Latest news with #GayaInternationalAirport
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Rahul to address meet in Gaya today
Gaya: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address a meeting near Khalish Park in south Gaya on Monday evening as part of his ongoing 'Voter Adhikar Yatra'. Earlier in the day, Rahul arrived at Gaya International Airport in a chartered flight before taking a helicopter to Sasaram, the starting point of the yatra. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now At the airport, he was received by district Congress committee (DCC) president Santosh Kushwaha along with other party leaders. According to the DCC chief, Rahul will formally enter Gaya district on Monday. He is scheduled to be felicitated by INDIA bloc supporters at several locations, including Guraru, Yahyapur and Panchanpur. The Congress leader will conclude the second day of his yatra with the corner meeting near Khalish Park. Later, he will spend the night in Rasalpur village on the eastern outskirts of the town, staying in a specially designed container. Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi is set to visit Gaya four days later on Aug 22. He will address a public meeting on the Magadh University campus, where he is expected to announce several development projects for Bihar and particularly for the Magadh region, ahead of the forthcoming assembly elections. The back-to-back visits of Rahul and Modi to Gaya are being viewed as significant campaign manoeuvres by the two political rivals.
New Indian Express
07-08-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
BJP MP wants Gaya airport code changed over ‘cultural concerns'; Centre says IATA won't allow it
NEW DELHI: The airport code, GAY, for Gaya International Airport in Bihar was making the public feel uncomfortable, opined BJP MP Bhim Singh. It offended their social and cultural sensibilities, he felt, while appealing for a change. In an unstarred questionnaire in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, the Bihar representative sought to know whether the government planned to change it to a more respectful and culturally appropriate code. He also wanted to know if the government had received any complaints, suggestions or public sentiments in this regard and its response. In a written response, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, said that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has ruled out any change in the three-letter code. 'Air India had earlier approached IATA seeking a change of the existing airport code. However, IATA has conveyed that under the provisions of IATA Resolution 763, assigned three-letter codes are considered permanent and are altered only under exceptional circumstances, usually involving air safety concerns.'
Hindustan Times
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
GAY isn't the only ‘offensive' airport code. There are many more
On August 5, A BJP MP took exception to the airport code of Gaya International Airport. The code 'GAY' was 'socially and culturally' offensive, according to Bhim Singh who sought that the government change it to a 'more respectful and culturally appropriate' one. While IATA has banned SEX or GUN, airport codes can be funny or offensive depending on how one looks at it. The code for Madrid, the capital of Spain, is MAD.(Unsplash/Representational) The government replied that it received such requests in the past. Air India had even approached trade body IATA for a change, which did not blink, citing Resolution 763 that bars airport code changes unless deemed extremely essential. Truth is GAY is not the only airport code that is not music to some ears. Take the case of COK, the airport code for Kochi International Airport. While IATA has banned SEX or GUN, airport codes can be funny or offensive depending on how one looks at it. The code for Madrid, the capital of Spain, is MAD. What about DIK? That is the code for Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport in the US. What about FUK? No way! There is actually. Fukuoka Airport's IATA identifier turns out to be FUK. There is a BUM and a POO as well. Butler Memorial Airport in the United States is identified as BUM while Brazil's Pocos De Caldas regional airport goes by POO. PEE is assigned to Russia's Perm International Airport while the Sioux Gateway Airport in the US has SUX as its code. Animal lovers will be pleased because Cascais Municipal Aerodrome in Portugal is CAT for short and Dongola Airport in Sudan has been allocated DOG. An airport in Cuba, the Frank Pais Airport's code is HOG. Foodies need not be disappointed because there is plenty here. St. Peter Clearwater airport in Florida has PIE as code while Yuma International (Arizona) Airport's code is YUM. There's also something for fans of texting slangs. The Derby Field Airport at Lovelock in the US uses IATA code LOL, Funafuti International Airport in Tuvalu uses FUN as its three-letter code and Omega airport in Namibia has gone with OMG. A small airport in Mauritania named Letfotar airport has MOM as its IATA code while DAD is for Vietnam's Da Nang Airport's IATA. Safford Arizona is SAD and Finland's capital Helsinki is HEL. The latter one is the butt of jokes, especially on Friday the thirteenth. How are airport codes assigned? The assignment of location-based codes is laid down in Resolution 763 of IATA. The code has to be unique and can be assigned to an airport or an intermodal transportation terminal such as a bus stand or train station. The procedure involves selecting an unassigned code using the first three letters of the location's name. This applied to older airports such as Delhi (DEL) or Mumbai (BOM, after its old name BOMBAY). The second method involves choosing an unassigned combination, preferably starting with the first letter of the location's name (Eg: BLR for Bengaluru and HYD for Hyderabad). Airport codes are not always related to the name of the city. Examples: Canadian airports such as Toronto (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR) and airports in India like Mangalore (IXE) and Aurangabad (IXU). IATA codes are only issued based on a commercial airline's request to IATA and usually the first airline flying to the location requests the code. Airport coding first began in the 1930s and moved to three-letter codes in the 1940s. Is it possible to change an airport code? What about the BJP MP's request to change a code? Assigned three-letter location identifiers are typically considered permanent. They are almost never changed. Only a strong justification, primarily concerning air safety, can be the driver for change. In the case of Bengaluru and Hyderabad, where the older airports shut down for scheduled commercial operations. and the code was placed on the new airports. There have been—rare—instances of change in airport codes. A recent change happened at Kazakhstan's capital Astana. The Nursultan Nazarbayev International airport at Astana, operated with IATA code TSE, which was based on its former name Tselinograd. In 2019, the city's name was changed from Astana to Nur Sultan and a request was made to change the airport code. It was subsequently changed to NQZ. As fate would have it, the city's name reverted to Astana in 2022 while the airport code continues to be NQZ.
Hans India
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Government Explains Why Gaya Airport's 'GAY' Code Cannot Be Changed Despite BJP MP's Concerns
The government has addressed parliamentary concerns about the International Air Transport Association code 'GAY' assigned to Gaya International Airport in Bihar, explaining why such identifiers cannot be easily modified despite cultural sensitivities. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol provided a detailed response in the Rajya Sabha after BJP member Bhim Singh questioned whether the airport code was socially and culturally inappropriate, causing discomfort among travelers and local communities. According to the minister's written statement, three-letter airport codes designated by the International Air Transport Association serve as permanent identifiers for aviation facilities worldwide. These codes are typically derived from the first three letters of the location where the airport operates, making 'GAY' a logical designation for Gaya. Mohol emphasized that these internationally recognized identifiers are integral to global aviation operations, facilitating airport identification across multiple travel-related systems and commercial processes. The codes are issued specifically at the request of airline operators and become embedded in worldwide aviation infrastructure. The minister revealed that previous attempts have been made to modify the Gaya airport code, with both the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India receiving formal requests for changes. Air India had previously approached the International Air Transport Association seeking an alternative designation for the Bihar facility. However, international aviation authorities rejected the modification request, citing established protocols that treat assigned codes as permanent fixtures. Under IATA Resolution 763, three-letter airport identifiers can only be altered in exceptional circumstances, typically involving direct air safety concerns that pose risks to aviation operations. The government's response clarifies that while cultural sensitivities are understood, international aviation standards prioritize operational consistency and safety protocols over local preferences. The standardized system ensures global aviation networks can function efficiently without confusion or operational disruptions caused by frequent code changes. The parliamentary exchange highlights the tension between local cultural considerations and international operational requirements in aviation management. Despite ongoing concerns from some quarters about the appropriateness of the current designation, the government's hands appear tied by international aviation regulations and established protocols. This situation reflects broader challenges faced by countries when local sensitivities conflict with internationally standardized systems that require consistency across global operations. The permanent nature of these codes underscores the complexity of international aviation coordination and the difficulty of accommodating regional preferences within established global frameworks.
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Time of India
‘GAY' code for Gaya airport can't be altered: Aviation min
1 2 Gaya: Virtually ruling out the demand to change the three-letter code for Gaya International Airport from 'GAY' to a more neutral alternative, minister of state for civil aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that little can be done once a code is assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Reacting to a BJP member's request to change the code, the minister said such codes are not generally altered unless they pose a risk to aviation safety. "Once the code is issued, it is not usually changed and any exception to it can only be made if the code offers any threat to air safety," he said. In a written reply, the minister said the methodology for assigning airport codes typically involves using the first three letters of the airport's location name. Hence, 'GAY' was allotted to Gaya. The code has been in use since Sept 30, 2011, when the first regular commercial Air India flight began operating on the Gaya-Varanasi-Delhi route. Currently, along with domestic airlines, international flights from cities such as Yangon (formerly Rangoon), Bangkok and Thimphu operate FROM Gaya airport during the tourist season, which runs from Oct to March. Several chartered flights from countries like Japan and South Korea also use the airport. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now All these flights list 'GAY' as the code for Gaya. Starting next month, Air India is scheduled to resume operations on the Gaya-Delhi route. Commenting on the etymology of the name "Gaya", P C Roy, a scholar of ancient Indian and Asian studies, said it originated from 'Gyan' (enlightenment), in reference to Buddha's spiritual awakening. Over time, the pronunciation is thought to have evolved into 'Gaya'. While the airport code is based on geographic logic, the overlap with this usage has led to some unease. Gaya-based fiction writer Sanjay Sahay said, "I always felt embarrassed while booking air tickets for my hometown."
