Hyderabad: GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. (GHIAL), which operates Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Hyderabad has announced that under the umbrella of GHIAL’s signature programme: ‘Passenger is Prime’, and in collaboration with CISF,
it has become the first airport in India to provide Pre-embarkation security check right at the terminal’s entry gate. This will serve as ‘Express Security Check’ facility for domestic passengers travelling without any check-in baggage.
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Director General OP Singh inaugurated this facility on Friday in presence of GHIAL Chief Executive Officer SGK Kishore and other dignitaries from CISF and GHIAL.
As the flag-bearer of innovation in airport technology and processes, Hyderabad Airport has earmarked a dedicated space at terminal entry point of departure level for the new ‘Express Security Check’ facility.
The domestic passengers, after printing their boarding pass from the newly installed ‘self-service kiosks’ located conveniently at the departures forecourt area outside the terminal building, can now enter the Express Security Check lane without getting into the check-in area and head straight towards the boarding area.
Currently, Hyderabad Airport handles more than 18,000 domestic departure passengers on daily basis, of which close to 40% travel without any checked-in baggage, and carry at most only hand baggage.
Passengers, particularly frequent flyers such as Government officials, business and corporate travellers will immensely benefit from the Express Security Check facility, as this will save their precious time before boarding the aircraft.
The new process will also benefit the airlines by reducing the queues at the check-in counters and improving their on-time performance (OTP). Further, the facility will also help in reducing the anxiety levels of passengers traveling through a busy airport.
Speaking on this occasion, the CISF Director General said, “The CISF reinvents and upgrades itself continuously. That is our forte which injects the edge in our operations. We are committed to provide security of a very high order and simultaneously are very focused on passenger comfort.
This new feature is in sync with this commitment and we hope that every passenger flies happy, flies safe. Over the years, CISF has nurtured an organic relationship with GHIAL in aviation matters and both agencies benefit from each other’s innovativeness and drive.
I am very proud to share that recently Airports council International (ACI) has rated the security of Indian airports better than that of major international airports in a survey conducted across 50 countries and covering almost 200 airports worldwide.
Also the World Quality Congress has recognized the professionalism and thoroughness of CISF in aviation security and awarded CISF for providing impeccably qualitative services.”
Commenting on this new initiative, SGK Kishore said, “We are excited to be launching India’s first Express Security check facility that lets domestic passengers without check-in baggage proceed straight to Security Check without going through the traditional check-in route.
As part of our ‘Passenger is Prime’ programme, the facility envisions substantial reduction in the load at check-in counters and the regular security check areas during peak hours. This new concept of Express security check, if adopted, will benefit other airports in the country as well. CISF has played a vital role in supporting the implementation of this idea and providing the required manpower to make the innovative facility see the light of day.
And it is with the support of CISF and other stakeholders that Hyderabad Airport has had the privilege to be the First Airport in India to roll out end-to-end e-boarding process and pioneer doing away with stamping of baggage tags and boarding cards.
Apart from this, CISF has played a crucial role in helping Hyderabad Airport implement various facility and process improvements aimed at enhancing passenger experience and operational efficiency. We look forward to their continued support in all our endeavours for the benefit of passengers.”
In the wake of increasing passenger flow, recently the security check area at Hyderabad Airport was enhanced to offer over 40% more security lanes for domestic passengers. Additionally, a dedicated lane has also been earmarked for passengers with reduced mobility and airline crew members, helping them clear security check with minimum of hassles and waiting.
The RGIA has handled 15.24 Million Passengers in FY2016-17, registering a growth of approx. 22% in passenger traffic and 23% growth in air traffic movement over FY2015-16. 16 foreign and 3 Indian carriers connect the city with 18 international destinations; while 10 domestic carriers connect Hyderabad with 33 domestic destinations.
In the recent months several new destinations have been connected with RGIA including Cuddapah, Nanded, Trivandrum, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Patna, Surat and Bhopal among others. With a fast expanding network and increase in flight frequency, RGIA has emerged as the Gateway of Choice for passengers to/from South-Central India. (INN)