Copenhagen to Rajkot Finnair Flights

  About Rajkot

Rajkot, in Gujarat, does not have a lot of options for you to go sightseeing but you will certainly love shopping here. Be it traditional snacks or silverware, Rajkot is the perfect place for a one-day trip. The city is also popular since it is where late Mahatma Gandhi pursued his early education. It is also considered as one of the cleanest cities in India. While there aren't a lot of options to explore in the city, you can visit the Jubilee Garden, Watson Museum, Kaba Gandhi No Delo and Lang Library. Do also treat yourself to a delicious plate of Gujarati thali. The city also attracts a lot of tourists who are interested in history.

Best Time to Visit Rajkot

While Rajkot's weather is pleasant throughout the year, making it possible for you to plan a trip whenever you want to, it is advisable to visit the city during winter. Rajkot experiences winter from October to March, January and February being the coldest months. The temperature ranges between 22 to 10 degree Celsius. You will get great deals on flights to Rajkot during this time. Make sure you book a hotel in Rajkot in advance since this is also peak season for tourists in Rajkot.

Monsoon in Rajkot begins from June and lasts till September. While the rainfall is not too heavy in the city during these months, it does give tourists a much-needed break from the summer heat. The showers won't really affect your plans to go sightseeing a lot and since the climate will also be pleasant, planning a trip during monsoon will also not prove to be a bad idea. In fact, you might even get cheap flight tickets to Rajkot during the monsoon. It being monsoon and off season, hotel bookings in Rajkot will also get cheaper. The Tarnetar Fair happens in August and attracts a lot of tourists from all over the country. You will see people of different tribes come together to celebrate the fair.

March to June is when summer hits the city, and the scorching heat makes it an unfavourable time for you to plan a visit to Rajkot. The temperature can go up to 42 degree Celsius, and this might even affect your sightseeing plans or any other plan to venture out. The temperature decreases and heads towards pleasant weather towards June end, making way for the monsoon to hit the city.

Places to Visit in Rajkot

The Kaba Gandhi No Delo is one of the most important tourist spots in the city. This is where late Mahatma Gandhi spent his childhood since it was his paternal home. It has been converted into a museum for tourists. Rajkot has a lot of museums for history geeks. The Rotary Dolls Museum is another popular place for tourists to visit. The museum has about 1000 dolls on exhibition that give you a glimpse of cultures from across the world and history, too. The Watson Museum that is inside Jubilee Gardens is yet another place that is perfect for the history geeks. You will find artefacts here that date back to the Indus Valley civilisation. It will also help you understand the history of Gujarat.

After you are done with the museum tour, you can visit the Nyari Dam. This place is perfect for an intimate picnic with your family, and if you wait for some more time, you will be treated to the most enchanting sunset. The Khambhalida Caves must also be in your list of places to visit in Rajkot. The beautiful carvings and the caves date back to the 4th and 5th century. Lang Library is the right place for all you bookworms. You will have to pay an entry fee to enter the library, but you will surely have a great time. The Aji Dam and Lal Pari Lake are two other places in Rajkot you can go to with your family to enjoy the scenic view. Do not end your trip without visiting the Ranjit Vilas Palace and admire its architecture. The city also has quite a few temples that you can visit before ending your Rajkot trip. The temples here have a scenic view, and you'll also be stunned at the marvellous architecture.

Things to do in Rajkot

One thing you can't miss in Rajkot is a scrumptious Gujarati thali. The food in Rajkot is absolutely delectable, and you will enjoy each bite. If you are visiting in August or September, do visit the Tarnetar Fair. The fair takes place near Triniteshwar Mahadev, and you will love being a part of this three-day festival. The dances, songs, stalls and amusement rides will ensure that you have the best day. You will get to buy a lot of souvenirs for your friends and family back home. You will also take back home a lot of memories. Visit the Mayur Patola Art near Virani High School. The patola sarees with their unique weaving techniques and intricate designs will steal your heart right away. You can also buy a few patola sarees in a few other shops. If you feel a little adventurous, you can hike to Aji Dam in the evening right before sunset. Make sure you catch the sunset from the dam, and you can thank us later for it. You can also hike up to Osam Hill in the Patanvav village. It is believed that the Pandavas lived here during their exile and you will even find the spot where Bhima met his first wife, Hidimbi. The sunset only makes this place a million times better and spectacular.

To please the water baby in you, plan a picnic by the Lal Pari lake. It's not too far away from the city and the right spot for you to come across migratory birds like wigeons, purple moorhens and rosy pastors. If Rajkot is famous for anything, it is the handicrafts and the sarees. Make sure you visit the markets and find the best of everything the city has to offer to you. The Bangdi Bazaar and the Gujari Bazaar are two markets that are quite popular in the city. From jewellery to clothes to other artwork, you will find a lot of things at affordable prices.

Food and Restaurants in Rajkot

You can't go to Gujarat and not have the Dhokla or Handvo. They are the most popular Gujarati delicacies that are served with mint chutney and another chutney made of dates. It depends on whether you want to go for the spicy dip or the sweet one. Handvo is also another type of Dhokla that looks and tastes quite different. Thepla is yet another dish that is famous in Gujarat and the rest of the country. It is like paratha and is made of fenugreek leaves. It's best consumed with pickles or curd or any other dip that you prefer. It is also a very popular breakfast option in the city. Kadhi chawal is also something you must try here. And don't leave Rajkot without giving the Gujarati thali a try. The experience will stay with you for a very long time and will even make you want to take a trip back to Rajkot. Undhiyu, Rotlo, Sev Usal, Khandvi, Khakra, Khamman, Fafda are also some of the popular dishes that you must try when you are in Rajkot.

The Grand Thakar is famous for its thalis, and you must definitely try the Gujarati thali here. Waves is another restaurant that is known for its hospitality. Lords Banquet Restaurant is another place to go to if you want to give Gujarati food a try. You will also find other types of cuisines on the menu. Apple Bite Multicuisine Restaurant and Cafe is also a very popular place that has Punjabi, Chinese and Continental cuisines in their menu.

How to Reach Rajkot (Transportation)

By Air

The nearest airport is the Rajkot Airport that is well-connected with other major cities. However, international routes to Rajkot are connected from other cities. A lot of tourists either take a different flight to Rajkot from Mumbai or stop at Sardar Vallabhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. You can even take a taxi or bus from the Ahmedabad airport. If you are travelling during the offseason, you will even get decent flight deals to Rajkot and if lucky, cheap flight tickets to Rajkot.

By Rail

The Rajkot Railway Junction connects with a lot of other cities. Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat, Jodhpur are some of the popular routes to Rajkot by rail. The frequency of the trains is also excellent, and it will be advisable for you to book your tickets in advance.

By Road

The road connectivity from Rajkot to other cities in Gujarat is excellent. You will get a lot of buses and taxis from other cities to reach Rajkot. Though taking a flight to Rajkot will be a much more convenient option. Even though buses and trains are far cheaper than flights, reaching Rajkot by air is a much better option, and it also saves a lot of time.

  About Finnair

Finnair is the national flag carrier and one of the largest airlines of Finland. The airline's headquarters is at Vantaa, located on the grounds of the Helsinki Airport, which is also the hub of the airline. Finnair, along with its regional subsidiaries, has a monopoly in both, the domestic route and international route travel in the country. The government of Finland is the biggest shareholder in the airline and holds about 55.8 percent of its stakes. Finnair is also one of the members of the Oneworld airline alliance, along with British Airways and American Airlines. In 2017, the airline transported about 11.9 million passengers across 100 European, 7 North American and 20 Asian destinations. By the end of the same year, the airline also employed about 5,918 individuals to join their crew. Finnair is recognised as the sixth oldest airline to continue its operation since its inception. The airline has not witnessed fatal accidents or hull-loss incidents since 1963 and has consistently been listed to be one of the safest airlines in the world for travelling. In 2018, Hamburg aviation security office JACDEC, as well as the aviation magazine Aero International, announced Finnair to be one of the safest airlines in the world.

The airline was founded in 1923 by consul Bruno Lucander. It was started as Aero O/Y, and the company used the code AY. Lucander struck a deal with Junkers Flugzeugwerke AG to provide the airline with a fleet and technical support for the aircraft in return for 50 percent of shares in the airline. In the 1960s, Finnair also joined the jet age bandwagon by accommodating Rolls-Royce Avon-engined aircraft Caravelles to be part of its fleet. They were later exchanged for Pratt and Whitney's JT8D-engined Super Caravelles. Eventually, Finnair managed to get hold of its first US-manufactured jet aircraft, Douglas DC-8. With this, the airline managed to service its first international route with a transatlantic connection to New York in 1969. In 1975, the airline also accommodated its first wide-body aircraft with two DC-10-30 planes. In 1981, Finnair commenced its new international routes to Seattle and Los Angeles. The airline also became the first carrier to fly a non-stop flight from Western Europe to Japan. They used a modified McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30ER in 1983. Before this new route, all flights were required to travel via Moscow to reach Japan as the Soviet airspace had some restrictions. To avoid passing through the Soviet airspace, Finnair actually circumvented the flight route by flying directly from over the North Pole and back through the Bering Strait. The trip took nearly 13 hours.

By 1988, the airline also launched a few more routes such as the Helsinki-Beijing route, making it the first Western European airline to fly non-stop from Europe to China. In 1997, Finnair along with its subsidiaries Kar-Air and Finnaviation became carriers wholly owned by Finnair company. The subsidiaries were integrated with the mainline operations of Finnair, and the airline's company name was officially renamed to Finnair Oyj. Two years later, Finnair became part of the Oneworld airline alliance. In 2003, Finnair also acquired ownership of the Swedish low-cost carrier, FlyNordic, to mainly cater to the Scandinavian belt. Four years later though, the airline sold FlyNordic to the Norwegian Air Shuttle. In the same year, Finnair also became the first airline in the world to order the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft by placing an order for 11 of them. Over the years, the airline has transformed tremendously with additional routes and destinations added to their list. They have also partnered with several companies and airlines, including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Chinese JD.com, Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Marimekko.

Fleet size of Finnair

As of 2020, Finnair's fleet size stands at 84 aircraft in service with four orders that are awaiting delivery. Finnair's first narrow-body aircraft was delivered in 1999 by the manufacturer Airbus as Airbus A321 joined the fleet. As per current fleet, the airline has about 19 A321s. The same year, the airline also received its first Airbus A319 aircraft. Currently, the airline is equipped with 11 A319s out of which three have retired. The airline majorly uses its narrow-body fleet for domestic operations as well as for European flights. These include A319, A320 and A321. By 2009, Finnair welcomed its first A330-300 to join its fleet. With this, the airline has managed to accommodate eight Airbus A330-300s. The airline uses the A330s majorly for intercontinental flight operations from Helsinki to cities such as Delhi, New York, Miami, San Francisco, Xi'an, Chicago, Nanjing, Fukuoka, Chongqing, Nagoya and Puerto Plata.

They have also started using the flight for services to cities such as London, Brussels and Malaga. In 2007, the airline announced that it was confirming 11 Airbus A350 orders along with eight aircraft as optional. By 2014, they confirmed that they are extending their contract for additional Airbus A350 which needs to be delivered by 2018. The A350s were planned to be deployed for services to Bangkok, Shanghai and Beijing. As of 2019, along with the three cities mentioned, the airline uses its A350 fleet to connect to Ho Chi Minh City, Los Angeles, Seoul, Singapore, Krabi, Guangzhou, Osaka, Tokyo, Phuket and Puerto Vallarta. They also use it as morning flights to London for extra freight.

Baggage Allowance

Finnair's baggage allowance is pretty neat. For business class flights to or from Asia and intercontinental flights, the airline allows two pieces of baggage that should weigh no more than 32 kg. The dimensions of the baggage should also not extend beyond a total of 158 cm. This rule applies to the economy class cabin and all the ticket types. The economy class cabins allow a checked baggage weight of not more than 23 kg with passengers allowed to carry one piece of baggage. The rules apply to passengers who are travelling from economy flex and classic. Depending on whether you need to purchase extra baggage, the airline needs to be informed beforehand. You will need to purchase extra baggage allowance on their official website or at the check-in counter. Based on your ticket type, the airline would offer you the maximum weight that can be carried.

For hand luggage, Finnair allows two pieces which should be within the dimensions of 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm. One accessory bag is also allowed, which should be within the size of 40 cm x 30 cm x15 cm. The airline allows a maximum combined weight of 10 kg for the carry-on baggage for business class and premium passengers. Keeping the same dimensions in mind, the airline allows a maximum of 8 kg for economy class passengers.

In-flight services

Finnair's in-flight services are unmatched as they offer some of the best facilities onboard. This ranges from the exquisite seating structure to the in-flight entertainment and meals. Passengers can simply relax and enjoy the flight as the entertainment content, and friendly staff provide the best in-flight services.

Popular routes and top cities of Finnair

Finnair caters to a plethora of domestic routes and international routes from its hub in Helsinki. The airline connects with about 130 destinations across 40 countries that are spread out in Europe, Asia and North America. While a majority of big European airlines have developed their main-haul market to be in North America, Finnair has opted for the Asian market. The airline has about 20 destinations in Asia while it serves eight North American cities. Much of Finnair's destinations function on a seasonal basis. However, much recently, they have been switching the destinations to annual operations.

In the domestic route, Finnair has about ten destinations. Few of the domestic operations are undertaken in cooperation with or sometimes completely controlled by Finnair's subsidiary, Nordic Regional Airlines. The airline enjoys a monopoly in its long-haul route operations as there is no direct competition, except for the route to Tokyo. The airline has expressed its intentions to extend its Asian network and add new destinations to its list along with additional flights. The most popular route for Finnair is the Tokyo and Hong Kong international route.

Some of the top cities that Finnair operates to and from include Helsinki, Oulu, Stockholm, London, Paris, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Prague, Vaasa, Kokkola, Turku, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Athens, Santorini, Delhi, Dublin, Milan, Rome, Osaka, Amsterdam, Oslo, Warsaw, Lisbon, Moscow, Barcelona, Geneva, Bangkok, Phuket, Dubai, Los Angeles, New York City and Ho Chi Minh City.

Why travel by Finnair?

Finnair has not just expanded its routes and international destinations but also upgraded some of its in-flight services and facilities to enable a smooth transit for passengers. The airline's website is the perfect place to book a Finnair flight ticket. Further, on the website, services such as web check-ins, updates on flight status and Finnair's flight schedules are also available. Details about the baggage allowance that passengers can carry based on their ticket type are present on the website, but the airline separately explains on the confirmation email too. The airline's web portal has all the necessary information.

  About Rajkot Airport

Gujarat's Rajkot Airport is the fourth busiest in the state, following Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara. Rajkot Airport is a civilian airport that only caters to domestic flights. The airport is also called Civil Aerodrome Rajkot. Currently, the airport sees regular flight activities by Air India and SpiceJet. The airport has a parking apron reserved for Boeing 787 as well as one ATR 72. The terminal of Rajkot Airport accommodates barely 125 people at once. It is located about 3 km to the east of the city of Rajkot. Other airports that are in proximity with Rajkot Airport are Jamnagar, which is about 81 km and Ahmedabad International Airport, at 221 km. Rajkot Airport's flights mostly connect to major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Surat. The most popular routes of flights from Rajkot Airport are to Mumbai and Bangalore respectively.

About Rajkot Airport Terminals

At present, Rajkot Airport has only one functioning terminal with a capacity of 125 passengers in an hour at both, the departures and arrivals section of the airport. There is only one boarding gate that is located on the ground level, while other passenger-related procedures take place on the first level. In total, the airport has about six check-in counters along with two security checks and two X-ray baggage facilities also available. The terminal is under the management of the Airports Authority of India.

About airport authority

Rajkot Airport is wholly owned and operated by the government of India's statutory airport's body, Airports Authority of India. The governing body is responsible for all management and infrastructural expansion related duties of the airport. The airport has been taking care of Rajkot Airport's infrastructure. In terms of management too, the Airports Authority of India is responsible for handling the airport staff. Due to its small size, the airport did see some challenges with respect to their expansion plans. However, it is being taken care of by the officials responsible for the airport.

A plan to extend the Rajkot Airport is in the works. Rajkot Urban Development Authority and Rajkot Municipal Corporation have collectively designed and proposed a plan to extend the runway of Rajkot Airport from its current 5,400 ft to 6,000 ft. The plan is to accommodate larger aircraft and to enable string connectivity to major cities aside from Mumbai. As Rajkot is a city with extensive manufacturing companies, the airport needs to have good connectivity with more cities in the country. Currently, the airport suffers from lack of capacity to accommodate larger aircraft as well as passengers. Expanding the airport is quite challenging as it is located within the city in proximity to the residential area and commercial buildings. Due to lack of space, the Rajkot Airport is finding difficulty with its expansion projects. The current airstrip is also incapable of handling and serving larger aircraft. Hence, plans to construct a new airport altogether has been approved by the city. The new airport is located on the Ahmedabad - Rajkot national highway and is about 20 km away from the main city.

Facilities at Rajkot Airport

Special assistance - Rajkot Airport has limited facilities, but they have the basic ones to cater to the needs of the passengers. Travellers with mobility concerns can avail their special assistance services. The airport has trained staff to take care of travellers who need to be escorted within the airport premise. The same needs to be notified to the airlines as well. They will be able to speed up the process of reserving a staff to help the passenger.

Baggage - The airport is said to have the best baggage services in store for the passengers. They have free baggage services for passengers carrying heavy luggage too. Not just the trolleys but you can also opt for porter services where staff would help you take your baggage from one place to another at the airport. The security-check for the bags can also be done by the staff on your behalf. Wrapping services are another perk of Rajkot Airport.

Child care room - Designated child care rooms have been installed at the airport premise. Often passengers travel with infants who need special treatment. With feeding and changing diapers as some of the challenging acts that require privacy, Rajkot Airport has brought forth a clean and hygienic room specially designed to cater to their needs. The room has baby products along with a comfortable seating arrangement and even a changing table.

Medical services - Medical assistance and services are also available at the airport. The Airports Authority of India has made it mandatory to install medical services in case of emergencies at the airport. Hence, Rajkot Airport also has a dedicated medical service available at all times. You can also find pharmacies at the airport. Details of the same can be found at the airport's information desk.

Cafes and snack counters - Rajkot Airport doesn't have a proper restaurant or food court as such to cater to full-course meals for passengers. However, the airport has brought forth some food stalls and establishments. There are local entrepreneurs who have set up their stalls in the premise. You can find light snacks, tea, coffee and other beverages at the airport. Some of them are inspired by Gujarati cuisine, so the snacks are also much to the likes of their culture.

Lounges - There are a business lounge and a VIP lounge installed at the airport. Although these facilities are restricted to certain ticket holders or members of specific airlines, the services available are quite good. They have comfortable seating, TV and entertainment decks, mobile-charging points and even provisions of WiFi facilities to enable a comfortable experience.

Transportation services - Right outside the arrivals section, there are local taxi cabs and other such transport facilities available. You can book a ride within the city at the airport itself. Further, rentals can also be booked here. The airport also provides a travel guide for travellers who are visiting the city for the first time.

ATMs - ATM kiosks of State Bank of India have been installed at the airport premise. You can make cash withdrawals at the airport, in case you might have missed out on doing the same before your journey.

Smoking lounge - Dedicated smoking lounges are also available at Rajkot Airport's vicinity. The same can be found at the departure. Since smoking in public is an offence, the airport has ensured to dedicate a space specifically for smokers.

WiFi - WiFi services are also complimentary and available for free at the airport. It is only reserved for a few minutes post which the passenger will need to pay an extra fee if they need to get WiFi connectivity.

Top airlines flying from Rajkot Airport

Rajkot Airport caters to airlines such as East-West Airlines, Indian Airlines, Air Deccan and Gujarat Airways. The airlines are mostly all regional with more preference given to cargo flights. SpiceJet and Air India are the only two domestic airlines that operate from Rajkot Airport. The flight connectivity of Rajkot Airport is quite limited as it only caters to about a handful of cities. The major cities include Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. Meanwhile, Rajkot Airport also has flights to Surat and is available for passengers. Out of the flights that function from Rajkot Airport, the most popular routes are the ones connecting to Mumbai and Bangalore. Majorly, the airport doesn't see a lot of flight action and has limited scheduled flights. Much of the air traffic is witnessed by other neighbouring airports such as Jamnagar, Ahmedabad and Vadodara.

How to reach Rajkot Airport

By Rail

The airport is also only 3 km away from the railway station. For travellers who are visiting the city from rural sections of Gujarat can easily get taxi cabs to reach Rajkot Airport from the railway station. The number of trains is limited and scheduled, so there are only specific destinations that it caters. You can get a taxi cab or rickshaw service from the railway station to reach Rajkot Airport. From the airport, you can get fixed rated taxi cabs too that will reach you to the railway station. Travellers often choose this as it is affordable and convenient too.

By Bus and taxi cabs

There is a bus stand located just 4 km away from Rajkot Airport. Hence, a majority of travellers opt for this mode of transport to reach Rajkot Airport. The bus stand sees scheduled buses reach from various parts of the city. In fact, some of the buses are interstate and have a good connection to neighbouring cities in Gujarat. You can travel from anywhere in Gujarat and be able to reach Rajkot Airport with the utmost ease. Along with buses, the city also has great taxi services. There are general taxi stands along with private taxi services available within the city. You can hail a cab from the bus stand and reach Rajkot Airport. Or you can directly take a cab to reach Rajkot Airport.