Air Travel in Mumbai (Bombay) and Maharashtra

Mumbai's international airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport—previously called Sahar International Airport—is 30 km (19 mi) north of the city center in Sahar. The domestic airport is at Santa Cruz, 4 km (2½ mi) away from the international airport. Arrive at the airport at least 75 minutes before takeoff for domestic flights, two to three hours before international flights (some airlines require three hours). Mumbai airports are packed to their gills these days, and there are long queues for scanning luggage and checking in. However, in recent years a huge effort has been put into renovating both airports (international and domestic), and things are finally looking up. The recently renovated domestic airport is now one of India's finest airports and is of international standard. Both airports have 24-hour business centers available to holders of major credit cards.

Most international flights arrive in the middle of the night. Be prepared: airports in Mumbai, like those in Delhi, Kolkata, or Chennai, may be among the shabbiest you encounter. Because airports typically run at or beyond capacity, many flights arrive at the same time, and luggage belts and trolleys are few. Your luggage may arrive after an interminable wait. Make sure you secure a free baggage trolley first and send the touts (and assorted individuals posing as porters, luggage loaders, personal trolley pushers, hotel/taxi providers or customs clearance aids) packing. Station yourself close enough to the right belt; check any stacks of luggage lined up against the wall in case your suitcases have come earlier.

If you have a lot of luggage, legitimate porters accelerate your journey out of the airport terminal. Ask for a porter as soon as you disembark—right at the plane gangway. A group of porters, identifiable by their uniforms, usually hang around the entrance, with wheelchairs. If you book one beforehand (get his name) he will meet you later at the baggage belt after you're done with immigration. Do not negotiate rates beforehand—if he tries to, hire someone else. Pay him between Rs. 100 and Rs. 300 depending on how helpful he has been.

Immediately after you exit the customs hall there are a row of tourist counters for hotels, taxi hire, car hire, tourist information, cell-phone-card counters, and currency exchange booths. If someone is meeting you at the airport, understand that he or she will have no idea when you will emerge from the airport, given the wait at immigration or at the baggage concourse, so don't panic.

Carriers

Mumbai is served daily or frequently by Air France, Alitalia, Swiss International Airlines, Gulf Air, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Air India, British Airways, Delta, and KLM/Northwest. Domestic carriers have multiplied and include Air India, Kingfisher, Go Air, SpiceJet, Simplifly Deccan, IndiGo, JetLite, and Jet Airways. Domestic flying has never been easier. Flights can very easily be booked online even with a foreign credit card.

Airlines & Contacts

Air France/Continental (22/2202-5021). Air India (22/2202-4142 or 22/2836-6767). Alitalia (22/6663-0800). British Airways (22/9892-577470). Cathay Pacific (22/2202-9112). Delta (22/2283-9712). Emirates (22/4097-4097). Etihad Airways (22/6610-7150). GoAir (92/2322-2111). Gulf Air (22/2202-1777). IndiGo Airlines (99/1038-3838). Jet Airways (22/3989-3333). JetLite (formerly Sahara) (1800/223-020 or 1800/223-030). KLM/Northwest (22/1600-114-777). Kingfisher Airlines (1800/1800-101). Lufthansa (22/5630-1933). Simplifly Deccan (22/3900-8888). Singapore Airlines (22/2202-2747). SpiceJet (1800/180-3333 or 987-180-3333). Swiss International Airlines (22/2287-0122).