Popular Airport | Abbottabad Airport |
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Popular Airlines | |
Approximate Flight Duration | 5 hour 30 min |
Approximate Travel Distance | 4489 Km |
The airport, which is approximately 6 kilometers of the city center, is located on Bole Road. In the city where public transportation is not very developed, you can use minibuses to reach the airport. Taxi is another transportation alternative that is frequently preferred by visitors. In addition to these, you can get to the airport from the city center by renting a car or by benefitting from the airport shuttle service in case your hotel offers this service.
You can reach the airport by getting on a minibus from the minibus stops located in the city center. Minibuses generally carry passengers to the airport from 5:30 am to 09:00 pm. Although it is relatively cheaper compared to taxi, you should remember that drivers may demand higher amounts from tourists. The fare is about 5 Birr. They may also charge extra amount for each baggage.
Hotel shuttle service is the most comfortable alternative for your travel to the airport. In Addis Ababa city center, there are both small hotels and accommodation centers of chain hotels such as Hilton, Radisson and Sheraton. Some of these hotels offer airport shuttle service. If your hotel offers this service and you want to benefit from this service for your travel to the airport, you should definitely make a reservation in advance.
There are two types of taxis that you can get on to reach the airport. Mercedes taxis of the National Tour Operator (NTO) operate under a company and offer service with more comfortable vehicles. With their predetermined tariffs, they create a more reliable image in terms of the fares. You can ask your hotel to call a NTO taxi for you.
There is no taximeter in the taxis operating in Addis Ababa, so it is advised to agree on the fare before getting on. These yellow taxis are approximately 10 times more expensive than blue-white taxis. You can also reach the airport in a short time with a blue-white taxi which you can find in the city center or waiting in front of hotels. The average fare is between 80 and 100 Birr. The owners of these taxis aren’t companies but individuals. Since there is also no taximeter in blue-white taxis and fares are not standardized by a company, they are more flexible in terms of fares and you should definitely bargain.
You can rent a car from one of the car rental companies that you can find in the city center or from the offices of tour operators. You can also get help from your hotel about renting a car.
Since some roads in Addis Ababa have no name, there isn’t sufficient number of traffic signs throughout the city and there is no traffic light on many roundabouts, traffic flow isn’t in order. For this reason, renting a car during your visit may not be a good option. If you want to rent a car only for travelling to the airport from the city center, you should prefer a company which has an office at the airport.
In order to get to the airport with the car you have rented, connect to Bole Road in the city center, drive southeastward and follow the airport signs.
There are 2 terminals at the airport. Terminal 1, which offers service for domestic flights, is located in the old building. Terminal 2 offers service for international passenger transportation in the new building.
At Bole International Airport, there are many restaurants and cafes in addition to stores and a duty-free shop where you can do some shopping before your flight.
At the airport, there is also a lounge for passengers looking for a comfortable environment and a much larger lounge is now being constructed. Although there is no left luggage service at the airport, you can find other standard airport services such as pharmacy, currency exchange office and ATM.
Since there is no active airport in Abbottabad, you can reach Abbottabad by using Benazir Bhutto International Airport which is located approximately 150 km away from the city. After landing at the airport, you can rent a car for a fast and comfortable travel to your destination. If you prefer a more budget-friendly means of transportation, you can get on an intercity bus or use a train.
The buses going to many different points of the city depart from the bus station located outside the airport. You can get information about the bus routes and departure times by visiting the information desk at the airport. Ticket prices are affordable but travelling to the city by bus takes a long time.
There are a few different car rental companies offering car rental service at the airport. If you rent a car for your transportation, you can reach the city center of Abbottabad in about two hours by driving in the northeast direction by connecting to the highway N35 from the highway M1. When driving, you should be careful about the drivers who do not obey the traffic rules and you should remember that the traffic can be sometimes too heavy.
You can come to the Islamabad Railway Station by getting on a bus or taxi at the airport and then travel to Abbottabad by getting on a train here. If you get on a taxi, make sure to bargain on the fare before getting on any taxi. In this way, you can reduce your transportation costs. Train ticket prices are very affordable but keep in mind that trains can be very crowded.