Chennai Airport

Sikkim’s 1st Airport To Be Inaugurated Today!

AirWhizzSep 24, 2018 No Comments

Sikkim’s 1st Airport To Be Inaugurated Today!

Aviation Insider

Pakyong Airport In Sikkim is all set to open today, nine years after the foundation stone was laid.

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, will be present to inaugurate the airport which is Sikkim’s, first and only aerodrome.

He took to social media and tweeted saying that after Jharkhand he will be leaving for Sikkim to inaugurate the Pakyong Airport. The tweet also mentioned that the airport will improve connectivity and benefit the people of Sikkim.

Here are a few interesting facts about Sikkim’s new airport :

  • The airport is spread over 201 acres and is located on top of a hill about two km from Pakyong village at 4,500 feet above sea level.
  • It is constructed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at an estimated cost of Rs 605 crore.
  • the airport is seen as an engineering marvel for its soil reinforcement and slope stabilisation techniques, keeping in view the altitude it was built at.
  • The airport comprises of an ATC tower-cum-fire station, a terminal building for passengers, high-intensity runway lights and parking for over 50 vehicles.
  • Apart from this, the reinforcement wall of the project is 80-meter-high and is one of the tallest in the world.
  • The airport has a 1.75 km runway with a width of 30 meters. It has a 116-meter-long taxiway connecting it to a parking bay that can accommodate 2 ATR (Regional) Aircraft.
  • The airport has a 3,000 sq meter terminal building and has a capacity to handle 50 inbound and outbound passengers.
  • The first commercial flight from Pakyong would begin from October 4.
  • Initially, the airport would only cater to domestic flights, but later it will also provide international flight services connecting Sikkim with other countries like Paro in Bhutan, Kathmandu in Nepal and Dhaka in Bangladesh.
  • There is also plan to construct another 75-meter stretch adjacent to the main runway in the coming days, which would allow the Indian Air Force (IAF) to land various types of aircraft on the airport’s runway
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Kannur International Airport In Kerala Is Set To Open This Month!

AirWhizzSep 22, 2018 No Comments

Kannur International Airport In Kerala Is Set To Open This Month!

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Kannur International Airport in Kerala is all set to become operational from this month after Air India successfully conducted a test flight to what is to be, Kerala’s 4th airport.

The announcement was made via a tweet by the Chief Minister Of Kerala, Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan, which stated that the trial was carried out by Air India Express aircraft IX 555. The tweet also said that it is part of the final procedures for getting clearance in order to commence commercial operations.

He further informed that the operations on the Kannur International Airport would begin this month.

The test flight took-off at 9.45 AM from Thiruvananthapuram and landed at 11.38 AM at Kannur. Apart from the aircraft, the aerobridge and other airport facilities for passengers were also tested.

The international airport has been built at a cost of Rs 2,292 crore and is spread over 2,300 acres of land. It is expected that the airport is likely to serve over one million passengers annually and authorities estimate the number will increase to five million by 2025.

Kannur International Airport has a runway that is suitable for aircraft, like the Boeing B-777 as well as Airbus A-330.The airport runway will be later expanded so that it can handle bigger aircraft like the Airbus A-380 (The largest passenger aircraft in the world).

The terminal building of the airport is spread across 95,000 sq.m and is said to be the 8th largest terminal in India. It has all state of the art facilities installed for passenger’s convenience.

The domestic destinations will be connected by SpiceJet & IndiGo Airlines. These destinations include  Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Goa, Hubballi, Solapur as well as Hindon in Ghaziabad.

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Chennai Airport To Introduce ‘E-Gates’ From 2020!

AirWhizzSep 20, 2018 No Comments

Chennai Airport To Introduce ‘E-Gates’ From 2020!

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In the near future, air passengers flying out of the Chennai airport may not have to stand in long queues at the entrance to get their tickets and ID proof checked to enter the terminal.

Airport authorities are all set to introduce camera-enabled ‘E-Gates’ which use facial recognition technology to verify a passenger’s identity.

As part of the government’s “DigiYatra” initiative, Chennai airport will have these gates from the entrance of the terminal to the boarding gate. The scheme aims to develop a digital ecosystem that will offer a seamless, consistent and paperless service experience at airports.

Here are all the details about it:

  • E-gates with cameras and scanners will be installed at entry gates of the terminals, check-in area, security check gates and boarding gates where passengers will be allowed, based on face recognition technology.
  • The e-gate at the entry gate of the terminal will capture the QR code of tickets and face of the passengers.
  • It will then match it with the database to allow entry through the gates at check-in, security and boarding.
  • Passengers will have to register in DigiYatra to use these gates.
  • They will get an ID number, which they have to submit when they travel for the first time through these e-gates.
  • Passengers can then travel paperless through the airport after that.
  • The system should be in place and ready to use by end of 2019.

According to a senior official at Airports Authority Of India (AAI), the technology will be introduced in two phases at various airports and Chennai will get it in the second phase. A tender will be floated in a month to install this technology at airports in Pune, Varanasi, Kolkata and Vijayawada as a pilot project.

If the trial run is successful, this technology will be implemented at other airports across India.

This system has many benefits. Passengers can beat the queue and it will be easy for airline authorities to locate passengers inside the terminal. It will also improve the security system at the Chennai airport.

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Delhi Airport Bags Top Honour At ‘Airport Service Quality’ Awards!

AirWhizzSep 18, 2018 No Comments

Delhi Airport Bags Top Honour At ‘Airport Service Quality’ Awards!

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Delhi Airport has bagged the title of ‘Best Airport to handle over 40 million passengers per annum (MPPA)’ at the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards 2017.

The Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which operates and manages the Indra Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) announced this good news on Monday. The award was given by the Airports Council International (ACI).

Delhi Airport has seen a tremendous growth in air passenger traffic in the past few years. It handled 63.5 million passengers, which was more than Singapore’s Changi Airport, Seoul’s Incheon Airport and Bangkok airport in terms of passenger growth. This was one of the main reasons why IGIA has won this award.

Mr. I. Prabhakara Rao, Executive Director Of GMR Airports, released a statement saying that as the airport witness’s robust growth, GMR looks forward to a strong collaboration and support of all airport stakeholders and their esteemed passengers.

Delhi airport is now officially the 7th busiest airport in Asia and among the top 20 busiest airports in the world.

This is very good news for Indian Aviation especially after Hyderabad Airport was ranked No.1 in terms of Service Quality at the ASQ awards in the 20 MPPA category.

ASQ is a worldwide programme to survey passengers at the airport on their day of travel. Every year the programme delivers around 600,000 individual surveys in 41 languages in 84 countries.

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Hyderabad Airport To Introduce “Face Recognition Facility” For Passengers!

AirWhizzSep 17, 2018 No Comments

Hyderabad Airport To Introduce “Face Recognition Facility” For Passengers!

Aviation Insider

Following Bangalore Airport’s example, Hyderabad Airport will soon introduce ‘Face Recognition Facility’ for air travellers.

Passengers flying from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) can get past all security checks and board the airplane by simply looking into the camera.

Here’s how it will work:

  • After a one-time registration at the entry gate, passenger details will be stored and facial features will be captured by the ‘Hi-Tech’ Cameras. The details will be the passenger’s unique signature
  • The next time that passenger has to board a flight, they won’t have to show the boarding pass. They’ll just have to stand in front of the camera
  • The camera will analyse and match the details and the passenger can gain entry
  • This technology will also be used at the security checks and the passenger won’t need to show the boarding pass there as well.
  • The boarding pass information will be integrated into the new system. It will automatically verify the information with the Airline DCS (Departure Control System).

This process will not only help the passengers but the airport staff as well.

The technology has already been tested for staff entry and will go live for passengers once the airport gets all the necessary approvals from regulatory authorities. It is said that this process will be implemented by the end of 2018.

E-boarding has already been introduced by Hyderabad Airport, therefore, it will be easy to implement this technology.

In the coming few days the airport will be rolling out a pilot project to make an airport journey completely paperless. They will do this by using biometric identification of a passenger to replace tickets and boarding passes.

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Bangalore Airport Inks Deal To Digitize Operations & Infrastructure!

AirWhizzSep 15, 2018 No Comments

Bangalore Airport Inks Deal To Digitize Operations & Infrastructure!

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Germany’s technology giants, Siemens, is all set to digitize operations at the Bangalore Airport to simplify airport systems and enhance customer experience.

The group’s subsidiary, Siemens Postal, Parcel & Airport Logistics (SPPAL), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) to digitized the airport operations and infrastructure using the Internet of Things (IoT) technology, Artificial Intelligence and Data Analysis.

Managing Director and CEO of BIAL, Mr. Hari Marar, released a statement saying that Bangalore Airport is a pioneer and leader of change in the Indian aviation industry. BIAL’s aim is to introduce more digitally advanced and innovative services so that the passengers and stakeholders get the benefit of future technologies.

He also went on to say that with the signing of the MoU for digitalisation, BIAL is once again gearing up for a leading position in India together with SPPAL.

Here’s how SPPAL may digitize Bangalore Airport-

  • With a view to improve operational efficiency, the subsidiary will use MindSphere, an open cloud-based IoT operating system of Siemens.
  • The technology will standardize real-time exchange of quality-assured data. This will create more transparency of information and thus improve processes between the various stakeholders at the airport.
  • Another way it will benefit the airport is by improving the baggage handling system.
  • It is also planning to optimize aircraft spare part management at the airport using predictive analysis.
  • Data analysis and Artificial Intelligence will be implemented in the later stages of development

SPPAL recently opened a new MindSphere Application Centre (MAC) in Dubai, which will be used to develop future-oriented analytics and IoT solutions for airports, airlines, freight service providers and ground-handling services.

As the country’s third busiest airport after Mumbai and New Delhi, Bangalore airport handled 25 million (250 lakh) passengers in 2017. With such technologies being implemented, BIAL will surely be able to help modernize the airport and improve passenger experience.

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Hyderabad Airport Ranked World No.1 For Service Quality!

AirWhizzSep 14, 2018 No Comments

Hyderabad Airport Ranked World No.1 For Service Quality!

Aviation Insider

Hyderabad Airport is officially one of the best airports in the world, in terms of service quality!

The international airport has been ranked ‘world No 1’ for ‘Airport Service Quality’(ASQ) by the Airports Council International (ACI) in the 5-15 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA) category.

The CEO of GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL), Mr. S.G.K Kishore, was there to receive the award at the ASQ awards ceremony, organised at the ‘2018 ACI Customer Excellence Global Summit’ at Halifax in Canada.

Mr. Kishore has said that the award is a recognition of the airport’s relentless efforts towards service excellence and customer delight. It will be their endeavour to continuously raise the bar and exceed customer expectations.

He also went on to thank the stakeholders, including the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Immigration, Customs and service providers such as airlines and airport staff for their constant support in helping the airport achieve this status.

The award was presented by the President and CEO of Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Ms. Joyce Carter.

Hyderabad Airport has been ranked No.1 for the second consecutive year and has been in the top 3 rankings for the past 9 consecutive years. The airport was adjudged World no 1 Airport in this category for the year 2016-2017.

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Bangalore Airport’s Second Runway To Be Powered By LED Lighting!

AirWhizzSep 13, 2018 No Comments

Bangalore Airport’s Second Runway To Be Powered By LED Lighting!

Aviation Insider

In a bid to become more environmentally friendly and save energy, Bangalore Airport will be using LED lighting system to illuminate its second runway.

The runway, which is scheduled to become operational in 2019, will be the first airport runway in the country to have LED lighting.

With this facility, Kempegowda International Airport, which is the 3rd busiest airport in India, will improve runway safety & efficiency while saving energy and cost.

The runway will be powered by a US-based firm, ‘ADB Safegate’ who are responsible for designing and supplying the Airfield Lighting (AGL) as well as Advanced Visual Docking Guidance Systems(A-VDGS).

The Company will provide the ‘SafeLED’ lights, Constant Current Regulators (CCR) for power management, cables and control systems.

According to Chief Project Officer Of Bangalore Airport, Mr. Tom Shimmin, this system will help the airport gear up to support the 55 aircraft per hour movement at the second runway in an efficient way and ensure safety.

The new runway will have an Advanced CAT III instrumental landing system that will cater to all types of airplanes including the Airbus 380 (The Largest Aircraft In The World) and Boeing 747/748.The runway is expected to become functional from October 2019.

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