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Interesting Facts About Airports That You Probably Didn’t Know!

Airports are fascinating places!

For some, they are simply a pickup point from where you travel from one place to another, but for many they serve as a second home.

The size and scope of airports can often be overwhelming, which is why it can peak the curiosity of many.

To shed light on some of the mysteries revolving around airports, here are a few surprising facts that you probably didn’t know about them.

1.Airports Often Sell Lost Luggage

Whether you leave or lose anything at the airport, it will go into a storage area where you have up to 90 days to collect it.

This includes luggage misplaced by airlines. However, airports won’t auction it until the airline has made all the efforts to try and track down the owner of the bag.

Airports take these items from storage rooms and either donate them to charities or sell them off for cash at auction houses.

In fact, last year Bangalore Airport held an auction for unclaimed baggage to get rid of the increasing pile of “lost” things.

2. Landing Slots Are A Huge Business

Airports charge airlines an exorbitant fee for the privilege of landing on their runways on certain days or times.

In fact, these landing slots are sold or traded between airlines.

For Instance, in 2016 Oman Air paid Air France $75 Million for an early morning arrival slot at the London Heathrow Airport.

High landing slot prices have been one of the major reasons why airfare has increased over the past 10 years.

3.Celebs Don’t Board Like You Do

You might have a famous person on your airplane, but you probably won’t know it.

Larger airports have separate check-ins and security protocols for celebrities. They often board their airplane directly through a secret door beside the jet bridge.

In the US, airlines such as United & Delta use a Porche or Cadillac to secretly transfer VIP’s from the terminal building to the airplane.

However, this kind of treatment doesn’t come cheap!

4.Airports Can Make Airlines Look Punctual

According to a travel survey conducted in 2017 on 8,50,000 flights globally, only 74 % of the flights arrived on time.

Airports change arrival timings to allow for delays and make airlines look more punctual than they actually are.

Read more about ‘The Complex Process Behind Your Airline’s Flight Schedule’

5.Celebrity Chefs Don’t Run Their Airport Restaurants

If you come across a celebrity chef’s restaurant at your next layover, chances are it isn’t actually run by the chef themselves.

Due to tricky logistics and security checks, special airport restaurant companies are in charge of running these outlets at an airport.

That means while you might have a nice meal, it’s probably not as good as it would be if you went to their actual restaurant.

6.Air Traffic Controller Towers Are A Peaceful Place

Contrary to popular belief, people in the Air Traffic Control(ATC) tower work in a stress-free environment.

In an interview with ‘The Telegraph’, an ATC tower operator said that people imagine ATC towers to be a hectic place where people are constantly screaming and throwing things at each other but it’s the opposite.

He also went on to say that outsiders are always surprised to see the serene environment inside an ATC tower.

7.Airport Operators Deliberately Keep Queues Longer

Airports are enormous, especially the boarding gate area!

But why is it that despite peak hour traffic, only one queue leads to a particular flight?

This is not because it’s convenient, but a single queue gives the person standing in it a sense of fairness that everyone would have to go through the same grind as they’re going through.

8.The Letter ‘X’ In Airport Codes Doesn’t Mean Anything

In movies, you must have seen people flying to or from LAX(Los Angeles International Airport).

Well! That ‘X’ doesn’t really stand for anything.

In 1938, International Air Transport Association(IATA) decided to change the airport coding format from 2 letters to 3 letter codes.

Thus, places like Los Angeles which had 2 letter codes had to add an ‘X’ in the middle or end of their previous airport codes.

9.Cash Exchange Rates At Airport Are Terrible

Passengers never get a great exchange rate at an airport terminal because exchange bureaus take advantage of disorganized travellers who have left things to the last minute.

If you’ve forgotten to buy your currency in advance, you’ll get far better rates by ordering it online, than getting it exchanged at the airport.

So remember to take cash in the currency of the country you’re going to before leaving for your trip.

10.Airports Are Designed To Stop You From Getting Lost

A lot of thought goes into airport layouts to ensure the smooth flow of travellers.

The key to a successful airport design is easy navigation, which is achieved through subtle but effective design cues that help people find their way from security to the gate.

For instance, airports are designed to have duty-free shops between security checks points and the boarding gate, to help you relax after clearing security & get you in the mood for shopping before boarding your flight.

If you want to go shopping before you catch your flight, look no further. Simply download the AirWhizz App to get information about different eateries and shops at the airport along with airline information and real-time flight updates to Fly Stress-Free.

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Surat Airport Gets Permission To Operate 24/7!

Surat Airport, which has recently been given an international status, is all set to operate 24/7.

Airports Authority Of India(AAI) has given the airport permission to operate round the clock. Airport operators have already started the process to recruit staff and set up immigration & customs counters at the terminal.

Last month, as per the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs notification, Surat Airport was given the status of a ‘Customs Airport’, making it eligible to operate international flights.

Confirming this news, Mr. Guruprasad Mohapatra, Chairman of AAI  said that despite knowing the fact that Surat Airport is making losses, AAI has decided to make it operational for 24 hours a day. This is because they see a huge potential to expand air connectivity to South East Asia through Surat.

From October 1st, 2018, the airport will be operational 24/7 and will commence its first international flight. At present, the airport operates in 2 shifts between 6.00 a.m & 11.00 p.m. It remains shut for nearly eight hours every day.

Air India Express has shown interest in starting flights from Surat to Dubai. In fact, Mr. K Shyam Sundar, CEO of Air India Express, had visited the airport last year to inspect the terminal building, runway and other facilities available at the airport.

Recently, the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujrat, Mr. Nitin Patel, in his budget speech said that he has set aside Rs 1 Crore for setting up immigration facilities at the airport. The home department of the Gujrat Government has already asked the Director General of Police(DGP) to allot 68 immigration staff members at the airport for the financial year 2018-19.

Air passenger traffic at the airport has been on the rise and is continuously increasing by 20-25 percent every year. With Surat airport getting the nod to operate round the clock, International airlines can look at this city as an opportunity to boost their operations in India.

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Delhi & Mumbai Airport Will Soon Introduce “TaxiBots”!

In a bid to control air pollution and to help airlines save fuel, Delhi And Mumbai Airport are all set to introduce ‘TaxiBots’.

TaxiBots are aircraft taxiing vehicles that can reduce air pollution by reducing emissions from aircraft engines, as well as help airplanes save on fuel consumption by 85%.

Here’s how TaxiBots work–

  • TaxiBot is a semi-robotic vehicle which connects to the aircraft and is controlled by the pilot.
  • The vehicle is then used to taxi the aircraft from the parking bay to the runway, without using the airplane’s main engine.
  • It lifts and holds the aircrafts nose wheel, while the pilot backs the airplane from the terminal building.

These vehicles will also help reduce aircraft engine noise levels by 60% and foreign object damage by 50%.

TaxiBots have been designed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), who announced last week that they will partner with KSU Aviation from India to operate these vehicles at Delhi and Mumbai Airport.

According to IAI, the contract will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will see these vehicles being implemented on a trial basis until December 2018.

The second phase will involve delivering 38 additional vehicles within a span of four years to the two international airports. Delhi Airport is likely to be the first to deploy these vehicles.

Delhi International Airport Limited(DIAL) has said that Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) will be the first airport in the world to use this technology. They also said that the trials will start by September 2018 for a period of three months.

It is estimated that the air passenger traffic in India will increase from 308.7 million in 2018 to 1.6 billion by 2033. More than 1500 aircrafts have been ordered by different international & domestic airlines to operate in India.

TaxiBots may be the answer to the pollution at airports that may be caused by this exponential growth. If the trial is successful, other airports in India should consider adopting this technology to become more environmental friendly.

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10 Tips To Plan The Perfect Group Trip!

As students or professionals, we all have at some point made plans to go to Goa with our friends, only to see those trips get cancelled at the last moment.

We think of group trips as a lifetime opportunity to explore the world with our loved ones, but in actuality, it usually involves fighting over itinerary, hotels and destinations to visit.

Luckily there are ways to avoid these situations and ensure that your trip results in a photo album full of incredible memories.

Whether you’re planning a big family reunion, a bachelor party, or a getaway with friends, here are a few pointers to keep in mind while planning a group trip.

1.Appoint A Group Leader

Appointing a leader for your travel group should be the first task, whether that person is you or anyone else with great leadership skills!

But remember, the leader doesn’t only have to plan the trip. They have to be the first point of contact, make sure that everybody’s travel documents are safe and keep the plan in sync.

For instance, if your group is travelling abroad, the leader has to make sure that everyone’s passport is up to date and valid.

2.Agree On A Budget

Staying in a five-star resort or hotel might sound luxurious, but it might not be feasible or logical for all those traveling with you.

As a group, you should agree on a budget for your trip and stick to it, so that there are no surprises for anyone when it’s time to pay!

Consider having a shared pool of money only for group activities and necessary expenses such as accommodation. It’ll be easier than constantly working out how to split bills on the road.

3.Book Your Tickets Early!

Whether your group is flying or taking a cruise to the destination, booking tickets should be high up on the priority list.

It’s a way to confirm who all are coming for the trip, plus it gives you a start and end date so you can effectively fill out the rest of the itinerary.

Make sure you do your bookings, months in advance. Tickets will be cheaper and there will be seats available for everyone on your group.

4.Consider Renting A House

Renting a house can help you avoid stress and save money!

Having a house means a more sociable environment. It will give you the chance to cook group meals and hang out together without cramming into one small hotel room!

Sites like Airbnb make it very easy to find homes to rent anywhere in the world.

5.Pre Plan Group Activities

Take a look at the top things to do at your destination and consider pre-planning some activities, especially if you’re a large group.

If there are any tours you want to do, you may be able to get a group discount. At many places, group activities have to be booked in advance if you have more than a certain number of people, so keep that in mind.

Don’t be too ambitious and try not to plan every second of your trip.

6.Keep Time For Personal Activities.

While planning your group itinerary, make sure that there is time for resting during the day.

Most people in the group will appreciate the chance to do their own thing, whether it’s lazing around in bed, reading by the pool, or going on a solo trek.

Don’t be afraid to go off on your own during a group trip. If there’s something you really want to do, go ahead. It’s your vacation too, so go home with no regrets!

7.Focus On The Details

From gathering everyone at a common point before you depart to reaching your hotel/guest house from the airport, have everything written down to the smallest detail.

For instance, consider which mode of transport you will use during the trip, how much will it cost, will it fit your budget etc.

There’s a lot of logistical planning involved on group trips, so make sure you get all those details right.

8. Communication Is The Key

There will be instances during your trip where your group may get divided, so make sure you have a way to communicate with each other.

In today’s tech-savvy world establishing a common source of communication is not very difficult!

You can start by creating a “WhatsApp” group and as time passes by, you all can share the hotel or house information, itineraries, grocery lists, phone numbers, etc. on a Google doc.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: Ask your group members to make a personal itinerary for the trip and share it with everyone. This will help keep everyone in the loop.

9.Have An Alternate Plan

If one plan doesn’t pan out, don’t let it waste your day.

Always have a backup destination in mind that is similar or close to the original plan.

And we aren’t just talking about group plans. You will need to be flexible with your personal itinerary as well.

10.Hire A Travel Agent

If everything fails and your group is not able to figure out the logistics of the trip, ask a travel agent for their help.

They are professionals in planning group trips and can make your work much easier.

You’ll have to pay for the agent’s services, but they can often save you a lot of money by getting you good deals.

If you’re travelling by air with your group, simply download the AirWhizz App to plan your trip on the move. Get all the information related to your airline and airport along with real-time flight updates at your fingertips & Fly Stress-Free!

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Air India Records Highest Number Of Passenger Complaints In June 2018

With the Air India disinvestment falling into shambles, it seems like the debt-ridden airline can’t catch a break.

The state-owned airline had the most number of complaints lodged against it, amongst all domestic airlines, in June 2018.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) domestic traffic report, a total of 677 passenger complaints were registered last month against different airlines in India.

Here are all the details about the report –

  • Air India topped this list with 237 complaints registered against them.
  • Jet Airways & its low-cost subsidiary ‘Jet Lite’ stood second with 199 complaints against them.
  • IndiGo had a total of 140 complaints registered against it.
  • Complaints against airlines such as AirAsia, Vistara, TruJet & Air Odisha were in single digits.
  • Air Deccan & Zoom Air recorded no complaints against them.

Almost 29 % of the total complaints were due to flight operation problems such as delays, 27 % were due to baggage handling issues and 25 % of complaints were against customer service related issues.

The remaining 19 % of the complains were related to various other reasons such as staff behaviour, refund, airfare and food catering.

The DGCA report shows that although the percentage of complaints against flight operations and customer service were lesser in June as compared to the previous two months, complaints related to baggage, refund and staff behaviour had risen.

Out of the 677 complaints, 615 issues have been dealt with, however, 62 cases still remain unsolved.

The report also stated that the number of passengers travelling by air in the month of June has drastically reduced as compared to April & May, due to the end of the tourist season.

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Bangalore Airport Under Pressure To Withdraw User Development Fee!

With Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) registering huge profits in the past three years, there is a growing demand for withdrawal of the User Development Fee (UDF).

UDF is the tax that is levied on an airplane passenger by the airport operator, to receive a fair share of return on the investment done for development of the airport.

The Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC) wants BIAL to stop burdening passengers with the fee and fund their infrastructure projects from other sources.

According to the data collected by B.PAC, BAIL has collected a total sum of Rs 1212 Crore as UDF in the past 2 years. This amount is 30%  more than what BIAL had estimated, based on traffic projections in 2010. .

The annual reports of Bangalore Airport show that 40% of its revenue comes from UDF. In the year 2016-2017 BIAL generated Rs 1,314.35 crore from operations out of which, more than Rs 500 Crores was only from UDF.

Here’s a chart showing the UDF collection by the Bangalore Airport-

BIAL is pushing for the continuation of the existing UDF till 2021 to fund its future infrastructure projects. The airport is running at full capacity of 25 million passengers a year and BIAL is targeting to double it in the next four years.

Airport authorities are planning to build a runway, a new terminal building and supporting infrastructure in the near future. They estimate that this expansion will cost Rs 12000 crores. The Karnataka government has supported BIAL’s stand on continuing the current UDF charges.

Managing Trustee of B.PAC, Ms. Revathy Ashok, has said its unfair to burden the passengers with this fee since the airport recorded a profit of 50 % last year. She also said that this kind of profitability is unheard of in any industry and this establishes the fact that excessive UDF charges have contributed to BIAL’s higher profit margin.

According to a citizen activist Mr Sanjeev Dyamannavar, in the past 10 years, BIAL has not done anything to generate income from the airport land. He suggests that they should tap into non-aeronautical revenue instead of burdening the passengers.

UDF is revised every 5 years by the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The fee was last revised at the Bangalore Airport in 2015. Currently, Bangalore Airport charges the highest UDF in India.

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Airport Authorities May Soon Hike Passenger Security Fee!

Air tickets may soon become expensive as airport authorities have asked the government to increase the Passenger Security Fee (PSF).

PSF is the surcharge paid by each flyer to cover the cost of security deployed at airports. Currently, a passenger pays Rs 130 as security fee to the airlines when they book an airplane ticket.

Airport operators want this fee to be increased because the current amount is not enough to cover the airport security cost.

The fee is used to pay the salaries of Central Industrial Security Force(CISF) and state police personnel who are deployed to protect the passengers at airports.

According to the Chairman of Airports Authority of India (AAI), Mr. Guruprasad Mohapatra, The annual expense on airport security amounts to Rs 900 Crore & the ministry is facing a shortfall of more than Rs 100 Crores.

All airport operators have submitted their projection reports to the ministry and the latter is in discussion with these operators on hiking the PSF amount.

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Air Travellers Around The World Split Over In-Flight Connectivity!

Services offered by an airline may be uniform all around the world, but whether passengers like it or not, depends on the country they stay in.

U.K based Data & Measurement company, Nielsen, conducted a survey which involved 8000 travellers from 10 different countries to understand the needs of an airplane passenger.

While airlines a ready to provide in-flight connectivity 24/7, passengers from France, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Britain and the US are happy to keep their phones on airplane mode and not make calls while flying. However, air travellers from India, China and Middle -East are keen on in-flight connectivity.

Here are the key findings related to In-flight connectivity –

  • 69 % of German passengers think that it’s not necessary to be connected via phones while travelling by air . But, only 12 % of Indian and 18% of Chinese travellers agree with this.
  • Flyers from India & China said that they would be more than happy to pay for in-flight connectivity even if the flight costs more.
  • Most of the Japanese travellers were worried about the disturbance caused on the flight due to in-flight connectivity.

While travellers from Asia & Middle-East are keen on chatting inside the airplane, their major concern is about the contents of refresher packs handed out by airlines.

Travellers from the United Arab Emirates, China and India said that airlines should provide toothbrush and eye mask. But, travellers from Sweden don’t really care about it, with only 38% agreeing with this.

Fewer than one-third of the respondents, from any country, want a shower, spa, wellness service or fitness equipment on board.

Generously sized seating is regarded as a priority on long-haul flights, especially for Americans, with 59 percent of US respondents ranking bottom space and legroom as very important.

Here are some other key findings from the Nielsen survey –

  • Most British travellers are bothered to stand in the airport check-in line while Swedish travellers don’t mind standing in the queue.
  • Having a range of in-flight films, music and audio-books on offer matters most to travellers from the US, India and the UAE.
  • Japanese flyers aren’t really keen on hearing updates from the pilot, whereas travellers from India & South Africa want the pilot to give regular updates.
  • Fast, free Internet access is globally desirable but especially popular in China, South Africa and the US.
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