In an effort to elevate the travel experience for flyers, Union Home Minister Amit Shah presided over a high-level meeting focused on airport operations. Assuming the perspective of a traveler, he engaged in detailed discussions with Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, along with senior officials including the Home Secretary, the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Director General of the CISF, and the Chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The meeting extensively covered the challenges of rising passenger traffic and future requirements, culminating in 10 strategic decisions designed to improve the end-to-end airport experience.
Expanding Automatic Tray Retrieval Systems (ATRS)
The manual handling of trays during security checks is set to be eliminated. Automatic Tray Retrieval Systems (ATRS) will be phased in across all airports to accelerate security screening. This initiative is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and eliminate long queues for passengers. The Home Minister has mandated the development of a common standard for ATRS implementation in all upcoming new airports.
Coordinated Management at Touch-Points
Enhanced coordination has been ordered between various airport touch-points, including entry gates, check-in counters, security screening, immigration, and boarding areas. Officials have been tasked with designing a system where congestion at one point does not create a cascading bottleneck across the entire operation, ensuring smoother passenger flow.
Infrastructure Upgrades Across 62 Airports
Development works at 62 airports are to be completed within the next two years, including 21 airports currently under construction. All upgrades will strictly adhere to the security standards set by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to boost capacity and integrate modern facilities.
Optimized Aero-bridge Allocation
A new guideline is being drafted for the Ministry of Civil Aviation to determine the appropriate number of aero-bridges at every airport based on passenger and flight traffic. This move will expedite boarding and de-boarding processes, reducing the reliance on shuttle buses to reach aircraft and providing a more comfortable experience.
Wider Availability of Baggage Drop Facilities
While self-baggage drop services are currently active at 16 major airports, the facility will now be expanded to other international airports with high passenger volumes. This will bypass long queues at traditional check-in counters and streamline the pre-flight process.
Rigorous Security Staffing
The Home Minister emphasized that there will be zero compromise on security. Only CISF personnel meeting specific educational and professional qualifications will be deployed at critical stations such as X-ray screening, ensuring a more safe and robust security environment.
FRRO Offices in All State Capitals
By 2027, Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRRO) will be established in the capital of every state. This will simplify visa, registration, and immigration processes for foreign nationals, eliminating the need for them to travel to different cities for administrative tasks.
New Immigration Check Posts
Directives have been issued to expedite the commencement of authorized immigration check posts at the Agartala and Jewar (Noida) airports. This will clear the path for these facilities to begin international flight operations soon.
Promoting FTI-TTP
Airlines will play a key role in popularizing the Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP). Passengers will be encouraged to sign up via WhatsApp messages during the ticket booking process, facilitating a faster immigration experience.
Third-Party Study for Peak Seasons
To prepare for future demand, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the CISF will conduct third-party studies during peak travel seasons. These studies will analyze delays at every passenger touch-point to gather data-driven insights for systemic improvements in the future.
