Airports

New Delhi: Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), a GMR Infrastructure Limited-led consortium has introduced a state-of-the-art Service Quality Management platform that will help the airport operator in enhancing the travel experience of passengers at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.For this, DIAL has implemented Vesta, a cloud-based Mobile-First Airline Operations Management Platform – a next-generation operations architecture with a robust and dynamic delivery model – to tackle and improve its terminal operations. Vesta Airport Operations Management System will help DIAL in handling its operations faster than traditional methods. It will help DIAL in improving its productivity, automate its terminal services, increase operational flexibility to handle future growth in passenger traffic, and, reduce costs. The platform will help the terminal operations teams in the automation of handling of passenger requests, complaints, and maintenance jobs and, thus help DIAL in providing enhanced passenger experience at the airport. The platform will provide DIAL-Estate department managers with the ability to structure daily operations in a more efficient and organized manner by making real-time data available at their fingertips. It will also help optimize communications among all departments, boost the productivity of employees and third- party vendors by efficient use of resources, streamline operations and connect teams. This will help DIAL in making smarter decisions that are backed by real-time data and detailed records. Vesta is a core facility operations product of Check-Inn Technologies that focuses on providing cloud-based solutions. Vesta is a complete communication platform that brings all operations on a unified platform for better visibility across department operations. It creates requests, manages tasks, and sends notifications in real-time. It does trouble-shooting of complaints on a real-time basis and ensures its resolution from a single office seat. Speaking on the occasion, Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO-DIAL, said, “DIAL has been working to provide world-class services to the passenger at Delhi Airport. During the pandemic, Delhi Airport has introduced several initiatives to ensure ‘flying is safe’ without compromising service quality. We have introduced the new platform that will facilitate the automation of handling of passenger requests, complaints, and maintenance jobs. It will also help us in capturing, tracking, and significantly reducing service breakdowns and digitizing daily housekeeping activities resulting in a significant increase in productivity and turn passenger satisfaction scores.” Sharang Majumdar, Co-founder, COO at Vesta said, “We are proud to partner with DIAL in its digital transformation journey. At Vesta, we are committed to helping airports function better by boosting operational efficiency that results in improved service quality. At IGIA, our team helped set up the system in a way that enables the employees and vendors across 28 departments and levels, to fully maximize the power of Vesta.”

Mumbai, March 04, 2022: CSMI Airport, Mumbai has brought innovation in solutions to provide ease in transfer for passengers with connecting domestic flights. Travellers with a domestic layover at CSMIA can now easily transfer with reduced congestion and transit time. With this new development, CSMIA has become the first airport in the country to create and begin operations from a dedicated domestic to domestic passenger and crew member transfer facility within Terminal-2 (T2). With an endeavour to smoothen passenger travel experience while adhering to mandated norms and regulations, this dedicated space has requisite security screening infrastructure along with pre-embarkation security checks conducted by the CISF. This transit area will considerably cut down the Minimum Connection Time (MCT) for transfer passengers and crew members, thereby enabling passengers with a shorter time gap between connecting flight to board. Besides, it will add flexibility to the airline operators in planning their flight schedule and rostering of crew members as they will now be able to accommodate passengers with a lesser time interval between their connecting flights. This enhancement will, in turn, also help decongest the airport, as the passengers who otherwise would earlier exit & re-enter the terminal and further wait for their onward flight will now be able to board without undergoing the process of re-entering the terminal building.

New Delhi, 3rd March 2022: Considering the importance of air connectivity to the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh, AAI has undertaken the work of constructing a Greenfield Airport in Hollongi, 15 Kms from Itanagar. With an estimated cost of Rs.645 crore, the project includes the development work i.e. construction of airport pavements, air side work, terminal Building and city side works. The proposed airport is designed for operations of A-320 category of air craft and future extension of Runway by 500m length to cater A-321 type of aircraft .With an area of 4100 sqm, the terminal building of the airport will be able to handle 200 passengers during peak hours. Equipped with eight check-in counters, the terminal building will have all modern passenger facilities. Development Work is in full swing and almost 80% of airside works is completed. Progress of Construction of New Interim Terminal building is 30%. The airport is planned for operationalization on 15thAugust 2022. The terminal will be an energy efficient building provisioned with Rain Water Harvesting system and sustainable landscape. The development work also includes construction of ATC Tower cum Technical Block, Fire station, Medical Centre and other ancillary works. The building’s envelope is influenced by the surrounding landscapes. Moving away from the strict geometry of straight lines and angles, the roof form is organic and establishes instant connection with the viewer. The building interior is designed to emanate a sense of calm to the passengers. This is achieved by providing free-flowing spaces, hidden service core and a glass façade that links the eye to the panoramic scenic beauty of the Himalayan Foothills. The PM has laid emphasis on transforming Arunachal Pradesh into a major gateway to SouthEast Asia by developing modern infrastructure across the state. An airport to connect the capital city is a much-needed aspiration of local community which will also accelerate economic activity in the region.

New Delhi, 28th February 2022: Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL) has entered into an agreement for the provision of Communication Navigation Surveillance Systems (CNS) & Air Traffic Management (ATM) facilities and services. AAI will provide the Air Traffic Services at Noida International Airport (Jewar). As an Air Navigation Services Provider (ANSP), AAI is only entity statutorily empowered to provide air traffic services in India. The agreement was jointly signed by Mr. Christoph Schnellman, CEO, Noida International Airport (NIA)&Kiran Jain CEO, YIAPL and Shri K Vasudevan, ED Air Space Management (ASM)on the behalf of AAI, in the august presence of ShriA.K. Pathak, Member (Planning), AAI. Shri K.Vinayak Rao, Member (Finance); Shri M. Suresh, Member (ANS) and Senior officials of AAI & YIAPL were also present on this occasion. TheNoida International Airport (Jewar) is expected to be commissioned by the year 2025 and AAI will be associated with the airport operator in all three phases covered under the CNS-ATM Agreement viz., the pre-commissioning, commissioning and the operational phase. The airspace design and flight procedure design will be undertaken collaboratively under the aegis of the Air Space Management (ASM) Directorate of AAI with the participation of New Delhi Air Traffic Control Centre and the airport operator. As per the agreement,AAI will plan, procure,install and commission the CNS/ATM equipment& facilities and provide air traffic services for Noida InternationalAirport. The facility will also be equipped with Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems and ATS Automation Systems which will enable situational awareness and provide decision support to Air Traffic Controllers for all weather operations. Speaking on the occasion, Shri A K Pathak, Member (Planning), AAI said, “AAI is pleased to partner with Noida International Airport andis upbeat about these kind of challenging projects, which will open new gateways of operating multiple major airports in vicinity of each other catering India Metros. Mumbai and Navi Mumbai are lined up for a similar approach. AAI has already signed the CNS ATM Agreement with Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIAL) in the year 2018.” AAI is also expected to deploy its trained, skilled and competent ATC (Air Traffic Control) and ATSEP (Air Traffic Services Engineering Professionals) manpower to meet the standards of service. Noida International Airport is expected to operate 24 hours from its inception.

New Delhi, 18th February 2022: Chandigarh International Airport Limited presented Interim dividend amounting to Rs. 6.67 Crore (Net of Taxes) for the Financial year 2021-22 to Airports Authority of India (AAI) on 17th February 2022. M.N.N Rao ED (Engg) & Nominee Director of CHIAL, D.K. Kamra, RED (NR), AAI & Nominee Director, CHIAL & CEO Rakesh Dembla handed over the cheque to Sanjeev Kumar, Chairman, AAI in the presence of A K Pathak,Member (Planning) & M Suresh, Member (ANS).Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL), a Joint Venture Company was formed by AAI (51% stake), the Government of Haryana (24.5% stake) & the Government of Punjab (24.5% stake).

Agartala; 4th Jan 2022: The new integrated terminal building of Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport was inaugurated by the Prime Minister today in Agartala.Also present were Governor of Tripura, SatyadeoNarain Arya, Chief Minister of Tripura Biplab Kumar Deb, Union Civil Aviation Ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia and Pratima Bhoumik. In his address, Scindia said that today a new chapter has been added to the glorious history of Tripura with the inauguration of the new State-of-Art terminal. The Integrated Terminal is an example of the vision and determination of the Prime Minister. This will open new doors of development in the state and North East Region. The airport of Agartala, which was spread over 10,000 square meters, has now been built in an area of 30,000 square meters which will showcase the cultural heritage of Tripura. Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport will now be able to cater 30 lakh passengers every year instead of 13 lakh in a year. Under the Krishi Udan2.0 scheme of the Central Government, 4500 kg of agricultural products have been exported in the month of November 2021, which includes pineapple and jackfruit of Tripura. Agartala Airport is one of the major Airports in North East Region situated in the capital of Tripura. It is capable of handling 4C type of Aircraft operations.Operators like Indigo, Air India, Flybig are presently operating 230 flights in a week, connecting Kolkata, Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Imphal, Shillong,Lengpui, Bangalore and Delhi. Major facilities at the airport includes: • Runway (18/36) dimensions – 2286m x 45m • Apron to park 04 nos. C Type A-321 and 1 no. ATR-72 type aircraft at a time. • Terminal Building has an area of 10725 Sq. Mt. to handle 500 pax. (250 arriving + 250 departing) at a timewith an annual capacity of 1.3 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA). • NAV/Comm. Aids like Instrument Landing System (ILS), Doppler Very High Frequency Omni Range (DVOR) etc. available. • ATC Control Tower cum Technical Block and Fire Station of CAT-VII. • Night Landing Facilities. • 2 Mega Watt Solar Panels for Renewable Energy New Integrated Terminal Building has been completed with an area of 30,000 sqm. and handling capacity of 1200 Peak Hour Passenger (PHP) having an annual capacity of 3 MPPA & Apron for 6 additional parking bays for A-321 type of aircrafts.The New Terminal building has been constructed at a cost of Rs 450Crore(excluding GST). Heritage: Local Cultural / Architectural Inspiration a. The dynamic and iconic form of the building is derived from the hilly terrain of the State of Tripura. b. Bamboo architecture is represented in the façade of the terminal building by way of a floral jaali pattern depicting the forests and greens of the region. c. Local tribal stone sculptures of the Unakoti Hills and local bamboo handicrafts have been extensively used in the interiors. d. Local culture and architecture have been depicted in the interiors of the building by means of artwork and sculptures. Courtesy: PIB

New Delhi: 14th Dec 2021: Upgradation and modernization of civil aviation infrastructure is an ongoing process and is undertaken by concerned airport operators from time to time depending on the availability of land, commercial viability, socio-economic considerations, traffic demand/willingness of airlines to operate to/from such airports. AAI has taken up development of new airports and expansion/ upgradation of existing airports at estimated cost of around Rs. 25,000 crores in next 4-5 years which includes expansion and modification of existing terminals, new terminals, expansion or strengthening of existing runways, aprons, Airport Navigation Services control towers, technical blocks etc. In addition, three Public Private Partnership (PPP) airports at Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru have undertaken major expansion plan to the tune of Rs. 30,000 Crores by 2025. These projects are at various stages of planning/development. Government of India has formulated a Greenfield Airport Policy, 2008which provides Guidelines for establishment of new Greenfield Airports in thecountry. As per Policy, an Airport Developer, including the State Governments, willing to establish an Airport is required to send a proposal to the Ministry of Civil Aviation(MoCA).There is a 2-stage process for approval of the proposal i.e. ‘Site-Clearance’ stage and ‘In-Principle’ approval stage. In accordance with this policy, MoCA receives proposals from the State Governments or Airportdevelopers from time to time for establishment of airports. MoCA has so faraccorded ‘in-principle’ approval for setting up of 21 Greenfield Airports across thecountry namely Mopain Goa, Navi Mumbai, Shirdi and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, Kalaburagi, Bijapur, Hassan and Shimoga in Karnataka, Datia(Gwalior) in Madhya Pradesh, Kushinagar and Noida (Jewar) in Uttar Pradesh, Dholera and Hirasar in Gujarat, Karaikal in Puducherry, Dagadarthi, Bhogapuramand Oravakal in Andhra Pradesh, Durgapur in West Bengal, Pakyong in Sikkim,Kannur in Kerala and Hollongi (Itanagar) in Arunachal Pradesh out of which eight airports namely Durgapur, Shirdi, Sindhudurg, Pakyong, Kannur, Kalaburagi, Oravakal and Kushinagar have been operationalized. Under UDAN scheme, so far, 154 RCS airports including 14 water aerodromes & 36 helipads have been identified for development/upgradation.