General
24 Hours in Mumbai With an Airline Pilot
One of the perks of my job as a Boeing 787 pilot for British Airways is the opportunity to explore the cities I fly to around the world. The challenge is to make the most of my frequent short layovers — typically 24 or 48 hours — and to balance …
One of the perks of my job as a Boeing 787 pilot for British Airways is the opportunity to explore the cities I fly to around the world. The challenge is to make the most of my frequent short layovers — typically 24 or 48 hours — and to balance favorite hangouts and precious downtime with new adventures.
The view over the ceaseless bustle of Dr. Dadabhai Naoroji Road from the terrace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.Credit…Poras Chaudhary for The New York Times
Mumbai is one of my favorite cities and I’ve flown there dozens of times. Here’s how a visit last spring unfolded.
First stop: Hotel
We touched down in a light headwind on Runway 27 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 8:30 a.m., but it was 10:15 by the time my colleagues and I reached our hotel north of Mumbai’s traffic-clogged historic core. In every city I follow my 10 a.m. rule: If I reach my hotel before then, I’ll sleep for three hours (we get early check-in). If I arrive after, I’ll stay up until a reasonable bedtime. So, no nap for me.
My other rule — pilots love rules — is to try to banish jet lag with a swim. After 1,500 meters of freestyle in my hotel’s nearly deserted pool and an instant coffee in my room, I headed down to the lobby.
Second stop: The Byculla neighborhood
