Airports In India

Cumulative capex of airports to grow 12% at Rs 60,000 cr in 3 yrs: Report

The cumulative capex (capital expenditure) of Indian airports is expected to grow 12 per cent at Rs 60,000 crore in the three years through FY27 from Rs 53,000 crore during 2022-2024, to add required infrastructure for about 65 million passengers per annum, ratings agency CRISIL said on Thursday. CRISIL said 70 per cent of this capex is expected to be funded through debt. The ratings agency said its projections are based on a study of 11 private airports in the country that account for 60 per cent of the total passenger traffic in FY24. In addition to the expected growth in passenger traffic, increase in tariffs and spending within the airport ecosystem will lift revenue of private Indian airports at an average growth rate of 17 per cent between FY25 and FY27, it said. That, coupled with improved funding access and a predictable regulatory regime, will support the strong credit profiles of private airports. "The number of passengers at Indian airports is expected to clock a compou

CISF sets up 'quality control' unit to enhance civil aviation security

CISF has set up a quality control unit to "enhance" the "operational efficiency" of its aviation security wing that provides a counter-terrorist cover to 68 civil airports of the country. An spokesperson for the paramilitary force said on Saturday that the Internal Quality Control Unit (IQCU) will play a "crucial" role in establishing "world-class" security procedures and technology for the airports that are used by lakhs of domestic and international passengers every day. The initiative is in compliance with the National Civil Aviation Security Quality Control Programme (NCASQCP) of 2024 issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Aircraft (Security) Rules of 2023, he said. The BCAS, under the civil aviation ministry, frames security policies for the Indian civil aviation sector. The new unit will bring about uniformity in civil aviation security procedures and training, recommend new technology available world over, allow internal audits of CISF security units

Govt aims to develop 50 more airports in 5 years: Civil aviation minister

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Thursday said the government aims to set up 50 more airports in the next five years and pitched for further developing the country's airport ecosystem that will also help in boosting job creation. In the last 10 years, the number of airports has doubled to 157. Naidu said that 50 more airports are expected to be developed in the next five years and 200 more in the next 20 years. The minister was speaking after inaugurating the Airbus India and South Asia Headquarters - Training Centre in the national capital. He also stressed the need to further develop the airport ecosystem that will help boost job creation and commercial activities. Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam said the air passenger traffic in the country is expected to double in the next five years from 220 million, which was achieved last year.

UDAN scheme helps improve passenger footfall here: Mysore airport director

Anoop JR, Airport Director said that the state government is coordinating the land acquisition process for the expansion of the airport, after acquiring land, the runway expansion work will be started

Adani group seeks $1 bn funding from sovereign fund for airport expansion

Adani Enterprises launched a qualified institutional placement (QIP) aiming to raise up to Rs 4,200 crore ($500 million), lower than planned due to market fluctuations

Digi Yatra to be made available in regional, int'l languages: Official

Digi Yatra, which seeks to provide seamless movement at airport check points, will be made available in regional and international languages, according to a senior official. The facility is now available at 24 airports and is expected to be rolled out at 4-5 more airports in the coming months. Digi Yatra Foundation CEO Suresh Khadakbhavi on Tuesday said a pilot project is likely by June next year for connecting two countries with Digi Yatra. Under the pilot project, foreign citizens will be able to use Digi Yatra. Speaking at the CAPA India Digital Aviation Summit in the national capital, Khadakbhavi said a campaign will be started to sensitise passengers about the facility. While Digi Yatra is slowly gaining traction, concerns have been expressed in various quarters about the privacy of data of the passengers. He said Digi Yatra will be made available in regional and international languages. Based on Facial Recognition Technology (FRT), Digi Yatra provides for contactless, seam

HC directs Centre to decide representation on inefficiencies of AirSewa

The portal, designed to serve as a grievance redressal mechanism for air travellers, has reportedly become largely unresponsive

Who was Sant Tukaram, the inspiration behind Pune airport's new name?

The Maharashtra government has approved the proposal to rename Pune International Airport to 'Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Airport' and now awaits the Centre's nod

New cruise terminal in Goa to boost tourism, local economy: Official

With a 40 per cent rise in cruise passengers in FY 2023-24, the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) expects to grow it further with the construction of the International and Domestic Cruise Terminal in Goa by March 2025, an official said. The development of the International and Domestic Cruise Terminal and allied facilities is expected to boost tourism and local economy while fostering sustainable practices and infrastructure improvements, thereby enhancing the region's competitiveness in the global cruise market, the senior MPA official told PTI. He was speaking on the sidelines of the Maritime States Development Council meeting held in Goa on September 12 and 13. The increase in global cruise liner traffic has led to a significant rise in cruise ship arrivals at the Mormugao Port, positioning it for a substantial future growth, the official said. In the 2023-24 financial year, there was an increase in calls by cruise vessels by 15 per cent and and rise in cruise passengers by 40 per c

Adani Airports launches 'aviio' to give passengers real-time access data

Adani Airports Holdings Ltd, the Adani group firm that operates seven airports in the country, has launched 'aviio' digital platform to provide passengers real-time data on variety of airport accesses - from wait times to gate change and bags on belt. Aviio aspires to bring the aviation community together to collaborate and serve passengers better, a top official said. By enabling airport stakeholders to access real-time data, passengers can expect easier access to airport information in the form of updates related to security checks, wait times, gate change and bags on belt, among other aspects, he said. With this path-breaking initiative, AAHL, a subsidiary of Adani group's flagship Adani Enterprises Ltd, aims to serve the aviation community and set new standards for airport operations management and passenger experience. With seven operational airports in its stable, and one more expected to go live during the middle of 2025, this platform for B2B services has been conceptualise

GMR Airports buys Fraport's shares, raises stake in Delhi airport to 74%

The deal comes just over a month after heavy rainfall caused the airport's roof to collapse killing one person and shutting down a busy domestic terminal

Digi Yatra service to be available now at nine more airports. Details

Passengers at Visakhapatnam, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Indore, Raipur, Bagdogra, Patna, Goa (Dabolim), and Coimbatore can now benefit from the contactless boarding pass system

GMR Airports stock price rises after July passenger traffic jumps 8% YoY

The increase in stock price follows GMR Airports' release of its passenger traffic data for July 2024.

AAI spents Rs 796 cr for repairs, maintenance works of 101 airports last FY

Airports Authority of India (AAI) shelled out nearly 20 per cent higher amount of Rs 796 crore towards repairs and maintenance works of 101 airports in the last financial year, according to official data. Since the fiscal 2021-22, AAI's expenditure towards these activities at the airports has been on the rise. The amount rose to Rs 795.72 crore in the last financial year ended March 2024, from Rs 663.42 crore in 2022-23. In 2021-22, the expenditure towards repairs and maintenance works was Rs 535.02 crore, as per the data shared by the civil aviation ministry with the Rajya Sabha. The expenditure figures have been provided for 121 AAI airports, and out of them, no money in this regard was spent for 20 airports, according to the data. Concerns regarding maintenance of airport buildings came to the fore following the collapse of the forecourt canopy at Terminal 1D of the Delhi airport amid rains on June 28. Also, the kerb area canopy made of tensile fabric got torn at Jabalpur Airp

Govt plans to operationalise Car Nicobar, 11 other airports under UDAN

The government plans to operationalise 12 more airports across 8 states and Union Territories, including one at Shibpur in Car Nicobar, under the regional air connectivity scheme this year. Currently, 579 routes connecting 85 airports -- including 13 heliports and 2 water aerodromes -- have been operationalised under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme that was introduced in 2016. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said, UDAN is an ongoing scheme where bidding rounds are conducted from time to time to cover more destinations/stations and routes. "Revival/upgradation of unserved and underserved airports is undertaken upon its identification through valid bid and award to the Selected Airline Operator," he said. Under UDAN, he said 12 airports are likely to be operationalised this year, including one at Shibpur, Car Nicobar in Andaman & Nicobar Island. Others include Ambikapur (Chhattisgarh), Rewa and Datia ...

Sky-high fees: Why flying from these 16 airports is costing you more

Major airports in India have raised their user development fees, aimed to cover revenue gaps but adding to the financial burden on travellers since the beginning of FY25

Civil aviation ministry gets Rs 2,357 cr budgetary allocation for 2024-25

The budgetary allocation for the civil aviation ministry has been reduced to Rs 2,357.14 crore for the current fiscal ending next March, with regional air connectivity scheme set to get Rs 502 crore during the same period. In the revised budgetary allocation for 2023-24, the amount for the ministry was at Rs 2,922.12 crore. As per documents of the Union Budget 2024-25 that was presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament on Tuesday, the ministry will get an allocation of Rs 2,357.14 crore. The money set aside for the regional air connectivity scheme has been cut to Rs 502 crore from Rs 850 crore in the revised budgetary allocation for 2023-24. The amount is for revival of 22 airports as well as commencement of 124 RCS routes and Viability Gap Funding for North East Connectivity. To improve connectivity in the northeast region, a new scheme has also been formulated for providing air connectivity and aviation infrastructure, as per a document. However, the Product

Airport operators to conduct 3rd party audit of structural stability: Govt

The government on Monday said all airport operators have been directed to carry out a third party audit of structural stability of airport buildings and associated infrastructure. Besides, they will conduct a thorough evaluation of all civil, electrical and technical aspects of the buildings before the onset of monsoon every year. The directives came in the wake of roof collapse incidents at three airports last month. During heavy rain, forecourt canopy collapsed at Terminal 1D of the Delhi airport on June 28. Also, the kerb area canopy made of tensile fabric, a non-structural element, was damaged at Jabalpur and Rajkot airports on June 27 and 29, respectively. In 2023-24, an amount of Rs 795.72 crore has been spent on Repair and Maintenance (R&M) works at 121 airports of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), as per official data submitted to the Rajya Sabha on Monday. Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu told the Upper House that the ministry has constituted a ...

India to double airports to 300 by 2047 amid surging passenger traffic

AAI's draft plan indicates 70 airstrips could be developed into airports capable of handling narrow-body aircraft such as the A320 or B737, while 40 airstrips could be upgraded for smaller aircraft

DGCA issues safety rules for ground handling service providers at airports

Aviation watchdog DGCA has come out with safety standards for ground handling service providers at airports, including the compulsory safety clearance requirement, as part of efforts to ensure safe ground operations amid rising air traffic. The norms also come against the backdrop of ground incidents at some airports that have resulted in damage to aircraft. The new Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), prepared after detailed consultations, will strengthen the oversight mechanism, DGCA said in a release on Wednesday. It also specifies the training and competency requirements of ground personnel who are part of ground operations at the airports. Ground Handling Service Providers (GHSPs) are required to obtain safety clearance within six months from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The six-month time period is from July 8, when the CAR was issued by the regulator. "The robust safety mechanism to be implemented prospectively by GHSPs would help in prevention and mitig