With an ambitious project for new airports, domestic and international, for its aviation vision 2040, India is moving towards the goal – a trillion-dollar economy. India will have 190-200 functioning airports to facilitate air travel for 1.1 billion travelers, both inbound and outbound, by 2040. Of all the new and upcoming airports in India, Noida International Airport DXN is awaiting its inauguration in 2024, which the world is looking forward to for more than one reason.

Noida Jewar International Airport

Jewar International Airport, which is under construction in Delhi-NCR, will not only take the passenger load off India’s busiest New Delhi Airport but also become the largest international airport in the country by the end of its final phase construction in 2040. Below are some interesting facts about Jewar Airport, which recently got its IATA code – DXN, where D and N stand for Delhi and Noida respectively and X implies air connectivity. The three-letter airport geocode assigned by International Air Transport Association (IATA) signifies the role of Noida Airport DXN as the second aviation hub in the Delhi-NCR area.

Jewar International Airport, when completed by 2040, will have six runways and four terminals- the highest at any Indian airports. Some of the international operations will be shifted from Delhi IGI Airport to Noida Jewar Airport, considering the ever-growing number of flights to New Delhi from USA and other major countries. Jewar Airport will stand out with Uttar Pradesh’s architectural aesthetics woven into its modern design, just as Chennai Airport’s new integrated terminal has embodied cultural aspects of Tamil Nadu and its temple architecture.

Ganga ghats inspires Noida Airport terminal design

Located in Uttar Pradesh where the mighty Ganga River is not just worshiped as a deity but also an elixir of cultural life, Noida Airport is having its terminal inspired by the local architecture. The carbon-neutral terminal building to be beautified with indoor plants will have a sprawling courtyard designed like a haveli (mansion). The flight of steps in the terminal forecourt is being modelled on the Ganga River ghats in Varanasi and Haridwar. The design of the wavy roof of the forecourt will reflect the flow of rivers in the region.

The terminal of Nodia Jewar International Airport will have red sandstone flooring with close semblance to the red sandstone architecture of Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh. Adding a touch of classic charm to the terminal building are reinterpretations of traditional jali designs (ornamental lattice screens) unique to the Mughal architecture.

Jewar Airport location, traffic handling, bidding 

Zurich Airport International AG, a Switzerland-headquartered company, has taken the lead to build Noida International Greenfield Airport (JIA), by outbidding its competitors. Zurich Airport placed the highest bid of INR 400.97 per passenger while Anchorage Infrastructure Investments Holdings Limited offered INR 205 per passenger, Adani Enterprises Limited offered INR 360 per passenger and Delhi International Airport Limited offered INR 351.

Jewar in Gautam Budh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh is the location of Jewar International Airport, 72 km from IGI Airport; 40 km from Bulandshahr; 48 km from Greater Noida; 130 km from Agra; 60 km from Noida, and 70 km from Faridabad and Ghaziabad. The JIA will be easily accessible from not only Kanpur and Allahabad, but also other locations including Gwalior, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Shimla and Pathankot. Moreover, it is proposed to be connected to Delhi Metro via the Noida Metro route and via the Delhi-Faridabad-Ballabhgarh-Palwal-Jewar route. Additionally, a 31-km-long link road will connect Noida International Airport to the upcoming Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. Jewar Airport Station is also one of the proposed stations on the Delhi–Varanasi High Speed Rail project

On completion of all four phases of the construction by 2040, Jewar International Airport’s traffic-handling capacity will be more than 70 million passengers. With two runways, the first phase of the airport will handle around 12 million air passenger traffic which will go up to 30 million in the second phase and 50 million in the third phase and over 70 million at the final phase. Currently, New Delhi IGI Airport is handling around 70 million passengers, which is far beyond its capacity.

Jewar Airport cost, infrastructure, compensation

INR 29,650 crore is the total cost estimate for Jewar International Airport’s construction, which will be spread over 12,355 acres. The first phase of the construction costing a whopping INR 4,588 crore will be spread across 1,334 hectares and is expected to be completed in 2024. The second phase will cost INR 5,983 crore while the third and fourth phases will cost INR 8,415 crore and INR 10,575 crore respectively. The compensation package for rehabilitation of over 8,971 families from various villages in and around Jewar, which have been affected due to the land acquisition, is estimated to be around INR 3,000 crore.

The area and cost wise, Noida’s Jewar International Airport will undoubtedly be much bigger than the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport.

The foundation stone for Noida International Greenfield Airport DXN was laid in November 2021 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the project had been tossed around between various political parties in power since 2001. The long-term airport project will be completed in a phased manner through 2040. The airport will become operational as soon as its first phase construction is over in October 2024 with one terminal building and a runway. Its initial passenger-handling capacity will be limited to 12 million per annum.   

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India’s Vision 2040 for civil aviation is full of positive facts and practical figures. The phenomenal increase in the total number of India’s inbound and outbound air travelers from 134.98 million in 2015-16 to 184 million in 2017-18 is the foundation of India’s Vision 2040 for 1.1 billion passengers. Recently released at the Global Aviation Summit in Mumbai, the Civil Aviation Ministry’s “Vision 2040” report states that there will be 190-200 functioning airports in India by 2040. Delhi and Mumbai will have three international airports each, while top 31 Indian cities will have two operational airports each. The current fleet of 622 commercial aircraft crisscrossing India (as per March 2018) will grow manifold to include 2359 planes by March 2040. ‘The Next Generation Airports for Bharat’ Nirman Fund (NNF) has been proposed in the report on India’s Vision 2040 to provide monetary support for new and upcoming international airports in India.

Travel Beats, an overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle Travel, curated details of India’s upcoming international airports, which are expected to cost around $40-50 billion (excluding land acquisition costs), as per India’s Vision 2040 report. Most of the new and upcoming airports in India will have international connectivity for flights to and from the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific countries.

Rajkot International Airport, Gujarat

One of the new international Indian airports under construction is in Rajkot, Gujarat, as part of India’s vision 2040 in aviation. Expected to be completed by December 2023, the Rajkot International Airport is being developed in two phases – airport site and runway construction under the first phase and passenger terminal and apron under the second phase. The terminal building planned with four passenger boarding bridges, three conveyor belts and 20 check-in counters will be able to handle 1,800 passengers during peak hours.

To be developed across 2534 acres of land, Rajkot Greenfield International airport will have the capacity to handle the A320 family aircraft. One of the upcoming Greenfield airports in India, it will be equipped with a solar power system, rainwater harvesting system and a noise-absorbing green belt. Early in 2018, the Airports Authority of India allocated Rs.7.9 billion (USD 125.1 million) for the new Rajkot International Airport project development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone during the ground-breaking ceremony in October 2017.

Location: Hirasar village, approximately 30 km from Rajkot City 

Dholera International Airport, Gujarat

Gujarat’s third international airport is under construction in the ancient Harappan city of Dholavira. To be constructed in multiple phases with a 2025-26 deadline for its first phase completion, this greenfield airport will initially be able to handle over 3 lakh passengers a year and its capacity will be gradually expanded to 5 million annual passengers in future phases. Dholera Airport will share the increasing passenger load on Ahmedabad International Airport in its capacity as the second airport to the city. Moreover, the airport being developed as a part of the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) will also serve the industrial region as a major cargo hub.

Location: Navagam village, Dholera, around 100 km from Ahmedabad

Visakhapatnam International Airport, Andhra Pradesh

The upcoming greenfield airport in Bhogapuram will be Andhra Pradesh’s first international airport near Visakhapatnam. Bhogapuram Airport is being developed in three phases by the prestigious GMR Group, the operator of Delhi IGI Airport, Hyderabad RGI Airport, and Goa’s Mopa Airport. Also known as GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport, it had its foundation stone laid in May 2023.  The first phase is scheduled for completion in the next three years at an estimated cost of INR 4,592 crore. The airport, to be developed across 2,200-acre, will handle 6 million annual passengers in its first phase, and this capacity will be increased to 18 million passengers based on for international flights to Vizag, India.

Location: Bhogapuram, approximately 45km from Visakhapatnam

Sabarimala International Airport, Kerala

Good news for the Sabarimala pilgrims from across the world! The proposed Sabarimala International Airport project on 2570 acres of land at Cheruvally Estate near Erumely in Kottayam district has overcome its first hurdle and gained the Union Environment Ministry Panel’s approval in June 2023. Now it’s up for impact assessment and if things fall in place as per the Kerala government’s plan, Sabarigiri International Airport will be the nearest airport for Sabarimala and the fifth international air travel hub in Kerala. Currently, Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport to Sabarimala at a distance of 155 km.

Location: Erumeli, approximately 40 km from Kottayam

Navi Mumbai International Airport

The costliest and biggest of all the upcoming international airports in India is Navi Mumbai Airport, which will become operational once the first phase of construction is completed as planned by December 2024. The airport – officially named D. B. Patil International Airport – will handle 10 million passengers a year initially and more than 90 million annual passenger traffic upon completion of its all four phases by 2032. Reportedly, the NMI airport will handle 80 flights an hour and some 1900 flights in 24 hours. 

The Navi Mumbai International Airport project cost is estimated at Rs.16, 700 crore, as per the report on India’s Aviation Vision 2040. Read more about the second Mumbai international airport designed like a lotus, India’s national flower, and its topnotch facilities.

Ludhiana International Airport, Punjab

Ludhiana, Punjab’s largest city and industrial hub, is the location of one of the upcoming international airports in India. The airport, officially named Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha International Airport, is coming up at the existing Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Halwara. To be developed by the Punjab government and the Airports Authority of India in collaboration, the project includes construction of an international passenger terminal in the first phase. Ludhiana International Airport will be able to accommodate and handle Code 4C-type aircraft such as Boeing 737-700 and Airbus A-320.

Most likely to begin operations in September 2023, it will share the increasing load of air traffic to Amritsar International Airport in Punjab. Qatar Airways is the only major international carrier operating flights to Amritsar from USA and other countries.

Location: Halwara, nearly 40 km from Ludhiana

Ayodhya International Airport

One of the most awaited Indian airports is Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram International Airport in Ayodhya. It will facilitate domestic and international air connectivity for Indian Diaspora looking forward to the opening of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. While the first phase of the airport construction is close to completion for operations scheduled in December 2023, Ayodhya International airport (UP’s fifth) will be developed gradually in three phases across the area of 821 acres.

In its first phase, the airport will cater to mostly domestic passengers and its interim terminal building will handle 6,00,000 passengers annually. The airport design that resembles the architecture of Ayodhya Ram Mandir is among the most stunning features.. 

Second International Airport, Chennai

Like Delhi and Mumbai, Chennai is paving the way for a second international airport in line with India’s Vision 2040 for aviation. Intended to decongest Chennai International Airport (MAA), the second facility is proposed to be built across 5000 acres of land spanning 13 villages in Parandur, situated nearly 15 km from Kanchipuram. This 20,000 crore project is planned with 100 million passenger handling capacity and the tentative deadline for completion of the airport’s construction is 2028. Reportedly, Chennai’s Parandur Airport will feature two long runways that can hold huge 600-seat aircraft. A metro line connecting the airport with Chennai City and a road link with the Bangalore–Chennai Expressway are also planned.

Location: Parandur, nearly 70 km from Chennai

Kalyani Airport, Kolkata

A new airport is being built 53 km away from Kolkata and some 82km from India’s biggest ISCKON temple to ease the burden on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport – the biggest hub for air travel in east India and also one of the 10 busiest airports in the country. Kalyani Airport will be developed across 1500 acres of land and the airport will have a capacity to handle around 8.5 million passengers annually. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) set a 2030 deadline for Kolkata’s second airport to become operational.

Shivamogga Airport, Karnataka 

To be operationalized from 11 August, Shivamogga Airport is another UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) project developed in two phases at a cost of INR 450 crores. The greenfield airport covers 662 acres of land and features a 3200-m runway, the second-longest runway in the state after Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport. Its lotus-shaped passenger terminal building has a capacity to handle nearly 300 passengers in peak hours. As per reports, the domestic airport can handle Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 type aircraft and its standards are at par with that of an international airport.

Karnataka has two more upcoming airports – Vijayapura Airport with a tentative operational deadline in December 2023 and Hassan Airport whose construction is expected to be completed by April 2024.

Jewar International Airport, Noida

A wing of India’s Vision 2040 for aviation is Noida International Airport at Jewar, which will be catering to the catchment areas of Delhi NCR. Expected to ease the air traffic load on Indira Gandhi International Airport, the new facility will increase passenger-handling capacity up to 70 million per year over the next 30 years. INR 10,000 crore is the estimated cost of constructing the airport’s first phase, which is likely to open for commercial flight operations by the end of 2024. In the first phase, Noida International Airport will handle 12 million passengers. Much like Delhi IGI Airport, Noida International Airport will have international connectivity for USA to India flights, and flights from the UK, Singapore, Australia, as well as the Middle East.

Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport, Pune

Pune’s second international airport at Purandar will be named after Maratha King Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje. To be built on 2400 hectares of land, the proposed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje Airport may replace Lohegaon Air Force Station, the current international airport in Pune, which cannot accommodate more than 4 to 6 international flights to and from Pune due to restrictions on the air force base. Though approved in 2016, Pune’s Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje Airport project didn’t take shape due to land acquisition and other issues. Its fate now rests on the upcoming general elections in India in 2024.

Location: Purandar, nearly 40 to 45 km from Pune

Rewa Airport, Madya Pradesh

As part of the UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme, the existing Rewa Airfield (with a 1400 m runway and a small building) is being developed into a proper airport suitable for ATR-72 operations, at a cost of INR 300 crore. This upcoming domestic airport in Madhya Pradesh will see a land accretion of 290 additional acres. A new terminal building is planned across 750 sqm with a peak hour capacity of 50 passengers. The foundation stone for the expansion project was laid in February 2023 and the airport is expected to begin domestic operations in September 2023. It will connect Rewa with cities including Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior, New Delhi and Mumbai.

Location: Chorhata, nearly 11 km from Rewa City

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Indira Gandhi International Airport is gearing up for an infrastructural boost to match the heights of New York JFK Airport, London Heathrow Airport, Hong Kong International Airport and Singapore Changi International Airport. Like these leading international airports, New Delhi IGI Airport is all set to get an air train to interconnect the terminals for smooth passenger transit. Yes, you read it rightly. Delhi International Airport is the first Indian airport to have a dedicated Metro line between the terminals.

At present, buses transport passengers between the terminals of New Delhi IGI Airport. The proposed automated people mover (APM) between T1 (low cost domestic), T2 (old international terminal which will be converted into T4 by 2020) and T3 will make passenger transit faster and more convenient than the existing inter-terminal transit system. The project, which was supposed to begin in 2020, will be expedited given the increasing passenger traffic to the airport.

The upcoming automated people mover or air train at Delhi IGI Airport will be a 5.5-km-long transit line including 3km underground and 2.5km on ground. It will have four stopovers: T1, cargo terminal, Aerocity (the hospitality section), and a common station for T3 and T4. A technical study on the routing and an estimated costing of the project are in process.

With two terminals and three runways, New Delhi IGI Airport recorded whopping passenger traffic of 6.9 million in 2018. With the proposed expansion of Terminal 1 and the construction of the fourth runway, the annual volume of passenger traffic is supposed to be 10 million by 2020. With the increasing passenger traffic volume, the number of travelers transiting between T1 and T2/3 for flight arrival and departure will be growing. The annual passenger traffic will rise to 15 crore by 2025 when Terminal 4 will be operational.

Air train for New Delhi IGI Airport is an ambitious project. The construction of automated people mover under and on ground will cost up to INR 400 crore on an average per kilometer. The entire project will cost INR 2,000-2500 crore.

Recently, Delhi IGI Airport has been rated better for its security system than several other international airports, including London Heathrow, in the Airports Council International’s Airport Service Quality Survey. Delhi airport is the world’s second best airport, according to the same survey.

Delhi has good air connectivity with major cities in the US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. There are nonstop flights to Delhi from Chicago, Newark, New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, Sydney, Hong Kong, London, Singapore and others. Indian Eagle, a leading international travel organization, books cheap flight tickets to Delhi from USA for economy class, business class and last-minute travel.      

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Major airports of India are catching on to the latest technology for infrastructural enhancement and better service to travelers. It is evident from the top rankings of major international airports of India in the first Airport Service Quality survey by the Airports Council International (ACI). Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru topped the list with 4.67 points out of five. India’s Bangalore City airport deserved the top ranking for its latest and upcoming developments, including automated self-bad drop facility to biometric boarding.

With a host of new world-class features and amenities in the offing, Bengaluru International Airport is all set to make your travel paperless, hassle free, ultra comfortable and cheaper. We at Indian Eagle Travel took a short walk through the corridor of consistent development at Kempegowda Airport, Bengaluru.

Bangalore Airport: Fully-automated Baggage Drop within 60 Seconds

Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru became the first Indian airport to have introduced the fully automated self-bag drop facility for the fastest check-in. Recently, 16 automated baggage drop machines have been integrated to the state-of-the-art infrastructure of the airport. Those traveling from Bengaluru International Airport are no longer required to stand in long serpentine queues for baggage check-in. Remarkably, the automated baggage drop facility at Bangalore Airport has made the whole baggage check-in process a task of 45 to 60 seconds.

Currently, the facility is available only for those traveling on Air Asia and Spicejet. It will be extended to other international airlines operating flights to USA and other countries from Bengaluru. Travelers carrying excess luggage to check in won’t be able to avail the facility. Once you’re done printing your boarding pass from any of the 32 kiosks at the airport, do tag your bags and drop them off to the automated machines where the bags are automatically weighed, measured and scanned before they are transferred to the baggage handling systems.

Bengaluru Airport: Smart Security Lanes for Fastest Security Check

Bengaluru City airport is to be done with separate queues for security screening of male and female travelers soon. In a first of its kind in India, Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) has inked a deal with a UK-based security technology developer to zero in on an advanced security system which will be installed by December 2018. Not only men and women passengers will be screened together, but also the wait time for them will be lessened considerably.

Bangalore International Airport is all set to introduce Smart Security Lanes with Automated Tray Retrieval Systems (ATRS) at check points, both domestic and international. The existing manual lanes for security screening will gradually be phased out to make way for installation of the Smart Security Lanes in a phased manner. The project will be completed in March 2019, thereby enhancing the passenger screening capacity by 50%.

The smart security lanes with automated tray retrieval system will automatically push cabin bags and trays with passengers’ belongings into the screening machine and move empty trays to the next passengers. Thus, travelers will be relieved of the hassles of looking for empty trays and pushing their bags into the X-Ray machines at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru. Evidently, the whole screening process will be a lot more efficient.

Bengaluru Airport: Facial Recognition for Biometric Boarding

Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) is all set to make the whole boarding process paperless early in 2019 by introducing biometric self-boarding technology. Catching up with the proliferation of facial recognition of travelers at US airports, Bangalore City airport seeks to reduce paperwork for futuristic air travel experience. Once biometric technology for facial recognition is in place, Bengaluru International Airport will be the first Indian hub of paperless air travel.

Bangalore Airport: Reduced User Development Fees for Travelers

To benefit both domestic and international travelers, Bangalore International Airport has already slashed the user development fee (UDF) to a considerable low. Effective from September 16, 2018, Bengaluru City airport’s user development fee for international flyers has been cut to INR 400 from the previous INR 1266. It has made international air tickets from Bengaluru cheaper. The UDF component of domestic airfares has been reduced to INR 100 from the earlier INR 306.

However, Bengaluru Airport’s user development fees will be increased in 2019 and 2020. The current INR 100 per domestic passenger will be raised to INR 139, which will continue to be levied from April 2019 until March 31, 2020. It will be increased further up to INR 179, starting April 2020 and continuing until March 31, 2021. Similarly, the existing INR 400 per international traveler will be increased to INR 558, starting April 1, 2019. It will apply until March 31, 2020. International airfares will include INR 716 per passenger from April 2020 until March 31, 2021.

Flights from Bangalore may not necessarily get cheaper if operating airlines chose not to pass on the benefit to their passengers.

What was your recent experience of traveling to or from Bengaluru Airport? Why not share with us and other readers in the comment section below!!!

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Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is known not only for its enhanced global connectivity but also its world-class traveler-friendly infrastructure. Early this year (2018), Hyderabad RGI Airport installed a wheelchair lift ensuring convenience for senior citizens and travelers with reduced mobility (PRM) under the signature program, ‘Passenger is Prime.’

Hyderabad Airport became the first Indian airport to have installed seven Cardiac Emergency Resuscitation Stations to facilitate on-time assistance to passengers in the event of sudden cardiac arrest, is the latest news about the GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. The new facility too, is part of the airport’s #PassengerisPrime program.

The Cardiac Emergency Resuscitation Stations (ERS) have been set up in different parts of the airport’s Passenger Terminal Building, including the domestic Security Hold area, the airport village, check-in areas, international arrivals, domestic arrivals, and international SHA. The airport’s ground staffs are undergoing a regular training to operate the Cardiac Emergency Resuscitation Stations without any mistake or delay.

Till date, more than 100 volunteers from Hyderabad RGI Airport’s stakeholders have been imparted trainings in operating Automated External Defibrillator (AED) devices which are used to diagnose life-threatening cardiac conditions caused by irregular heartbeats. They have also been trained in providing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), chest compressions with artificial intelligence in case of a medical emergency at the airport.  

The Cardiac Emergency Resuscitation Stations (ERS) at Hyderabad International Airport are equipped with complete first-aid kits, oxygen cylinders, Automated External Defibrillator devices, stretchers and emergency bags containing essential equipment like intubation. The trained airport community members can access the nearest ERS cabinet to provide immediate assistance in case of a cardiac emergency.

Among the new facilities at Rajiv Gandhi Airport Hyderabad is a crash cart loaded with essential life-saving tools to address passengers’ sudden medical needs. The crash card has been installed near a baggage conveyor belt in the domestic arrivals.

“Hyderabad International Airport was the first Indian airport to launch the ‘Express Security Check’ facility for domestic passengers without check-in baggage. RGIA received the Carbon Neutrality Certificate from the Airports Council International for having achieved 100% carbon neutrality. In December 2017, Professor Lalji Singh, the father of DNA fingerprinting in India, died of a sudden heart attack while waiting to board his flight at Varanasi Airport. He could have been saved if he were given oxygen supply immediately. The incident brought to the fore the need of what Hyderabad Airport has installed to save passengers during a cardiac emergency,” said the chief communication officer of Indian Eagle, a leading international travel booking firm.

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) has a dedicated medical facility consisting of a 17-bed emergency treatment unit which Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited. The medical facility remains open 24 hours a day, and it is attended by qualified doctors and well-trained paramedics round the clock. Three ambulances equipped with advanced life-saving equipment are deployed in the airport complex.

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Bengaluru is all set to have India’s first smart international airport by December 2018, though Hyderabad RGI Airport is already done with a pilot trial of biometric scanners. Bengaluru Kempegowda Airport (BLR) has come a long way in the process to implement Aadhaar-enabled entry of travelers in sync with India’s vision of smart airports.

Everything from entry to boarding at Bengaluru Kempegowda Airport will be streamlined to transform it into a seamless experience for travelers under the initiative. Once the Aadhaar-enabled entry and biometric e-boarding system is in place, the airport will be able to handle tickets and ID proofs from the initial checkpoint to the boarding gate within 10 minutes per traveler. 15 minutes will be reduced from the current 25 minutes of screening.

Kempegowda International Airport’s Aadhaar-enabled entry and biometric e-boarding project is expected to commence on March 30 in 2018. December 2018 is the anticipated deadline for the completion of the project. All the other Indian airports will be brought within the purview of the project in 3 months from its completion at Bengaluru Int. Airport.

Known as the ‘digi yatra’ program, the new Aadhaar-enabled entry and biometric e-boarding system is likely to benefit travelers boarding international flights from Bengaluru, most probably, by October 2018.

With increasing numbers of cheap flights to Bengaluru from the USA and other countries, Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) registered air traffic growth by 22.5% in 2016. Total 22.18 million passengers traveled to, from and through Bengaluru Airport in 2016. 45 airlines connect Bengaluru City with 66 destinations in India and abroad. The airport receives average 60,000 footfalls a day.

Part of Bengaluru Airport’s growth strategy, the Aadhaar-enabled entry and biometric e-boarding system will digitize and quicken the entry, screening and boarding of passengers given the increasing volume of air traffic. Interestingly, Bangalore Kempegowda Airport is looking to be the cargo hub of South India, whereas Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi Airport is likely to be the hub airport for South and Central India in the coming five to 10 years.

The ‘digi yatra’ program will also boost airport security and alleviate delay in flight departure schedules apart from facilitating real-time authentication of passengers’ identity. With the Aadhaar-enabled entry and biometric e-boarding system at Kempegowda International Airport, passengers will no longer need to display their IDs and boarding passes at several checkpoints. Checking-in at the airport and boarding flights will be a stress-free and hassle-free experience.

As a smart airport, Bengaluru Kempegowda Airport will be digitally empowered to reduce the waiting time, enhance operational efficiency and increase the shelf life of resources. On top of all this, security of the airport will be strengthened, which is a pressing need of the hour. Madurai International Airport (IXM) is gearing up to install the biometric access control system for enhanced security. – Indian Eagle 

Recently, Bengaluru outran San Francisco, New York, London, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo and other 38 global cities in the race to become the world’s best digital environment city. Hopefully, Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport will give a tough run to the world’s best airports in the future.

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Unlike Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport, Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport may not be the busiest in the world. Hyderabad RGI Airport is neither one of the biggest airports in the world nor among those which operate the highest number of international flights a day or receive the largest volume of annual passenger traffic. However, Hyderabad International Airport was given the first position and declared the world’s best in the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey on several parameters, early in 2017. The survey was conducted by Airports Council International (ACI), headquartered at Montreal, Canada.

Having good air connectivity with the United States via the Middle East and the southeast countries in the Asia Pacific region, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) handles over 400 flights daily and 17 million passengers annually. The existing runway and terminal are efficient for up to 25 million passengers per annum. With Indian Eagle Travel booking an increasing number of cheap flights to Hyderabad from USA, Rajiv Gandhi Airport is at an ever-growing stage. Another terminal and a second runway have become inevitable needs in view of the airport’s phenomenal growth.

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport: Remarkable Developments

Among the major developments of Hyderabad RGI Airport in 2017 is its connectivity with Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) in the USA. Air India started operating three weekly flights from Washington to Hyderabad via Delhi in July 2017. Chicago was the first US city to be connected with Hyderabad. The US is a thriving market for flights to and from Hyderabad serving over 675,000 passengers per year. Cheap flights tickets from Chicago to Hyderabad, and cheap fare deals for Washington to Hyderabad flights are available at Indian Eagle.

Hyderabad International Airport is known for its traveler-friendly infrastructure. Recently, the airport got a wheelchair lift for the convenience of people with reduced mobility (PRM) and senior citizens under the ‘Passenger is Prime’ program. It is the first Indian airport to be equipped with PRM facilities like wheelchair lift or verti-lift in compliance with safety norms. The electrically powered wheelchair lift takes 2 minutes for a wheel-bound passenger to move up from the gate to the baggage claim area. The lift can be operated by a remote control and is provided backup power for uninterrupted operations.

The smart check-in facility at Hyderabad airport is fantastic. Entry – security check – boarding gates in under 2 mins. ???

— Daniel Fernandes (@absolutelydanny) October 30, 2017

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport launched India’s first ‘Express Security Check’ facility for domestic passengers without check-in baggage. The ‘Express Security Check’ facility at Hyderabad RGI Airport has made check-in faster and easier for hand-baggage-only passengers. It benefits over 40% of total domestic passengers including business travelers during peak hours of the day and curbs congestion in check-in areas. Hyderabad Airport’s Express Security Check is part of the ‘Passenger is Prime’ program.

Committed to achieving 100% carbon neutrality, RGIA received the Carbon Neutrality Certificate from Airports Council International. Currently the airport boasts of level 3+ neutrality under its Carbon Accreditation program. Switching to LED from conventional lighting is one of the deliberate efforts that Hyderabad Airport made to curb carbon emissions significantly and achieve carbon neutrality. Nearly 20,000 out of over 26,000 conventional lights have been converted to LED at RGI airport, which has made it possible to save 2.2 Million units of electricity per annum.

Global Connectivity of Rajiv Gandhi International Airport

11 international airlines including major gulf carriers connect Hyderabad with more than 35 destinations across the world. Etihad Airways, Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways and Air India operate cheap flights to Hyderabad RGI Airport from US cities including Atlanta, Houston, Austin, New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle. Qatar Airways’ Atlanta (ATL) to Hyderabad (HYD) cheap flights in business and economy class, are exclusively available at Indian Eagle.

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport: Future Plans

Hyderabad RGI Airport is all set to facilitate paperless travel by means of biometric identification of passengers. Recently, a pilot program was successfully conducted with biometric scanners at Hyderabad International Airport. E-boarding facility is already in place. RGIA is likely to become the hub airport for South and Central India in the next 5 to 10 years. Furthermore, 15 cities have been identified for the “Fly via Hyderabad” campaign which is aimed at making Rajiv Gandhi Airport is a big transit hub. The proposal to link Hyderabad Metro Rail with RGIA is currently under review. The airport will be able to handle an annual traffic of 50 million passengers in the third phase (up on completion).

Indian Eagle Deals for Cheap Flights to Hyderabad from USA

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Good news for the nationals of 113 countries, who are eligible for e-tourist visa to India! Indian government has decided to cut fees for e-tourist visa to India for those countries. This initiative to increase foreign tourist arrivals to India will be taken under the Electronic Tourist Visa scheme, a digitized version of visa on arrival India.

Currently, $60 is the fee for e-tourist visa for India, which is higher than the fee for visa of other countries. Indians pay a lower fee ranging from $20 to $40 for similar e-tourist visa to other countries. The tourism ministries of those countries have requested the government of India to reduce the visa fee for their nationals.

In response to the request from other countries, the External Affairs Ministry of India has mandated the Home Ministry to check the possibility of reducing the e-tourist visa fees for foreign nationals. Though the Home Ministry has not yet made an official announcement, the e-visa fee structure is reported to be rationalized soon.

It is reported that the fee for tourist visa to India will be categorized into four slabs between $0 and $40 on a reciprocal basis. As per the e-tourist visa policy of India, the nationals of any of 113 countries receive an email authorizing them to travel to India once their visa application for India is approved.

They can travel to India with a printout of the authorization and need to present the same to the immigration officials on arrival at major Indian airports. E-tourist visa for India is currently available to the citizens of 113 countries including the USA, the UK, the UAE, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Thailand, Sweden, Singapore, China, Oman, Russia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Japan, Vietnam, Ireland, Malaysia and others.

The ‘visa on arrival India’ scheme will be available to 180 countries by March 31, 2016. Foreign tourists with the approved visa application for India will get entry to the country from 16 international airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Goa, Thiruvananthapuram, Jaipur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Gaya and Tiruchirapalli.

Eligibility for Tourist Visa on Arrival India

• You must be a citizen of any of the countries which India offers the ‘visa on arrival’ facility to.
• You should travel to India only for recreation, sightseeing, short-term medical treatment, short-term business trip, or casual visit to relatives or friends in India.
• Your passport must be valid at least for 6 months from the date of arrival in India. It should have two blank pages for stamping by the immigration officer.
• You should have a return ticket and adequate money to bear your expenses in India.
• If you are a diplomat or official passport holder or international travel document holder, you are not eligible for India’s visa on arrival facility.

Things to Know about Tourist Visa on Arrival India   

E-tourist visa to India is valid for 30 days. Neither the validity can be extended nor can the visa be converted into any other type of visa during your stay in India. Your application for visa extension may be considered under certain exceptional circumstances.

You may apply online for e-tourist visa to India 4 days before your date of arrival in India. The fee for visa on arrival once deposited cannot be refunded. You should deposit the fee within 4 days prior to your date of travel.

You should carry a printout of the Electronic Travel Authorization while traveling to India. Your biometric details will be captured by immigration officers on arrival at the designated airports of India. As of now, e-tourist visa to India is allowed for only two visits in a calendar year.

About Indian Eagle Travel

Indian Eagle is a leading international travel organization based in Texas, the USA. We at Indian Eagle book cheap flight tickets to India from the USA and Canada. Get the best itineraries and the lowest airfare on IndianEagle.com.

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Gujarat has hit the headlines in the Indian tourism sector and the aviation industry of Asia for its Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport which is said to be the best in India, according to the latest report from by the Airport Council International. The report is based on a recent survey that ACI conducted on the eleven capital city airports – Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Goa, Pune, Jaipur, Trivandrum, Guwahati, Calicut, Srinagar and Lucknow. Ahmedabad Airport is the 7^th busiest airport in the country. 25% of the total traffic consists of foreign passengers from different parts of the world.      

Beating the 10 other airports, Ahmedabad International Airport has scored the highest on strength of passenger satisfaction and the facilities available. “We have implemented several facilities including medical assistance for passengers and care for senior citizens at the airport, out of our commitment to achieving excellence in the airport service,” remarked R. K. Singh, Director of Ahmedabad Airport.

The “passenger satisfaction” score achieved by the Ahmedabad Airport shows the airport’s recovery from such threats as bird hit, monkey menace and leaking roof. The report from ACI shows an improvement in the airport’s passenger service standards and the quality of facilities available at the 316-crore international terminal that is modeled on Singapore’s Changi Airport.

Indian Eagle books cheap international flights to Ahmedabad, India.  Log on to IndianEagle.com and check low airfare deals.

The post “Ahmedabad Airport is the best in India” ACI reports appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.