Passengers Demand More Aerobridges and Improved Operations at Chennai Airport
Passengers at Chennai Airport are calling for an increase in aerobridges and improved facility management. The reliance on remote parking bays, which requires using stairs and shuttle buses, is causing significant discomfort for elderly and disabled travelers, especially during extreme weather conditions.
Highlights
- •Passengers at Chennai Airport are demanding more aerobridges and better utilization of existing facilities.
- •Remote bay parking forces travelers to use stairs and buses, causing significant inconvenience for elderly and disabled passengers.
- •Current infrastructure only provides aerobridges for 11 out of over 100 parking bays, with two more under construction.
- •The Airports Authority of India stated that some remote bay assignments are requested by airlines, rather than being airport-mandated.
Travelers frequenting the Chennai Airport are voicing significant concerns regarding the current operational efficiency, specifically calling for an increase in available aerobridges and their better utilization. Many passengers have reported that their aircraft are frequently directed to remote parking bays despite the availability of functional aerobridges, resulting in the need to disembark using mobile staircases and shuttle buses. This practice has led to growing frustration among frequent flyers who expect a more seamless boarding and deplaning experience at such a major transit hub.
The demand for improved facilities at Chennai Airport has become more urgent due to the physical toll the current process takes on vulnerable groups. Elderly passengers, individuals living with disabilities, and families traveling with small children are particularly affected by the inconvenience, especially during periods of harsh weather, including the sweltering summer heat and the monsoon season. Exposure to these elements while waiting for shuttle transport has prompted numerous complaints and calls for immediate administrative action.
Infrastructure Challenges at Chennai Airport
Currently, Chennai Airport manages over 100 aircraft parking bays; however, only a small fraction are equipped with aerobridges. There are currently 11 such bays, with six located in the domestic terminal and five in the international terminal. While there are ongoing projects to add two more, the current capacity is proving insufficient for the rising volume of passengers. These aerobridges are essential for larger aircraft like Airbus and Boeing jets, while smaller ATR aircraft are not equipped to connect to them.
A recent incident involving an IndiGo flight from Mumbai has further highlighted these operational issues. With approximately 180 passengers on board, the flight was assigned to a remote bay, even though several aerobridges appeared to be vacant nearby. In response to passenger inquiries, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) clarified that while the flight was initially allocated to a bay featuring an aerobridge, the pilot requested a shift to remote bay 25. This explanation, however, has done little to appease those who feel that terminal infrastructure should be prioritized for passenger comfort.
The traveling public continues to urge airport management to expedite infrastructure expansion and implement stricter protocols for the maximum utilization of existing aerobridges. Improving these processes is viewed as a necessary step to enhance the overall accessibility and convenience of the airport for all passengers, regardless of their physical abilities or specific travel circumstances. At present, the airport administration faces the ongoing challenge of balancing logistical requests from airlines with the growing public demand for better terminal connectivity.
