Across airports, AAI flies to non-aeronautical areas
22 May 2015 1:54 AM GMT
Airports Authority of India(AAI) has <g data-gr-id="80">undertakennew</g> ventures since February, 2015, under <g data-gr-id="81">theguidance</g> of its new Chairman R K Srivastava, making it more customer-friendly and enriching the experience of passengers at its airports. New ventures such as Meet & Greet services (SwagatSeva), Art Gallery; Wi-Fi, Baggage Wrapping Facility and Food & Beverage with general retail services are taking shape at its various Airports.
As part of the SwagatSeva (Meet & Gree) services), attendants will be stationed at airports to assist passengers through the immigration process, help in express check-in and booking taxis and take care of the needs of passengers in and around the airport concourse. The staff will be specially trained to look after the elderly, unaccompanied children, first-time travellers and wheelchair passengers.
With a view to <g data-gr-id="106">promote</g> and encourage art works of amateur and budding artists in the country, AAI has decided to set up art galleries at different airports under the Art Gallery project. It will be created at sparable space at airports.
The Art works would include sculptures or any other form and are not to be limited only to paintings. The artists would have the right to use the tag “for sale” and the art works would carry price tags fixed on them. Wireless internet connections have already been made available at 10 airports. For the remaining airports, they will be made available at the Arrival, Departure and General Aviation terminals.
This service will be free at lounges. Wi-Fi will be free for the first 30 minutes and a fee of Rs 20 will be charged per 24 hours after the free period. Additional wireless access spots within the terminals would be subject to the concerned firms’ pricing policies.
The <g data-gr-id="88">Protectabag</g> baggage wrapping machines would facilitate protection of baggage and ensure that suitcases, boxes, golf clubs, back packs, baby buggies, car seats and any souvenirs are safely wrapped before check-in. The machine applies a strong film of stretch wrap plastic around the bag, forming a secure envelope of protection against objects being inserted or removed from the luggage.
<g data-gr-id="82">Protectabag</g> wrapping also provides waterproofing, protection against rough handling damage and ties up any loose straps, minimising the chance of luggage being damaged in conveyor belt rollers. <g data-gr-id="87">Protectabag</g> also guards against the effects of zips popping open and provides support to weaknesses in baggage.
Taking less than a minute, the <g data-gr-id="79">Protectabag</g> application allows for handles and wheels on the item to be freed so they can be used in the normal way.
In order to attract brands in both Food & Beverage with general retail services at Airports as well as for providing local consumers and producers, a single window concept for F&B and retail services is being put up at all the airports. The airport F&B services would include grant of licence for all F&B outlets, snack bars, sweets and <g data-gr-id="90">namkeen</g> outlets, c<g data-gr-id="124">hocolates ,retail </g>liquor bar and all eatable merchandise including food vending machines and restaurants etc. The general retail services shall include all shops, gifts, souvenirs and toys, Travelers Requisite (TR) shop, books and departmental store, <g data-gr-id="91">non</g>- prescription/prescribed drugs shop, personal care products / cosmetics / fragrances, apparel and fashion wear.
With a view to further enhance the facility of availability of Business Lounges at Airports, AAI has expanded the eligibility criteria for attracting the reputed agencies to provide these facilities at the Airports. The periodicity of <g data-gr-id="109">contract</g> has been fixed for five years, to be extendable for another five years.
The agencies working in general aviation, hotels industry, airlines, meet & greet agencies, airport lounge operators and joint venture with such agencies will be eligible to participate in the bid.
SpiceJet raises RS 300 crore more, co-founder Ajay Singh is CMD
Budget carrier SpiceJet, which was on the brink of collapse in December after being hit by a financial crisis, has managed to raise an additional Rs300 crore funding, even as its co-founder Ajay Singh was on Thursday appointed as the airline’s CMD. The Company’s Board also announced the appointment of Singh’s wife Shivani Singh as one of its directors at its meeting to comply with market regulator Sebi’s norm for listed companies to have at least one woman director. “The Board of Directors of the Company at its meeting held today has appointed Ajay Singh and Shivani Singh as directors and Harsha Vardhana Singh as Independent Director,” SpiceJet said in statement after the meeting in Chennai. “The Board also took on record mobilisation of additional funding of Rs300 crore through various sources,” the airline said.
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