State-owned Air India operated services normally on the first day of its domestic operations at the Terminal 3, or T3, of the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The airline handled around 95 flights, including 45 departures, during the day. Around 6,300 passengers were booked to fly out of Delhi to various domestic destinations on the 45 flights.
“Barring a few of our flights, our operations were normal. We did not face much problem, as all our staff had shifted from the old terminal to the new one, and we were in full strength,” said an Air India official, who did not want to be identified.
“In the first phase of operations, Air India managed 100 per cent on-time performance. However, in the second phase of operations, with incoming aircraft of other bases, saw some consequential delays due to late arrival of aircraft,” said a release from the airline. Air India had 1,000 staff, 900 from Air India and 100 from AI SATS, at the terminal today.
“We had outsourced our baggage handling and that also helped us a lot, as the employees concentrated more on ensuring swift operations,” said the official.
Air India had informed passengers about the shift to the new terminal through reports in media, advertisements, SMSes, radio and direct calls to passengers from its call centre. “A few people who went to the earlier terminal today were provided free taxis by the airline and operator,” the official said.
