Latest news with #AirportAuthorityofIndia
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Digi Yatra gets more patronage at Coimbatore International Airport
The patronage for Digi Yatra, a facial recognition-based check-in and boarding service, has gained more patronage from passengers at the Coimbatore International Airport. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) sources said that 20 % of passengers are using the facility, which offers seamless and paperless entry, at the Coimbatore airport. The current average patronage is more than the 10% target set by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The facility was implemented about a year ago and the patronage increased in a phased manner. Various awareness activities are also done to promote its usage. At present, the Coimbatore airport has three check-in e-gates dedicated for Digi Yatra. After entering the terminal, there are two e-gates for security check and one for boarding. AAI sources added that staff of an agency that handles Digi Yatra operation are ready to help passengers to use the facial recognition technology-based system, if they find it difficult. To use the facility, passengers need to install Digi Yatra app on their smartphones and register themselves by providing personal details, identification credentials like Aadhaar and upload a selfie to create a Digi Yatra ID, which can be used while booking tickets. Boarding pass or e-ticket need to be uploaded on the app before a journey. The travel document needs to be scanned at the check-in e-gate where the facial recognition system will verify the passenger. Credentials given to generate Digi Yatra ID will also be matched by the system with travel documents and facial recognition to give clearance. After the check-in, passengers will be directed to the e-gates for security check and for boarding.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
AAI defers Halwara airport terminal inauguration; no new date announced
The long-awaited inauguration of the newly constructed civil terminal at Halwara in Ludhiana district has been postponed, officials confirmed on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was earlier scheduled to virtually inaugurate the facility on July 27. However, the event has now been deferred without any official explanation. A view of Halwara Airport in Ludhiana (HT File) Ludhiana deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain confirmed the postponement, stating, 'We have been informed by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) officials that the inauguration of the civil terminal has been postponed. No specific reason has been given for it yet.' Developed at the Indian Air Force (IAF) base at Halwara in Raikot subdivision, the civil terminal was a long-pending demand of Ludhiana residents, especially the business community, to enhance the region's air connectivity. It is a significant project that has been in the pipeline for over seven years. It was first approved by the Punjab cabinet in 2018 during the Congress-led government and has since seen multiple delays and missed deadlines. Though initially proposed as an international airport, the new terminal will begin operations with domestic flights only. As per current specifications, it is designed to handle one domestic flight at a time, with the capacity to accommodate 150 passengers during arrival and departure. The terminal will effectively serve as a replacement for Ludhiana's existing Sahnewal Airport, which currently operates a single daily flight between Ludhiana and Hindon (Ghaziabad). Once Halwara becomes operational, Sahnewal is expected to shut down. The construction of the terminal was in response to a longstanding demand by Ludhiana residents and industrialists for better air connectivity. The city, often referred to as the industrial capital of Punjab, has suffered from limited aviation infrastructure, forcing travellers to rely on faraway airports like Delhi, Chandigarh and Amritsar.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
India's top 10 largest airports by area in 2025: The #1 isn't DEL, BOM, or BLR
India's top 10 largest airports by area in 2025: India's aviation sector has experienced transformative growth, establishing itself as the world's third-largest domestic aviation market in 2025. It recorded a total passenger traffic of over 37 crore passengers, marking a solid 15 per cent year-on-year growth, according to the Airport Authority of India, being now home to some of the world's busiest airports. As a result, Indian airports today are rapidly expanding with the development of new terminals, faster check-ins, and massive expansions of airport infrastructure. Even though New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) is one of the busiest airports in the world and is consistently ranked as the best airport in India and South Asia, it is the second-largest airport in India by area, spanning 5,106 acres. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad is the country's largest airport by area, covering over 5,500 acres, in addition to features one of Asia's longest runways at 4,260 metres. Goa is notable for having two of India's largest airports by area: Manohar International Airport with 2,132 acres of area size and Goa International Airport (commonly known as Dabolim Airport) with 1,700 acres of area size. While most of India's largest airports are located within its metropolitan cities, yet smaller city airports like Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur also feature on the list of the country's biggest airports by area. Source: Forbes Cherry Gupta is an Assistant Manager - Content at The Indian Express. She is responsible for crafting compelling narratives, uncovering the latest news and developments, and driving engaging content based on data and trends to boost website traffic and audience engagement. One can connect with her on LinkedIn or by mail at ... Read More
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Time of India
Prayagraj airport's new terminal to be functional in Aug
Prayagraj: City airport prepares to welcome passengers to brand-new, state-of-the-art terminal building. Constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 200 crore, the terminal is scheduled to begin operations from August, offering international-standard amenities and significantly enhanced passenger comfort. Initiated in October 2023 by the Airport Authority of India, the terminal's construction is now in its final stages. Although there were efforts to complete the project before the Maha Kumbh 2025, the original timeline could not be met. To manage increasing passenger load, the existing terminal was already expanded as a temporary measure. Spanning over 14,000 square metres, the new terminal is designed to handle up to 1,200 passengers at a time. This is a notable improvement over the current terminal's capacity of 850 passengers. Combined, both terminals will now be able to serve up to 2,000 passengers per hour, greatly boosting the airport's operational efficiency. The modern terminal includes 24 check-in counters, six boarding gates, three large baggage claim belts and three aerobridges. Additionally, there are two separate VIP lounges designated for arrivals and departures. Passenger convenience has been prioritised with parking space designed to accommodate 450 cars, four buses and 50 app-based taxis. One of the key upgrades, which is already in use at the airport, is the installation of the CAT II Instrument Landing System (ILS), which allows aircraft to land even during low-visibility conditions, such as at night or during fog—enhancing overall flight safety and reliability. Airport authorities say that with the addition of new aerobridges, which will now become six in total, the airport is well-equipped to manage an increased number of flights without delays in takeoffs and landings. Officials believe this will not only improve air connectivity for Prayagraj but also support the influx of visitors expected during large-scale events like the Kumbh 2030.
Indian Express
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Former IPS officer, popular Bhojpuri singer are latest entrants in Prashant Kishor's party
A former IPS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre joined Prashant Kishor-led Jan Suraaj Party Friday – a major boost in the arm for the outfit months ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls. Popular Bhojpuri singer and Sasaram resident Ritesh Pandey who gained popularity for his 2019 song, 'Hello Kaun', also joined the party. JP Singh, a resident of Saran, is a 2000-batch officer who recently took voluntary retirement. At that time, he had been serving as additional director general police, Crime Investigation Department, and was due to retire in July 2027. According to sources, Singh is eyeing a ticket from Chhapra seat. Kishor, who welcomed them both into the outfit, said: 'JP Singh is a great example of how a person from Bihar rose after having fought the poor system. He had studied in a government school at Ekma village of Saran, worked in the defence forces and later with Airport Authority of India before finally becoming an IPS officer. He will bring great value to the party'. Pandey, he said, was the son of a school teacher. 'His father had lost his job during Lalu Prasad's regime and had taken his family to Benares to give them good education,' he said. Singh said he quit his job to join Kishor's 'epoch-making movement'. 'My parents named me Jai Prakash, a great name in Indian history. When I saw that a person like Prashant Kishor, who had worked in the UN, could leave his comfort zone to work for Bihar, I felt the same pain and urge to do something for my state.' Pandey said he was 'inspired' by what Kishor was doing. 'I know how Bihar people used to face ill-treatment outside the state…I wanted to do my bit by deciding to strengthen his hands,' he said. Santosh Singh is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express since June 2008. He covers Bihar with main focus on politics, society and governance. Investigative and explanatory stories are also his forte. Singh has 25 years of experience in print journalism covering Bihar, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. ... Read More
