Mumbai07 Sep 22 1 Traveller Economy
Showing International Flight from Stockholm
About Stockholm
The Scandinavian city of Stockholm is the capital of the country, Sweden. Located on the coast touching the Baltic Sea, Stockholm is part of the archipelago which also connects the city to 14 more islands. The islands are brilliantly connected with more than 50 bridges. The city of Stockholm is a known political, cultural, economic and media hub of Sweden. In fact, over the years, they have also found prominence to contribute to the climate change movement with staunch leaders and innovative methods. The city thrives with lively streets, nightlife and food establishments.
Best time to visit Stockholm
As a Scandinavian city, the summers in Stockholm are pleasant and alluring. The city witnesses cold winters almost throughout the year with summer temperatures reaching a maximum 22 degree Celsius. You can imagine how the place is cold for most of the year. The summers also mean a call for celebration for the locals, which brings about a massive crowd on the streets. Mid-July sees the hottest days in Stockholm and is quite pleasant, especially if you're travelling from a hot region. June to August is undoubtedly the best time to visit Stockholm as the city witnesses its summer peak. The temperatures might be hot for the locals, but to travellers, it is nothing short of pleasant. Summers do bring a surge in their hotel accommodations though. Even flight bookings to Stockholm turn expensive as the city springs up to life. During this season, there are many festivals celebrated in the city such as A Taste of Stockholm, Popaganda, Stockholm Pride and the most famous, Midsummer Festival. The festival takes place in the June month every year and brings all the Swedes together to create fancy wreaths, drink up to the heart's content under the bright sun and dance by around the maypole.
With skyrocketing hotel prices in Stockholm, the trip might get super expensive. However, if you can handle the winters or even the fall season in Stockholm, you should definitely opt to go between September to November. The brisk wind might give you chills, but the city is pleasant. In fact, flights to Stockholm during this season is quite cheap, as are the accommodations. You can book your hotel in Stockholm without having to worry about the exorbitant rates of the peak season. Plus, the city also celebrates Stockholm Beer and Whiskey Festival in these months, much like the rest of the world. If not Germany, you can ring in the OktoberFest right here in Stockholm. To snag the best of flight and hotel deals to Stockholm will need you to plan a trip in their winters. Despite the cold winters, the Christmas celebrations and a trip from the city to witness the Aurora Borealis views are some of the highlights. You can make the most of their snow and cool weather. Stockholm does close up early in winters because not many people step out and it might get a tad bit boring.
Places to visit in Stockholm
Stockholm is a haven for an urban tourist to relax and unwind. The whole vibe of the city is calm and composed, adding to one's need to escape from the noise. Some of the fun touristy things that you can do in the city are to visit Gamla Stan. It is basically an old neighbourhood which gave birth to Stockholm. The area is windy and has a lovely landscape that matches perfectly with the weather. You can take a trip to Djurgården island, which is located very close to the city. Just take up a ferry ride to the island and soak in all the traditional Swedish countryside without having to venture to the interiors. You should also check out Vasa Museum, Rosendals Garden, Fotografiska and the Royal Palace (also known as Kungliga Slottet). These places are classic tourist destinations. For the real fun in Stockholm, though, go for the outdoorsy activities.
Things to do in Stockholm
As part of an archipelago, the Swedes of Stockholm are very much invested in sailing and cruising. You can actually take up a cruise ride to island-hop and check out the surroundings of Stockholm. You can further visit the Djurgården island and indulge in various activities such as biking, strolling, going on a picnic, visiting more than 21 museums and chilling at an amusement park. The air of Stockholm is so clean that you would want to settle forever to enjoy the tranquillity. Do not miss out on engaging in the city's nightlife. It certainly is a vibrant kind that would help you meet new people. The Swedes are really sweet and friendly people so on your way back from the city, you will have some beautiful memories to look back at.
Food and Restaurants in Stockholm
The city of Stockholm has international cuisine for all kinds of travellers. Thanks to the same, you wouldn't feel like you're stranded in a place where you cannot eat what you want. While they do have variety, it is recommended that you try the Swedish cuisine. Their cuisine mostly has meat and potato in abundance as well as proteins and starches. Basically, theirs is a wholesome food that is rich in proteins and starch. Stockholm also has a lot of focus on seafood as it is in proximity to the Baltic coast. With so much variety available in the Swedish cuisine alone, you wouldn't need to check out other international meals. From herring to Jansson's Temptation, you should try some of the traditional Swedish meals. In seafood, you could also give crayfish a try. They are popular, especially among the upper-class citizens and come at an expensive price. If you do wish to make some exorbitant indulgence, you should order for this scrumptious meal. While you're at it, do not miss out the marinated salmon which comes with dill potatoes as sides.
You should know that the Swedish love meatball and you will find many variations to the same. They make sure to add them in all their dishes from spaghetti to macaroni, the meatballs go with all. The side with their meals is always mashed potatoes, which only accentuate the flavours. Chives and sour cream also play a pivotal role in adding more colours and texture to the meal. Not just the spread of meals but even their desserts and savouries are lip-smacking. From the delectable cinnamon buns to the princess cake, these items would be the best way to round up wholesome dining experience. You should visit Frantzen, Gastrologik, Tapas 28, Glashuset, Stockholms Gastabud and Agrikultur, to name a few. These places serve the best meals, and they also have an amazing service. You will be happy with the way the Swedes treat their customers. Since they are soft-spoken people, to begin with, they often have a very polite way of communicating with people.
How to reach Stockholm (Transportation)
Flight connectivity to Stockholm from India is quite decent as there are many available airlines offering services. However, there are no direct flights to Sweden, and often, you will need to either deal with extended layovers or will have to run for connecting flights in foreign airports. There are a few airlines such as Turkish Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Finnair, Vistara, Lufthansa, that have regular flights connecting with Stockholm. You will be met with at least one layover or require to opt for one connecting flight from international cities to Stockholm. As a Scandinavian country, much of the international route to Stockholm is via Europe. A majority of the flights to Stockholm actually require you to take a connecting flight from European countries. Out of these, the most popular route to Stockholm is from Germany, Munich and Frankfurt, to be specific. There are stops at Helsinki and Zurich as well, however, those require changing of multiple flights as opposed to the one you can get from the German cities. It takes approximately 11 hours to 14 hours to travel from Mumbai to Stockholm.
You should make note of applying for a Transit Schengen Visa when travelling to Stockholm from Mumbai. The visa basically gives you permission to enter the Schengen territory, basically to wait at the airports and change flights. The visa only allows you to be in the airport premise and you cannot step outside to the main city. If you've chosen the international route to Stockholm from Germany or France, you will need a Transit Schengen Visa. The flight tickets to Stockholm from India are quite cheap and affordable. Even round trips would amount to a cheaper deal. It is recommended that you book round trip tickets to Stockholm. Also, you'll get bonus deals for booking your flight and hotels in Stockholm together. Various online flight deals also have accommodation offers. However, if you want to wing it and book a hostel or do couch-surfing, make sure to book these in advance. It would be essential for a traveller to make prior bookings for everything as it would only help reduce the cost of the trip. You will have enough kronas to splurge on sailing trips.
About Brussels Airlines
Brussels Airlines, popularly stylised as brussels airlines, is the flag carrier as well as the largest airline of Belgium. The airline has its headquarters at Brussels Airport and is part of the Star Alliance and International Air Transport Association. Brussels Airlines came into existence in 2006, following a merger between SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express. Prior to the merger, Belgium had the Societé Anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne or SABENA which functioned as the flag carrier. However, after filing for bankruptcy in 2001, the airlines gave birth to SN Brussels Airlines, which took over parts of the shares from SABENA's assets in 2002. However, after yet another merger with Virgin Express, the airlines transformed into Brussels Airlines, the official flag carrier for the country. Operations of Brussels Airlines commenced in 2007 from Brussels Airport. In 2008, Lufthansa announced that it plans to acquire about 45 per cent stakes in the airlines. With the deal signed, Lufthansa also added a clause to make Brussels Airlines join the airline alliance, Star Alliance.
Soon in 2008, the International Civil Aviation Organization code for Brussels Airlines also changed from DAT to BEL. Lufthansa's proposal to acquire 45 per cent shares in the company went through in 2009 and eventually took up the rest 55 per cent in 2017. Brussels Airlines has expressed much of social interest towards African countries. They have even undertaken a few projects as part of their venture to enable uplifting the lives of people from the third-world nations. In 2009, the airlines stated that they would be working on coming up with a new airline called Korongo at Lubumbashi in Congo. The project kicked off in 2012 but soon shut down in 2015. This was a result of disagreement with Hewa Bora, the national airline for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Brussels Airlines has its registered office located at Elsene-Ixelles, Brussels. The airline is almost wholly owned by SN Air holding, a Belgian holding company. Meanwhile, Lufthansa holds 100 per cent shares of SN Air holding since 2017. According to the original deal formed between the airlines and Lufthansa, the German company would hold 45 per cent in the genesis of the airline while the remaining 55 per cent shall be acquired later. The same was implemented in 2017. After taking over all the shares in the airlines, Lufthansa also appointed Dieter Vranckx to take over roles and responsibilities from Christina Foerster as the CEO of Brussels Airlines. The airlines launched a few special liveries with Belgian Icon on its Airbus A320 fleet, representing a Rackham (a Tintin-themed aircraft), Magritte (an ode to the artist René Magritte), Trident (dedicated to the national football team of Belgian) and Amare (Tomorrowland Festival). In 2018, the airline also introduced a peppy aircraft with The Smurfs as its theme. Additionally, they also added an aircraft reserved for Flemish painter Bruegel.
Fleet size of Brussels Airlines
As of 2020, Brussels Airlines operates an all-Airbus fleet with 52 aircraft. Currently, the airline's fleet is dominated by Airbus A310-100 with about 22 aircraft and 16 Airbus A320-200. Out of all the flights in Brussels Airlines' fleet, they also have one aircraft with Star Alliance livery painted on it. Meanwhile, six of them are painted with the Belgian Icons liveries. Earlier, Brussels Airlines operated six British Aerospace 146s. However, they were withdrawn in 2008. Later in 2010, the airline included two Airbus A319-100s in its fleet. Airbus A320-200 became the first aircraft to join in 2011 with its first commercial flight taking off the same year. Brussels Airlines' fleet continued to expand following 2011 as the revenue from flights increased while the airline did rapidly cut costs. They further added six Airbus A319s, four Airbus A320s and two Airbus A330-200s. With this, they managed to get Boeing aircraft out of the fleet completely. In 2016, Brussels Airlines also started phasing out Avro RJ100 to replace them with more Airbus aircraft.
Brussels Airlines Baggage Allowance
Brussels Airlines follows a strict baggage allowance protocol. The airline makes sure to carry the set number of baggage for checked as well as hand luggage. For checked baggage, the airline requires the passenger to carry not more than 32 kg, which is a standard allowance that includes 23 kg for checked baggage and 9 kg of possible overweight. This is also the standard weight for business class travellers' luggage. The maximum dimensions should be no more than 158 cm and include wheels, pockets and handles. The checked baggage counter will help the passengers with their excess baggage woes if that does happen. The same can be found on their airline's baggage calculator that is present on their website. Some of the restrictions that one needs to adhere to while packing the checked baggage includes not carrying power banks, e-bikes, spare batteries, segways, hoverboards, drones and cameras and smart bags. You might also need to carry some of the fragile and perishable items along with you on board. These would include musical instruments, sports equipment, medical equipment and more.
There is a total of 2 hand baggage that are allowed for business class travellers. Out of this, the airline also allows an additional small bag that can carry a laptop or accessories in the handbag. The weight of the hand luggage cannot exceed 16 kg for business class travellers. As for the economy class, the airline allows one hand baggage and one personal accessory bag. The weight of these two bags collectively cannot exceed 12 kg. The airline's website also has a baggage calculator to help the passengers figure out how they can reduce the weight of their baggage. The maximum dimension of the bag for the overhead bin cannot exceed 55cm x 40cm x 23cm. The personal accessory bag should not exceed 40cm x 30cm x 10cm. The airline has limited space in the overhead bin, and hence all passenger should follow the protocol. Also, the size of the hand accessory should fit under the seat. Valuable items such as identity documents, medication and travel details should be carried in it.
Brussels Airlines In-flight services
Frequent-flyer programmes - Brussels Airlines is recognised to follow Miles & More programme which is a frequent flyer programme by Lufthansa. Miles can be earned on specific flights that are operated by the airlines and who are also part of the programme. Additionally, the flights that are operated under Star Alliance airlines can also earn the frequent flyer miles. Part of Brussels Airlines' deal is that the passengers can earn miles with non-airline partners too. The miles programme commenced in 2009, and since then, there have been many passengers and members who have raked in tremendous perks and in-flight benefits from Brussels Airlines. Their miles programme is quite beneficial as travellers can upgrade their cabin class and even rake in complimentary meals and lounge access at various international airports. Not to mention how some of the in-flight services at Brussels Airlines that economy class passengers cannot avail concerning baggage allowance and more become easier to access. Along with this, the airlines also provide perks through their customer programme called LOOP.
In-flight entertainment - The airlines offers two in-flight magazines that cater to the European network as well as the African network. Since the airline majorly caters to these two continents, the magazine's audience is predominantly European and African. The two magazines are called b-there! and B Spirit Magazine. They can be availed via PDF format on their respective websites but can also be downloaded on Apple iPad.
Other in-flight services - Brussels Airlines has some impeccable in-flight services to ensure the journey of travellers is comfortable. Flights that are North American or sub-Sahara African bound have exquisite movies, music and other entertainment available on the flight. The airline also offers a slew of good leather seating that caters to the comfort of the travellers. The legroom is also quite decent and perfect for those who have travelling woes, owing to the lack of leg space. The recline of the seats are also quite decent to help the passenger feel comfortable. There are provisions of USB ports on the seat for passengers to charge their phones, tablets and other electronic devices. There are meals onboard where the passengers are blessed with some traditional Belgian delicacies courtesy some of the star chefs from the country. There are light meal menus available such as a muffin and coffee.
Popular routes and top cities for Brussels Airlines
Brussels Airlines majorly caters to domestic routes in Europe with an immaculate network. However, the airline also connects to international routes in the African and parts of Middle East cities. Some of the top cities include Toronto, Prague, Parsi, Nice, Lyon, Berlin, Athens, Mykonos, Rome, Nairobi, Riga, Oslo, Saint Petersburg, Madrid, Stockholm, London, New York City and Washington DC.
Why travel by Brussels Airlines?
Brussels Airlines is ideal for travelling in Europe. If you do plan to reach some of the cities in the EU Union, Brussels Airlines is perfect. You can book a Brussels Airlines flight on all travel platforms, even in their codeshare airlines. Further, you can find out updates on the flight status and Brussels Airlines' flight schedule on their website. Web check-in is also a provision available on their site that makes it ideal.
