Tag Archives: Adani Airport

CSMIA becomes first Indian airport to receive ACI Level 5 Accreditation

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has been awarded with Level 5 accreditation from Airports Council International (ACI) — the pinnacle of recognition in ACI’s Airport Customer Experience Accreditation Programme.

CSMIA is the first airport in India and third airport in the world to achieve this remarkable milestone, distinguishing CSMIA as a leader in passenger satisfaction and operational excellence. By securing this esteemed honour, CSMIA proudly joins the ranks of the world’s top-performing airports.

Speaking on the occasion, Jeet Adani, Director, Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) said, “CSMIA is thrilled to stand among the world’s leading airports to receive this esteemed recognition. This prestigious accreditation is the outcome of our dedication to understanding and enhancing the passenger experience. This achievement not only highlights our progress, it also reinforces CSMIA’s role as a global leader in airport operations and passenger service, strengthening our resolve to shape the future of airport experiences.”

Design thinking methodologies employed at CSMIA enabled the development of innovative solutions that address needs of stakeholders, including airlines, retail and lounge partners, and regulatory bodies. Continuous collection and analysis of customer feedback and CSAT scores helped identify pain points and areas for improvement. Employees, vendor partners and stakeholders like CISF, Immigration, Customs and Airlines play a crucial role in customer service. All teams at CSMIA have undergone rigorous training focused on enabling smooth passenger journeys.

Jaipur Airport opens new International Terminal

 

In a significant enhancement to Jaipur’s air connectivity, the Jaipur Airport has introduced a second terminal dedicated exclusively to international travellers. This new terminal, situated in Sanganer, served as the city’s original airport before domestic operations moved to Terminal 2.

Managed by Adani Airport Holdings Limited, the newly refurbished terminal is set to improve the airport’s capacity, offering a smoother travel experience for international passengers. The reopening of this terminal marks an important step in Jaipur’s growing infrastructure, supporting the city’s rising status as a global tourism and business destination.

The addition of the second terminal is expected to ease congestion at Terminal 2, enhancing operational efficiency for both international and domestic flights. The terminal’s updated facilities, designed with a blend of traditional Rajasthani architecture and modern aesthetics, aim to provide a comfortable and welcoming experience for travellers.

With this new development, Jaipur Airport is better equipped to accommodate the increasing influx of international visitors, positioning Jaipur as a prominent destination on the world map and fostering tourism and economic growth in the region.

Adani Airport partners with Thales for ‘Fly to Gate’ solution at all its airports

Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), and Thales, a global player in advanced technologies, have entered into a strategic partnership to revolutionise AAHL’s international airport operations and passenger experience across the country.

Under this partnership, Thales has already deployed the Fly to Gate solution at seven of AAHL-managed airports in India, streamlining and enhancing the journey for millions of travellers since early 2024.

Extending this collaboration, AAHL has now awarded Thales an additional contract to deploy at all its airports, the innovative Airport Operation Control Centre (APOC) to optimise overall airport management and enhance passenger experience securely.
The seven airports operated by AAHL are currently equipped with DigiYatra powered by Thales’ Fly to Gate solution built on the responsible use of advanced facial recognition technology as a secure passenger ID proof.

The pre-enrolled passengers can then benefit from a smooth and trusted way to speed up their journey, eliminating the need to show an ID document and the boarding pass at each check point (from check-in to boarding). Reducing passengers processing time up to 30% at these airports, this seamless integration of responsible biometric solutions (cf Thales TrUE Biometrics) aligns with the Indian government’s vision of a digital India.

In addition, Thales has been awarded to work on the design, integration, and implementation of an end-to-end APOC solution for all AAHL-managed airports. This cloud-based ‘Smart Digital Platform’ will centrally host all the necessary applications to improve overall airport management, security, and passenger experience.

The innovative APOC platform collects operational data from integrated airports sub-systems and sensors, while complying with standards of privacy. This data is then intelligently processed using automation, big data analytics, and robust artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. The solution which will be deployed soon, will anticipate, and reduce unplanned resource shortages, hence increasing predictability and global efficiency.

“We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Adani Airport Holdings Limited to bring innovative technology solutions to revolutionise airport operations and the passenger experience in India. Our Fly to Gate biometric solution for DigiYatra and the smart Airport Operation Control Centre (APOC) will enable AAHL to streamline operations and also ensure a secure and simplified journey for millions of passengers. Together, we are committed to support India in its vision of becoming the largest aviation market in the world by 2047,” said Ashish Saraf, VP and Country Director for India, Thales.

Adani Airports CEO foresees remote ATC towers

 

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has begun trials to explore the feasibility of using remote digital towers for airspace management, according to Arun Bansal, CEO, Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL). Speaking at the Capa India Aviation Summit 2024, Bansal mentioned that India’s airports will not have physical air traffic control (ATC) towers within the next 20 years.

An ATC tower is a facility that coordinates and manages the safe takeoff, landing, and ground movement of aircraft. In India, all ATC towers, except those controlled by the defence forces, are handled by the AAI. The CEO of AAHL emphasised that the AAI is a crucial stakeholder and that they share their roadmap with them. He believes that the AAI is also recognising the need for new technologies in the industry.

London City Airport became the first major international airport to be fully controlled by a remote digital tower in 2021, which is located about 115 km away from the runway. Bansal mentioned that Europe is moving away from physical ATC towers and adopting digital solutions. He foresees that in 20 years, there will be no physical ATC towers, and everything will be digital and remote. This shift will also free up land at airports.

Several airports in Sweden and Poland are working towards establishing remote digital towers, and the European Union has issued regulations to standardise and enable the deployment of digital towers. However, physical towers are not being entirely phased out yet, as many airports are expected to adopt a hybrid model that integrates new remote technology with existing tower infrastructure.

Adani Airport Holdings Limited, an Adani Group company, currently manages seven functional airports in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Jaipur, Guwahati, and Thiruvananthapuram. It is also building the Navi Mumbai airport, which is expected to start operations by mid-2025.

Maharashtra allows Adani Group to operate Navi Mumbai Airport

The Maharashtra Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to allow Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) to operate the Navi Mumbai International Airport that is coming up in Panvel.
Earlier, the green field project was to be developed by GVK Airport Developers Limited (GVK ADL), which was also running the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL).

Last September, the Adani Group had taken control of the Mumbai airport and the proposed Navi Mumbai international airport through AAHL – the group’s flagship holding company for its airport business and a subsidiary by acquiring the debt of GVK ADL.

GVK ADL is the holding company through which GVK Group holds 50.50 per cent equity stake in MIAL, which in turn holds 74 per cent equity stake in Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited (NMIAL).

The takeover had earlier been approved by the Directorate of Civil Aviation, Airports Authority of India, SEBI and CIDCO, which is overseeing the project.

CIDCO Managing Director Dr Sanjay Mukherjee and the Adani Group did not comment on the decision.

The international airport is coming up over 1,160 hectare in Navi Mumbai. The first runway was supposed to be completed in December 2019 but the project has been delayed. Work has also been hit due to Covid-19. Now, the airport is expected to be completed by 2023-2024. (Source: The Indian Express)