Popular Airport | Rajiv Gandhi Intl. Airport |
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Popular Airlines | |
Approximate Flight Duration | 9 hour |
Approximate Travel Distance | 7308 Km |
Taking a taxi in the morning or evening outside of rush hours is probably the most reliable method of transport to the airport in densely populated Durban. It’s also possible to reach the airport with rented cars or shuttle company buses.
You can reach the airport by taxi from the city centre in around 30 to 50 minutes depending on traffic conditions. It might be a good idea to speak with the taxi driver beforehand and let them know your time of departure to not have any bad surprises for your journey.
The shuttle buses that leave for the airport depart from Durban Station in the city centre, depart once every day at 8:00, 11:00, and 16:00 and reach the airport in around half an hour.
The traffic flows on the left side in Durban, so if you come from a country where you drive on the right it might be a better idea to hire a car with a driver rather than getting behind the steering wheel yourself. If you come from country where cars drive on the left side, you might be more at home with this option.
There is only one terminal in King Shaka Airport where there is an ABSA bank, which opens half an hour before the first flight and closes half an hour after the last flight. In addition, you can find financial services from the ATMs of First National Bank, Nedbank, and Standard Bank. There is a prayer room for Muslims, and a post office that offers services depending on the first and last flights of the day. There are baby and childcare rooms that mothers can use.
In addition to these services, the airport has many lounges. The most exclusive ones are the South African Airways Business Class Lounge, found near the entrance of the terminal, and BIDVest Premier Lounge. In these lounges you can order some food and rest on comfortable seating areas to read books or newspapers.
Airport restaurants include; Cape Town Fish Market, Cosmic Candy, Big Five Duty Free, Fego Coffee Shop, Kauai, KFC, Milky Lane, Mugg&Bean, Panarottis, Rhapsody’s, Spur, Steers, Sweet Treat, The Airport Cellar, and Wimpy. There is also a Yemaya Nail Express, Woolworts, Vodashop, Tie Stop, The Urban Retreat, The Scoin Shop, NWJ Fine Jewellery, Sneakers, Sunglass Hunt, Nike, MTN, Moda Luggage&Leather, Khasav, Jeep, EM Native, and Electro Electronics for your shopping needs.
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (IATA: HYD) is located 24 kilometers from the city of Hyderabad, in the state of Telangana, India. The airport spreads over 2,200 hectares of land, serving both domestic and international travelers with two runways and an integrated terminal. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport has a total of 83 parking bays, 96 check-in desks, and 19 self-check-in kiosks while providing facilities like three public lounges and three VIP lounges, a parking lot, ATMs, prayer rooms, an exchange office, rental car counters, and more.
Bus
Pushpak Airport Liner buses specifically have routes from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport to different parts of Hyderabad. The four routes are, Route A1- Hyderabad Airport to Secunderabad via LB Nagar, Route A2- Hyderabad Airport to Secunderabad via Secretariat, Route B2- Hyderabad Airport to Paryatak Bhavan via Rajbhavan - AC Guards, and Route B1- Hyderabad Airport to JNTU via Malaysian Township. These buses operate from 05.00 till midnight and can be found outside of the terminal. The fares start from INR 210, depending on the stop you are departing and you can purchase tickets from the Pushpak counter or directly on the bus.
Taxi
Taxi is the fastest way to commute from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport to Hyderabad, and numerous options of taxis are available at the airport, from radio taxis to pre-paid taxis, she-cabs, which are specifically for women, and of course Uber and Ola where you can share rides as well. Prices may vary depending on the company, and time as a 25% surcharge is applied between 23.00 to 05.00 but the starting price is generally INR 580-600.
Rental Car
There are two counters of rental car companies, which are ONE Car and Srinivasa Rent-A-Cab, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. Meanwhile, if you want to rent a luxury car, there is one company, 4 Wheel Travels, providing its services at their respective counter at the airport. A rental car is generally convenient for passengers who want to use it both as a method of transportation from the airport and to get around the city center as well. Although the prices may vary according to several factors, prices start from 45 USD per day.
Auto Rickshaw
Auto Rickshaws are ideal to reach the Hyderabad city center from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, as they are suitable for shorter distances, are more affordable, and can navigate through narrow streets as well. Auto rickshaws are located outside the airport, but if you are traveling with many pieces of baggage, you should skip this option. Fares start from INR 15-20 and prices may vary as at midnight a surcharge is applied.
Hotel Shuttles
While booking a hotel, you can ask whether they provide services like a hotel shuttle to pick you up from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. There are hotels that provide such services, sometimes free of charge and sometimes for a fee, but considering you arrive at the airport with baggage, it is wise to benefit from this service. Also, these kinds of services are great for large groups and families.