Replacing HAL Bangalore International Airport, the all-new Bengaluru International Airport started its operations on the night of May 23, 2008. Located at Devanahalli, almost 50 km from the central business district of Bengaluru, construction of the new airport was started in July 2005. It was ranked as the fourth fastest growing international airport, as per World Airport Traffic 2007 report, released by Airports Council International. Occupying an area of 4050 acres, Bengaluru International Airport was primarily designed to handle only 3.5 million passengers per year. However, it was later redesigned and its handling capacity increased to about 12 million passengers every year.

The expansion of the Bengaluru International Airport (BAIL) also resulted in an increase in the size of its terminal, number of aircraft stands, new taxiway layouts and supporting infrastructure. All the aircraft stands in BAIL have a fueling pit, a facility never seen before in Indian airports. The airport currently has one runway, which can accommodate all types of aircrafts, including the Airbus A380. The fourth-busiest airport in India, coming shortly after Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai, Bangalore International Airport is going to have business centers, tax-free shops, entertainment centers, malls and office space very soon.

Passengers Facilities

* F & B
* Car Parking
* Duty Free Shops (in both arrival and departure sections)
* Lounge
* Hotel
* Large Upmarket Shopping Areas
* Multi-cuisine Restaurants
* Play Areas and Day Care Centers
* Baggage Reclaim Centers
* Air Rescue and Firefighting services
* Bus Facility

The domestic departure lounges at Bengaluru International Airport are provided by Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines, while the three international departure lounges are Kingfisher, Oberoi and The Leela.

Domestic Airlines

* GoAir (Ahmedabad, Cochin, Delhi, Mumbai)
* Indian Airlines (Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Trivandrum
* Air India (Mumbai)
* IndiGo Airlines (Ahmedabad, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna, Pune)
* Jet Airways (Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram)
* JetLite (Coimbatore, Delhi, Guwahati, Imphal, Jorhat, Kolkata)
* Kingfisher Airlines (Agatti, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Calicut, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Dibrugarh, Goa, Guwahati, Hubli, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Jorhat, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Rajahmundry, Tirupati, Trivandrum, Vadodara, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam)
* Kingfisher Red (Belgaum, Bhubaneshwar, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Indore, Kochi, Madurai, Mumbai, Nagpur, Rajahmundry, Tirupati, Trivandrum, Vidyanagar, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam)
* Paramount Airways (Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam)
* SpiceJet (Ahmedabad, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Srinagar)

International Airlines

* Air Arabia (Sharjah)
* Air France (Paris-Charles de Gaulle)
* Air India (Dubai, Male, Muscat, Singapore)
* Indian Airlines (Dubai, Male, Muscat, Singapore)
* Air Mauritius (Mauritius)
* British Airways (London-Heathrow)
* Dragonair (Hong Kong)
* Emirates Airline (Dubai)
* Lufthansa (Frankfurt)
* Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur)
* Saudi Arabian Airlines (Jeddah, Riyadh)
* Oman Air (Muscat)
* Singapore Airlines (Singapore)
* Sri Lankan Airlines (Colombo)
* Thai Airways International (Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi)
* Tiger Airways (Singapore)

Cargo Airlines

* Air France Cargo (Paris-Charles de Gaulle)
* Air India Cargo (Frankfurt)
* Blue Dart Aviation (Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi)
* British Airways World Cargo (London-Heathrow)
* Emirates Sky Cargo (Dubai)
* Etihad Crystal Cargo (Abu Dhabi)
* Gulf Air Cargo (Manama)
* Jet Airways (Delhi)
* Lufthansa Cargo (Frankfurt)
* MASkargo (Kuala Lumpur)
* Qatar Airways Cargo (Doha)
* Singapore Airlines Cargo (Singapore)
* SriLankan Cargo (Colombo)
* Thai Airways Cargo (Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi)

Flying on Singapore airlines is more than just a plane ride to another destination; it is an experience within itself. There is more than one reason why Singapore airlines is touted to be on the best and most comfortable airlines in the world. This is the magic that most of the passengers are talking about, over coffee in the airport cafe, having an early breakfast in any one of the restaurants, the languishing conversations as they drive back from the airport to their final destination.

The journey of an airline should never stop when the plane lands and the passengers are ushered out into the air conditioned environment of the airport – it should continue, the journey should live on in the conversations of the people who have experienced the excellent service, the comfortable seats and the overall Singapore airlines atmosphere that has made their journey a pleasant one. And this is what makes the airline such a great one. The level of comfort of the airlines is simply amazing, even if you are flying coach.

People who have flown a whole host of airlines can attest to this simple fact, the economy class seats of the airline is a cut above the rest, it is fully comfortable and it does not feel like you have been placed on the lowest echelon of flight seats available on the airplane. The much touted training of the stewards and stewardesses are also evident in their attentive style and courteous demeanours. This is why this airline has been getting rave reviews all over the world and more and more people are climbing aboard the signature blue and gold airlines to experience some of the magic. Everything about the airline is top class and this even include the food and refreshments that are served in flight. Airplane food has taken quite a turn when it comes to Singapore airlines – do not expect the same dry food and tasteless meat you might find on other flights, Singapore airlines understand that food is an important additive in the concoction of customer satisfaction. The drinks are also of high quality, especially the alcoholic beverages that include beer, wine and alcohol.

You feel like you are in a five star restaurant with their food, their service and their spacious seats. The in flight entertainment is also of a class on its own, with an extremely large amount of current and past movies, television shows, radio channels, games and interactive software. There is never a dull moment, in even the longest of flights and everything you need is there.

They even make special arrangements for those who are either disabled or health problems on board. In the end of the day, an airline is judged not only by the things that it can offer you, but by also the things you perceive. Not even the best food, the best wine and the best technology can make a great airline. It is the people of the Singapore airlines that make the magic – the very magic at dinner conversations the world over.

In airline terms, ‘baggage allowance’ means the total amount of luggage that a passenger can carry on an airline flight. The amount of luggage one can bring on a flight can vary among airlines. Generally, there is a certain amount that one can check and carry on for free and a charge will be added for any extra baggage. There can also be a set limit with no option to carry on any extra baggage. Before traveling to the airport, you should find out what type of baggage and how much you can carry on a flight.

Airlines will normally check luggage according to weight and size. The airline official will weigh the luggage and if the weight exceeds the limit, the passenger will be informed so as to make the appropriate adjustments. Passengers will often divide the luggage into two suitcases in order to reduce the weight. Passengers can then avoid weight restrictions by carrying one item on the plane with them. Some airlines will calculate weight according to the total weight of all the luggage pieces, while others will calculate weight for each piece seperately. Weight restrictions can also be claculated according to the method one is flying such as Business, Economy, and First Class. The higher the flight status, the heavier the item one can check. Carry-on luggage tends to be measured according to size. The dimensions of the carry-on piece will be measured. It is important to note that for security reasons, there are certain items such as lighters and liquids that will be prohibited from being carried on the plane.

Because there are a number of items that are prohibited from being checked on a flight or taken directly on an airplane, you should check the airline for specific items prior to going to the airport. However, they generally include: sharp objects such as scissors, sporting goods, guns and firearms, liquids, tools, martial arts and self defense items, explosive and flammable materials such as lighters, immobilizing chemicals such as pepper spray, and other dangerous items.

Before packing your items for a flight, you should first understand important terms regarding what airlines define as baggage.

What is a “personal item”?

Here is a list of what most airlines consider “personal items:”

- Purse
- Briefcase
- Laptop
- Small book-bag style backpack
- Other similar items that do not exceed 91cm (length + width + height) will be allowed such as a small tote bag or shoulder bag.

Additional items that will be allowed above and beyond what is listed above include:

- Outer garments such as coats/wraps/hats
- Approved safety seat for lap or ticketed child
- Umbrella stroller for lap or ticketed child
- Diaper bag for lap or ticketed child
- Book or newspaper
- Small bag of food that is consumable
- Assistive devices for passengers such as wheelchairs, walkers and CPAP machines
- Therapeutic oxygen provided by the airline

You can either contact your airline directly or check online airline sites to find all of the information that you need to answer your questions about baggage allowances and baggage restrictions on flights. Online sites will include such information as what you can carry, what you can check, baggage fees, weight and size limitations, what is too big, and how much luggage is really too much for a flight. Having the knowledge prior to your flight will save a lot of time and frustration at the airport.

With concerns about a finite supply of fossil fuels and the environmental impacts of gas guzzling jets driving them forward, researchers are working on airplanes that will remove the carbon footprint involved with flying. Designed to operate using solar power, these machines may just be the wave of the future.

Those who think solar-powered planes are a pipe dream need to think again. There are operational prototypes already in use. There are also other prototypes under development. Although they are far from perfected, these machines are proving there is an alternative worthy of exploration.

While it might be some time before commercial jets trade in their gasoline for solar panels, the technology is moving ahead. Examples of the prototypes out there include:

HELIOS – This solar-powered plane was created as part of NASA’s ERAST program. Developed in conjunction with AeroVironment of California, the plane had its maiden flight in 2001. Although HELIOS was slow moving, slower than a bicycle, in fact, it did show promise. The plane reached a height of more than 30,000 meters and was operational using a remote control. HELIOS was the outgrowth of other NASA-backed projects for fuel efficient planes. In 1979, the Goassamer Albatross flew across the English Channel using human power and a DC battery pack. By 1998, the solar-powered Pathfinder took to the skies relying on the sun’s energy and multiple DC electric motors. NASA’s research into solar-powered flight is hoped to advance scientific studies into such things as volcanoes and weather. Exploration of Mars is also on the agenda.

The Solar Impulse – This $94-million machine is under development by Bertrand and Co. The plane will be flown by the world-famous Bertrand Piccard, who made a name for himself with an around-the-world balloon flight in 1999. The Impulse has a carbon-fiber body and weighs in at a light 3,300 pounds. Its plans were unveiled during the 2005 Paris Air Show. A test flight for the 201-foot plane is anticipated soon with a target transatlantic flight set for 2011. This plane has been designed to fly for up to 36 hours at an altitude of up to 27,000 feet. If successful, the Impulse would top other solar flyers as far as efficiency goes by quite a bit. Using batteries to store solar power, it would be able to fly during both day and nighttime hours. Currently, the best solar plane can only handle about eight hours of daytime flight. To make sure the Impulse project is successful; Piccard has brought in a team of roughly 150 designers to work out the kinks.

While solar-power planes are not ready to take over at airports around the world, this technology is moving ahead. Someday, it is possible the sun will provide all the power necessary for people to trek around the world at jet speeds.

Plan your travel to Cape Town, the second most populous city in South Africa. You need no reason to visit this place; it is a beautiful place for your vacations, honeymoons, business trips, conferences, etc. Numerous flights are available to Cape Town for your travel. Cape Town is a place which offers something for everyone. There are various indirect and direct flights to Cape Town available for your travel. Indirect flights to Cape Town are Etihad, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Air India, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, etc.

Direct flights to Cape Town from UK are British Airways and South African Airways. These airlines are providing best services on your travel from UK to Cape Town. Both the flights are available from major cities of UK like London, Gatwick, New Castle, Birmingham, Glasgow, etc.

South African Airways is providing best services to its passengers. Not only the fares are cheap and best but the staff is also very humble and polite. South African Airline fares are starting from £ 410 plus taxes. This airline has been rated as four star airlines by the Skytrax. It is a quality approved airlines. Ranking can be change in future. This airline is providing best long and short haul services.

British Airways is also providing good services to its travelers. This airline has also been ranked as four star airlines. British Airways fares are starting from £ 490 plus taxes. Services are good with this airline, as good meal is provided in airline, well mannered and polite staff and various other factors due to which it has been ranked as four star airlines by Skytrax.

You can book these flights online with any of the trusted website. Negotiate and bargain your flights for your cheap travel. Prices of these airlines can be change in future. South Africa is the host city for FIFA world cup 2010. Cape Town is hosting some of the matches. Take the advantage of cheap and direct flights to Cape Town for FIFA world cup 2010.

You will love this city, as there are various beautiful beaches, mountains, museums, markets, etc. Bo-Kaap, the Castle of Good Hope, Kirstenbosch, Botanical Gardens and South African Maritime Museum are the major tourist attractions.