Hyderabad Airport

Navi Mumbai Airport’s Phase 1 Construction May Overshoot 2019 Deadline!

AirWhizzAug 02, 2018 No Comments

Navi Mumbai Airport’s Phase 1 Construction May Overshoot 2019 Deadline!

Aviation Insider

Maharashtra Government’s much-anticipated project, the Navi Mumbai Airport may not be able to start operations by the end of 2019.

According to Civil Aviation Ministry officials, factors such as rehabilitating hundreds of displaced villagers around the construction area and delay in pre-development work may result in the airport opening in 2020 -2021.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport is being developed under a public-private partnership between Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) & City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd (CIDCO).

According to a concession agreement signed by the 2 stakeholders, the construction of the airport is to be completed by 2021. But a large chunk of pre-development work is yet to be finished and authorities say that it is difficult to build a runway and operationalize a terminal building in 16-17 months.

CIDCO is responsible for implementation of this airport project. The project is located in an area spread across 1160 hectares, with a river, a few hills and more than 10 villages in its immediate vicinity.

CIDCO has said that they can complete the 1st phase by end of 2019, however, many villagers are holding up to receive more benefits from the government to vacate their lands, while some are not ready to move at all.

As a result, a large chunk of pre-development work that includes blasting hills, diverting the Ulwe river, filling up water bodies and leveling of land, is yet to be completed. The ongoing monsoon season has also slowed development work.

CIDCO’s joint Managing Director, Mrs. Prajakta Lavangare, who is overseeing the project says that despite the tight deadline, the agency has been meeting time-defined targets and is inching towards its objective.

She also said that most of the villages have vacated, however, they expect the others to move out by the end of September 2018.

The Navi Mumbai airport, a much-delayed project, was first proposed in 1997 as a secondary airport to support the busy Mumbai airport. Estimated to cost ₹ 3,000 crores, the Navi Mumbai airport received the government’s approval only in 2007.

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Government’s “Digi Yatra” Initiative To Kickstart In 2 Months!

AirWhizzJul 31, 2018 No Comments

Government’s “Digi Yatra” Initiative To Kickstart In 2 Months!

Aviation Insider

Government’s much anticipated “Digi Yatra” scheme is all set to be rolled out to make flying hassle-free for travellers in India.

According to Union Minister, Mr. Suresh Prabhu, Civil Aviation Ministry’s “Digi Yatra” facility is expected to be implemented at Indian airports in the coming 2 months.

The initiative, aims at making air travel ‘Paperless’ by using new age technology throughout a passenger’s airport journey. The ministry aims to do this by making ticket booking, airport entry and boarding pass security check-in completely digital.

Under this system, the passenger’s biometrics, such as facial or iris, will be captured once they enter the airprot and the person will be able to go through it and board the flight without showing their tickets or paper documents.

Mr.Prabhu also said that the system will not just be Aadhaar-based. The passenger has the choice to provide any identification and if somebody doesn’t want to reveal their identity, they can go through the normal process. This will ensure that the government does not violate Supreme Court’s privacy guidelines while implementing this system.

The government is also working on a comprehensive and integrated plan for 2035 Indian Aviation, which is expected to be ready in the next few months.

This plan is a vision of what Indian aviation industry will look like by 2035.It involves incorporating new age infrastructure at Indian airports  and manufacturing of airplanes/drones.

Technology under the “Digi Yatra” scheme has been tested on a trial basis and has been a success at major Indian airports such as Hyderabad , Bangalore , Bombay & Delhi.

Here are a few benefits that passengers can enjoy once the “Digi Yatra” system is implemented –

  • Fast airport entry and automated check-ins without having to use paper documents
  • Walk through security scanners swiftly, thanks to advanced biometric security systems
  • Real-time updates on delays, protocols, airline timings, queue lengths etc on the phone itself
  • Navigation through the airport using digital guidance systems, interactive kiosks and Augmented Reality(AR) apps
  • Real-time notifications when the luggage reaches the baggage claim belt
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Delhi Airport To Stop Stamping Of Boarding Passes From August 2018!

AirWhizzJul 28, 2018 No Comments

Delhi Airport To Stop Stamping Of Boarding Passes From August 2018!

Aviation Insider

There is some good news for passengers flying from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport!

Starting next month, Delhi International Airport Limited(DIAL) will stop the practice of physically stamping boarding passes for passengers travelling on domestic airlines.

DIAL has said that, this process will start with GoAir passengers flying out of Terminal 2 (T2) and will eventually be extended to other airlines flying from the remaining 2 terminals (T1 & T3).

Head Of Central Industrial Security Force(CISF), Mr. M.A. Ganapathy, had last week asked the operators of Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore airport to do away with the practice of stamping “Security Checked” on a passenger’s boarding pass at the earliest.

While Delhi Airport has given a timeframe as to when they will start this process, It is expected that Mumbai & Bangalore airport will announce their plans to implement this practice in the near future.

The process of doing away with stamping of airplane tickets is similar to the one adopted to phase out stamping of hand baggage tags. To make these a success and keep security under check , airports will have to use HD CCTV cameras and other high tech security equipment to fix accountability, in case something goes wrong.

Mumbai airport has improved its security in this aspect and has installed E-Gates near the Pre Embarkation Security Check (PESC) area. They have also installed HD cameras at Terminal 2, to capture a clear picture of passengers as well as the security personnel frisking them.

Stopping the practice of stamping boarding passes will be the next step in allowing domestic passengers a complete paperless travel experience. They will just have to show their boarding passes on their personal electronic devices like mobiles, scan the airplane ticket barcode & board the airplane.

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Cochin International Airport Awarded UN’s Highest Environmental Honour!

AirWhizzJul 27, 2018 No Comments

Cochin International Airport Awarded UN’s Highest Environmental Honour!

Aviation Insider

Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) will soon be awarded the 2018 ‘Champion Of Earth’ award, which is the highest environmental honour given by the United Nations(UN).

The award is being given to honour the successful implementation of the solar energy project at the airport.

A special team led by Mr Erik Solheim, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),had visited the Cochin Airport to study about its solar initiatives. They held a discussion with the chief minister of Kerala, Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan, who is also the chairman of CIAL.

Managing director of CIAL, Mr. V J Kurian, has said that Cochin International Airport has set an ambitious example by becoming the world’s first fully solar-powered airport and he hopes that others will follow their example.

He also said that CIAL has shown the world that big infrastructure projects like airport can be operated using alternative sources of energy.

United Nations established the “Champions Of Earth” award in 2005 to recognise outstanding environmental leaders from public/private and the civil society.

CIAL has been chosen in the “Action & Inspiration” Category, which recognises individuals or organizations that have taken bold environmental action, and in doing so, inspired others to follow in their footsteps.

By September 2018, CIAL will increase the airport’s solar plant capacity, from 30 Milliwatt power to 40 Milliwatt power, which will produce 60 million units of power every year. This will help the airport cut energy costs by Rs 40 Crore per annum and reduce carbon emissions by more than 9 lakh metric tons over the next 25 years.

The prestigious award will be presented at a gala ceremony which will be held near the UN General Assembly, in New York, on 26th September 2018.

Cochin Airport, which was the first Indian airport to be developed under a public-private partnership, had handled 10 million passengers last year. It also witnessed a 22% increase in the domestic passenger volume and 4% increase in international passenger arrivals in the Financial Year 2017-2018.

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Service Standards At Major Indian Airports To Be Closely Monitored!

AirWhizzJul 26, 2018 No Comments

The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority Of India(AERA) has announced that they will soon start monitoring the quality of passenger service at major Indian airports.

The authority will check if big Indian airports are meeting the service standards they have promised, in terms of time taken for various processes like check-in, security check and immigration.

AERA is responsible for fixing tariffs for Indian Airports which handle more than 15 million air travellers in a year. They are responsible for deciding the taxes, such as User development Fee, that a passenger has to pay.

They have said that AERA will start linking passenger service quality at an airport to determine the tariffs. They will start penalizing airports with sluggish services and reward those where passengers can breeze through the airport.

This decision has been taken to stop the congestion at airports during peak travel hours. Their concern is that airports have started to resemble overcrowded railway stations, where serpentine-like queues are a common site at check-in desks, security checks and immigration counters.

This has mainly happened because private airport operators and Airports Authority of India (AAI) have failed to meet the infrastructural demands after air travel exploded over the last few years.

According to AERA’s Chairman, Mr. S. Machendranathan, they will be appointing consultants to measure the quality of services provided at big airports. If the service standards are not met, AERA will start penalising them.

Hopefully, with this, airports will now make an extra effort to make sure that an air passengers journey through the airport is hassle-free.

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Indian Airports May Soon Get 3D Scanners To Check Hand Baggage!

AirWhizzJul 25, 2018 No Comments

Indian Airports May Soon Get 3D Scanners To Check Hand Baggage!

Aviation Insider

Removing laptops, tablets and liquid items during airport security checks may soon become a thing of the past.

Some of the busiest airports in the world are conducting trial runs for screening bags using 3D technology.

The Central Industrial Security Force(CISF), who is in charge of security at Indian airports, is closely keeping a watch on these trials and might decide to test it here.

3D scanning machines have so far been tested at the New York’s JFK Airport and Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport. London Heathrow airport is currently conducting trials of this technology.

CISF released a statement saying that to implement this system they will have to change the rules regarding physical checking of handbags. They also said that senior officials at the Civil Aviation Ministry are very positive about this new technology and might consider bringing it to India.

According to a Bangalore Airport spokesperson, preliminary discussion to install 3D scanning machines at the city’s airport are underway. They are looking forward to deploying this technology with a view to enhance customer experience and make airport security more efficient.

Most Indian airports, over the past few years, have not been able to improve their airport security infrastructure, leading to long serpentine-like queues during peak hours.

In fact, CISF had raised a red flag last year, over increasing rush at security checkpoints at busy airports. According to a report released by them, the total passenger traffic at all airports has increased by 65% over the past 5 years. However, this increase is skewed and abnormally high during peak hours at certain airports.

The CISF report also says that despite this huge increase, the security infrastructure and manpower have remained the same. This has resulted in congestion at security checkpoints and undue pressure on security personnel for speedy clearance.

Since expanding airport infrastructure takes time, technology like this will surely help manage the growing air passenger traffic at Indian airports.

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5 More Indian Airports To Allow Tag-Free Hand Baggage!

AirWhizzJul 24, 2018 No Comments

5 More Indian Airports To Allow Tag-Free Hand Baggage!

Aviation Insider

To make a passenger’s airport experience hassle-free, Central Industrial Security Force( CISF) has been continuously bringing changes to its airport security procedures.

On Monday, CISF announced that they will stop the practice of hand baggage stamping at the Khajuraho Airport, Swami Vivekanand Airport in Raipur, Jorhat Airport, Dimapur Airport and Shillong Airport.

A total of 42 Indian airports, including the 5 airports mentioned above, have done away with hand baggage stamping.

This new airport security regime was launched in April 2017 by CISF in consultation with the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

In order to implement this system, airports have had to upgrade their security arrangements by installing smart cameras and other high-tech security equipment.

According to a CISF Official, the operators of these 5 airports were asked to increase the length of the conveyor belt of the x-ray machine, so that handbags could be checked easily.

CISF Director, General Rajesh Ranjan, had recently released a statement saying that this practice will be implemented on all airports under CISF, by the end of 2018. Currently, CISF handles the security at 60 airports across India.

The old process of stamping hand baggage had become a major irritant for air travellers and airport authorities around India received many complaints about it.

Passengers complained that this process is a hassle for them because its very time consuming and in case they forgot to get it tagged, security personnel at the boarding gate would send them back.

CISF has acted upon these complaints and with technology advancing at a fast pace, all these procedures have now been replaced by smart gadgets to better equip security personnel at the airport.

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Surat Airport Gets Permission To Operate 24/7!

AirWhizzJul 23, 2018 No Comments

Surat Airport Gets Permission To Operate 24/7!

Aviation Insider

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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