaiting their newer aircraft.
Kuwait Airways also expressed its intention to purchase ten Boeing 777-300ERs, which they made known in 2014. They went ahead and even placed an order for the same at a whopping cost of USD 3.3 billion. The deliveries of the same were received by 2016. In 2014, adding more panache to its fleet, the airline received delivery of its first Airbus A320, which catered to their fleet expansion and upgradation plan. With Kuwait Airways' rebranding in 2016, the airline also received its first Boeing 777-300ER, marking the arrival of the airline's first fully owned brand new aircraft after 20 years of using the old fleet.
Baggage Allowance
Kuwait Airways follows the global standard of baggage allowance for passengers travelling by the business class and economy class cabins. The baggage allowance on Kuwait Airways majorly depends on the cabin class and nothing else. Passengers travelling by the premium classes such as royal or business receive a free checked baggage quantity of three pieces with a weight that can go up to 32 kg per bag. Meanwhile, the maximum dimension of the bags should not exceed more than 300 cm in total. As for the travellers travelling by the economy class, the airline allows two pieces of free baggage with a weight that cannot exceed 23 kg each. The maximum dimension for bags should not exceed more than 158 cm. Additionally, Kuwait Airways does allow carry-on baggage which differs depending on the cabin class of the passenger. In case the weight of the baggage exceeds the weight specified by the airline's protocols, extra baggage might have to be purchased. Similarly, the airline also expects the passengers to adhere to the baggage rules as they are essential.
In-flight services
Kuwait Airways promotes world-class facilities and in-flight services that attract passengers. As an airline with a fleet that accommodates many wide-body aircraft that are well-equipped with the latest upgrades, it easily manages to provide the best hospitality onboard. Passengers can rest assured that the journey would be an experience of a lifetime as the in-flight services teamed with their exquisite in-flight meals and entertainment systems are all luxurious. The airline is one of the handfuls in the world to not accommodate alcohol and pork onboard, following religious practices.
Popular routes and top cities for Kuwait Airways
As of 2020, Kuwait Airways has managed to make a name for itself with its illustrious international route and domestic route connectivity. The airline caters to about 51 international cities spread across Asia, Europe, North American and Africa, from its hub airport in Kuwait City. Some of the top cities for Kuwait Airways include Abu Dhabi, Alexandria, Bangkok, Bodrum, Cairo, Colombo, Dammam, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai, Frankfurt, Geneva, Istanbul, Jeddah, Kuwait City, London, Manila, Medina, Milan, Munich, Muscat, Paris, Rome, Tehran and Varna. The city of Kuwait has also witnessed tremendous demand and passenger traffic from many Indian cities. Hence, to cater to the same, the airline has also extended its support to accommodating better connectivity in India by flying to a bunch of cities and not just the capital. Some of the top Indian cities that have impeccable connectivity of Kuwait Airways are Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Ahmedabad. Further, they plan to expand the reach and enhance their presence in more Indian cities.
Why travel by Kuwait Airways?
Kuwait Airways' Oasis Club is an interesting frequent flyers miles program. Known to be one of the best airlines in the Middle East, the services provided by the airline to cater to the upscale lifestyle of many passengers is a responsibility taken up by the airline. Hence, their Oasis Club's benefits are majorly towards adding more flyer miles to the customer's kitty. Interestingly, the airline enables partnerships with many top hotels in the country where the customer can either earn or splurge the miles accumulated. Thorough details regarding Oasis Club can be found on Kuwait Airways' website. Speaking of which, the airline's website is the perfect place to learn more about flights and destinations that the airline caters to.
The airline's website enables passengers to do web check-ins and simultaneously learn about flight status. Booking a Kuwait Airways flight ticket on their website is also not cumbersome as the interface is very user-friendly. Following the flight bookings, Kuwait Airways does share a list of policies and protocols that the passenger should adhere to, along with details of baggage allowance, in-flight services that can be availed and lounge accessibility. Passengers can also learn more about Kuwait Airways' flight schedules and other such necessary details that would be pertinent when booking flights. Basically, the airline provides all important information along with unmatched services that make it one of the best airlines, not just in the Middle East but also across continents.
