Most Indian airports to be carbon neutral by December 2024 

Most Indian airports will become carbon neutral by December 2024 and achieve Net Zero emissions by 2030, according to a senior official of the ministry of civil aviation. 

MoCA had collected carbon emission data from the airports followed by a knowledge-sharing session on airport carbon emission and mapping to standardize carbon accounting and reporting framework of Indian airports and to create awareness on climate change mitigation targets and measures. 

Airports can pursue low-cost energy efficiency measures like improving building insulation. These kinds of measures simultaneously reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and operating costs.

The airline industry is responsible for nearly 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions.

Airports can also purchase renewable energy, install airport renewable energy systems (provided they are compatible with airport operations), reduce energy consumption, monitor the efficiency of heating, ventilation, and cooling systems, and purchase low or zero-emission vehicles and GSE. 

The airline industry is responsible for nearly 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions.

The airline industry believes its quickest path to net-zero is replacing jet fuel with “sustainable aviation fuel” (SAF) made from renewable sources, such as plants or used cooking oil. In theory, SAF can cut flight emissions by around 80%, depending on how it is made.

GMR-led Delhi International Airport Limited has already become Asia Pacific’s first Level 4+ (Transition) accredited airport under ACI’s airport carbon accreditation program.

GMR-led Delhi International Airport Limited has already become Asia Pacific’s first Level 4+ (Transition) accredited airport under ACI’s airport carbon accreditation program.

At Delhi airport, around 40,000 air purifying plants have been put inside the three-terminal buildings of the airport to clean the indoor air. Nearly 3.9 million square feet within the IGI Airport premises is covered with plants and shrubs. 

CSMIA has also taken several steps during the pandemic to optimize energy consumption, resulting in a reduction of 35% of energy usage.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, recently said that India is working on making its airport carbon-neutral in future.

With renewable energy from solar playing a key part in such efforts, it's time to set clear goals for every large airport across the country to be powered by renewable energy.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, recently said that India is working on making its airport carbon-neutral in future.

At the headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, Scindia said, the way the civil aviation industry of India has bounced back post the Covid-19 pandemic with all protocols in place shows its resilience and determination. With a robust and holistic plan for the future, he is sure soon, his ministry will set new milestones in the air.

Delhi Airport (Indira Gandhi International airport) has been adjudged the best in India and South Asia for the fourth consecutive year at the Skytrax World Airport Awards, an official statement said on Friday, June 17.

The airport also improved its overall ranking to 37th from last year's 45th position, said the statement from GMR which added that it is the only airport from India to be included in the world's top 50 airports. The GMR Infra-led airport has also been declared "the cleanest airport" in India and South Asia.

Delhi Airport was named the best airport in India and South India for the 4th consecutive year

The Skytrax World Airport Awards are based on an annual global airport customer satisfaction survey assessing customer service and facilities across 500 airports, the statement said.

"All the airport staff, stakeholders and partners working at the airport have made Delhi airport the best airport in India and South Asia with their constant resilience, focus, and customer-centricity.The Delhi airport has always set a new benchmark in providing the best airport experience to all its passengers and will continue to do so."Videh Jaipuriar, CEO, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), GMR Infrastructure Limited-led consortium

The survey questionnaires were completed by over 100 nationalities of airport customers for nine months from September 2021 to May 2022.

It evaluated customer experience across airport service and product key performance indicators including check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security, and immigration and departure, it added.

DIAL said the Skytrax World Airport Awards are the most prestigious accolades for the airport industry, voted by customers in the largest, annual global airport customer satisfaction survey.

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DIAL said the Skytrax World Airport Awards are the most prestigious accolades for the airport industry, voted by customers in the largest, annual global airport customer satisfaction survey.

Hamad International Airport has been named the World’s Best Airport for the second year running, announced at the 2022 World Airport Awards that were held at Passenger Terminal EXPO in Paris, France on 16th June 2022.

ALSO READ - Bengaluru Airport Named Best Regional Airport in India and South Asia 

In the 2022 Skytrax World Airport Awards, Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore (BLR Airport) was named the best regional airport in India and South Asia. 

The GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL), a GMR-led consortium, on Friday, June 17 said the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) was adjudged having the ‘Best Airport Staff in India and South Asia’ at the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2022.

The airport has also progressed in its overall ranking, moving from 64th position in 2021 to 63rd position in 2022 in the World’s Top 100 Airport league.

Hyderabad airport adjudged as the 'Best Airport Staff in India and South Asia’

Additionally, RGIA bagged the second rank for the Best Regional Airport in India and South Asia 2022; the third rank for Best Airport in India and South Asia 2022; the fourth rank in Cleanest Airport in India and South Asia 2022; and the sixth rank in the Best Regional Airport in Asia 2022 categories.

“We would like to dedicate this prestigious award to all our remarkable airport staff, stakeholders and partners working at Hyderabad Airport without whose support we wouldn’t have been able to achieve this during a challenging phase of the pandemic. With the motto of ‘Passenger is Prime’, our team, with its unwavering dedication and commitment, have ensured that every passenger is taken care of while traveling through our airport. All stakeholders worked collaboratively towards passenger delight with a single-minded focus. With a travel rebound now happening, we are all geared up to provide our passengers a memorable transit through the Hyderabad International Airport.”Mr. Pradeep Panicker, CEO, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL)

The trophy was presented to RGIA officials at a ceremony at the Passenger Terminal EXPO in Paris, France, according to a press release.

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“We congratulate Hyderabad Airport for their success in winning this most important award as the Best Airport Staff in India & South Asia. The last two years has been extremely difficult for airports worldwide having to cope with the many restrictions of COVID-19 and the severe drop in travel demand. With air travel quickly returning to a more normal level, the challenge to deliver the highest standards is being well met here at Hyderabad Airport.”Edward Plaisted, CEO, Skytrax

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is an international airport that serves Hyderabad, the capital of the Indian state of Telangana. It is located in Shamshabad, about 24 kilometres (15 mi) south of Hyderabad.

It was opened on 23 March 2008 to replace Begumpet Airport, which was the sole civilian airport serving Hyderabad. Built over an area of 5,495 acres (2,224 ha), it is the largest airport in India by area. It has also ranked in AirHelp's list of top 10 airports in the world.

Hyderabad airport is the fourth busiest airport in India by passenger traffic

The fourth busiest airport in India by passenger traffic, it handled 12.4 million passengers and 140,075 tonnes (154,406 short tons) of cargo between April 2021 and March 2022.

The airport has one passenger terminal, a cargo terminal and two runways. There are also aviation training facilities, a fuel farm, a solar power plant and two MRO facilities.

The airport serves as a hub for Alliance Air (India), Blue Dart Aviation, SpiceJet, Lufthansa Cargo, Quikjet Cargo, TruJet and IndiGo. It is also a focus city for Air India.

Vistara is in no hurry to lease B787 Dreamliner aircraft to expand international flight operations as it does not want to get stuck with a plane that cannot be used viably, its CEO Vinod Kannan said.

For more than a year, Boeing has not delivered any B787 plane as the US Aviation regulator wants it to first make rectifications in the aircraft production line. Vistara had ordered six B787 planes in 2018 but it has got delivery of only two of those aircraft to date.

Vistara is waiting to receive four aircraft from Boeing’s 787 production line, but deliveries have been frozen globally since May 2021 due to quality-control shortcomings.

Vistara had ordered six B787 planes in 2018 but it has got delivery of only two of those aircraft to date.

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Kannan was talking to reporters on the sidelines of the 78th annual general meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Doha. The last thing we want is to hurry and get stuck with an aircraft that we cannot utilise viably, he mentioned.

"The lack of more wide-bodied B787 aircraft has hampered the airline's expansion of international flight operations. Asked by when Vistara would like to have another Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet, I would like to have it yesterday. But the facts are that these things do take time.When you come up with an RFP (Request For Proposal) for a new aircraft, there are certain sets of considerations. When you are looking into the market for aircraft that are used, you need to be looking at different parameters what is the age of the aircraft? What are the engines' capacities?... It is a different set of considerations with which we have to go with our eyes open."Vinod Kannan, CEO, Vistara

As much as Vistara wants to get the capacity as soon as it can, it also wants to ensure that it gets a good deal, he said. He said the leases for B787 aircraft will hopefully be short-term with an option of increasing its duration as this is an interim lift as the airline waits for its aircraft.

Vistara’s aircraft fleet includes two 787-9s received before the delivery suspension and a mix of Airbus and Boeing narrow-body airliners. It plans to take 20 more aircraft by the end of 2023, mostly A320s to be used domestically and for nearby international destinations.

Airfare hikes are inevitable

An increase in airfares is "inevitable" and Vistara will also raise them if other airlines do so, its CEO Vinod Kannan also said.

"The ATF prices have been increasing and our fares have also been increasing. As part of the overall market, we do look at market fares. We don't operate in a vacuum and if other airlines increase fares and if the function of supply and demand is there, fares will increase."Vinod Kannan, CEO, Vistara

He said that the increase in ATF means that fuel costs now account for up to 40-50% of total costs for Indian airlines.

Recently, SpiceJet's Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh said that a minimum increase of 10-15% in airfares was "required" as ATF prices have increased by 120% since June last year.

While the airfares till June were backed by a strong travel demand, Mr. Kannan said that it remained to be seen whether an increase in ticket prices now will dent passenger sentiment during the traditionally lean travel season between July and September.

An increase in airfares is "inevitable" and Vistara will also raise them if other airlines do so - Vinod Kannan

Though the government has prescribed an airfare band with minimum and maximum airfares for travel within 15 days of booking, Mr. Kannan said more and more people were now booking more than 15 days before the date of journey as the uncertainty around travel due to restrictions and various protocols is gradually waning.

Increment of fare caps

The civil aviation ministry had imposed lower and upper limits on domestic airfares based on flight duration when services were resumed on May 25, 2020, after a two-month lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For example, airlines currently cannot charge a passenger less than Rs 2,900 (excluding GST) and more than Rs 8,800 (excluding GST) on flights with a duration of fewer than 40 minutes.

Vistara's airfares are hitting the upper caps occasionally.

The lower caps are there to protect the financially weaker airlines and the upper caps are to protect the passengers from high fares.

"Our position, as well as Vistara is concerned, we have always said the best solution or the best open market is where there is absolute freedom to price. That is the ideal situation. However, Vistara knows why the fare caps are there.They (fare caps) are there for certain reasons. I believe that they are needed to protect the airlines but also the customers (passengers).We are nowhere (in a situation) where we are hitting the (upper) cap 80-90 per cent of the time because as you know demand is also the function of the day of the operation. It is also fiction of other factors as well.Yes, I will be happy if the fare cap is increased right through, not just the ceiling but also the floor. At the end of the day, our position remains that market pricing is the most optimal."Vinod Kannan, CEO, Vistara

He said Vistara's airfares are hitting the upper caps occasionally.

InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., which operates IndiGo, India’s largest airline, had operated cargo flights during the pandemic which resulted in a massive boost in their cargo operations all over India.

India's leading carrier, IndiGo, won the Indian Air cargo Covid Transport Leader of Covid Vaccine award at the recently held CarGo India Conference in Mumbai. IndiGo won the award for swiftly transporting COVID vaccines across India during the pandemic. IndiGo's actions saved innumerable lives and livelihoods and helped the country emerge from the pandemic quickly. 

Indigo Cargo awarded 'Indian Air cargo Transport Leader of Covid Vaccine'

IndiGo has won its customers’ trust with its fleet of specialized vehicles and equipment that ensure safe and secure movement of cargo, safeguard cargo in even the harshest weather, and help every delivery arrive on time.

The company is continuously expanding the size of its fleet and the number of destinations it serves. As a result, IndiGo provides customers with access to an extensive network, competitive air cargo rates, and reliable service.

At a time when the passenger flights were restricted or limited, CarGo revenue was a critical input for the business and helped maintain the cash flow. And for many airlines, cargo became a vital source of revenue when passenger flights were grounded.

IndiGo won the award for swiftly transporting COVID vaccines across India during the pandemic.

In 2020, the air cargo industry generated USD129 billion, which represented approximately a third of airlines’ overall revenues, an increase of 10–15% compared to pre-crisis levels. 

Talking about the airline's cargo business, the CCO said, "Our cargo business has been one of the successes during the pandemic. Actually, we have operated close to 8,000 cargo-in-cabin charter flights." Domestically, the carrier was currently operating in 71 cities in India and each of those points has a cargo capability.

They are planning to source four converted A321ceo planes, which can each carry 27 tonnes, for full-time cargo operations on both domestic and international routes. It said it expected to take delivery of its first freighter in the first half of 2022 and the remaining three within a year of that first delivery. 

On the topic of four cargo aircraft that have been ordered, the first aircraft has just gone to Singapore Technologies Engineering Limited as it's being converted (from passenger aircraft to freighter aircraft). It will be out sometime in the first half of next year.

Overall, IndiGo is very serious about cargo and that cargo is going to become a significant part of our business.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consented to declare open the second terminal of Bengaluru Airport (Kempegowda International Airport) in the first week of October. 

The communication from the Prime Minister’s Office was sent to the airport operator, Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) on Wednesday, June 15.

According to airport sources, BIAL had requested Modi to do the honours for the INR 13,000-crore terminal. The exact date will be conveyed by the PMO shortly, a top source said.

Bengaluru airport is set to open T2 in the first week of October; PM Modi to inaugurate

BIAL authorities said that the second terminal will be declared open in the final quarter of 2022. BIAL had recently invited Requests for Proposals from qualified and experienced bidders for the inaugural launch event of the second terminal.

With Modi set to formally dedicate to the nation, the suburban railway project and the Sir M V Visvesvaraya Terminal on June 20, the airport terminal will be the third major infrastructure project to be declared open by him the city.

The much-delayed ‘garden terminal’ is set to boost KIA’s passenger capacity by an additional 25 million annually, which is only phase I of the expansion project.

The much-delayed ‘garden terminal’ is set to boost KIA’s passenger capacity by an additional 25 million annually, which is only phase I of the expansion project. An additional 20 million passengers per annum can travel when phase II  is completed.

KIA, the country’s third-biggest airport had recorded 33 million passengers in 2020 before Covid-19 struck. Labour shortage and flying restrictions shrank patronage. T2 It will have a total built-up area of 2.54 lakh sqm.

It will have a total built-up area of 2.54 lakh sqm.

All arrivals have been planned on the ground floor while departures will happen on the first floor. A lagoon with a big outdoor garden around it, a multi-modal transport hub, including Namma Metro, solar panels on the roof, artificial waterfalls, elevated walkways and green seating areas are among its special features.

While Larsen and Turbo are carrying out construction work, US architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill is designing T2. All International flights will be operated from T2.

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(With Inputs from The New Indian Express)