Shamshabad Airport-Needs Improvement

I had to post this today, to tell you people of my experience at the New airport, the Shamshabad Airport in Hyderabad. I had a meeting in Hyderabad on Monday, the 24th March ’08. Since the day I was landing was only the second day after its inauguration, I was full of ‘super’ expectation and was thinking that finally some kind of a step was being done to the infrastructure facility. But I was in for a big disappointment as soon as I landed. You might think that I am seeing things entirely in a ‘negative’ aspect, but I feel that for an Airport built in 2008, it looks as if research was done for it in the ‘pre-development’ era i.e somewhere in early 2002.

Here is my account. As soon as I landed at the Shamshabad Airport, I could see that there were only six ‘aerobridge’ for both the domestic and international sections. It was shocking to see that there were only two baggage carousels in the Domestic Airport and two baggage carousels in the International Airport section. I am well aware of teething troubles that any start up’s or for that matter airports could have and we were there only in the second day of the opening of the ‘Airport’ but my biggest astonishment was, when I found that for every traveler there were hundred visitors and I felt that the Airport was not just equipped to handle that type of a crowd. I happened to take my return flight on the same night and to my horror I found that I had to travel a good two hours and thirty minutes to the Airport. Apart from that I had to wait around one hour and 30 minutes for the aircraft and around 20 minutes inside the aircraft, the travel time itself was for one hour and thirty minutes, and taking into account the delay in the air for around 25 min. (when the aircraft was finding parking space!) and finally landed near the flying club. The captain said that the matters were beyond his control. In totality the time taken for the travel was around six hours. Just imagine if I had taken the train I could at least been assured of a good night sleep!

With this experience behind me, I am all geared up to face the next which should be between Chennai and the New Bangalore Airport. Not sure what would greet me there and would not be surprised if it would be the same as I had faced in Hyderabad. Well one could never say and be sure to find my post on this as soon as I reach home. We need improvements in excess!

Comments

[Bhat]

I too traveled through Shamshabad Airport, but I would like to share different experience. However also I know a fried working for airport. First of all these experiences are only second, third day one, An airport takes atleast months time to stabilise. If you go and see websites like wikepedia you will understand that Airports like HongKong, KL, Incheon, Bangkok took longer time to stabilise. HongKong lost 4.6 bn HK during first few dates of operation. Baggage courosels - it is not the issue of how many number? It is how many number of bags per hour. with this infrstaructure if Ground Handler is effiecient it will take less than 5 minutes for baggage to arrive. (it is handled by Airlines)Visitors - They are not the one who come with passengers. They come there to visit the airport, local people. One can not create infrastructure for them because this phenomenon is only for few days. For hyderabad kind of traffic the total 12 aerobridges (it is not 6) is much more than sufficient. I feel generally we are extremely more patient or extremely calm. In this case I think we should wait for reasonable time before concluding anything.

[Venkatesh]

well, I do agree with both of ur comments, but more with Mr Venkat's comments, cause, being an ex employee of airport i know what is the infrastructure that require to facilitate easy going for a passenger. as mr Venkat rightly said, there are only two baggage conveyors in Hyderabad's new airport (domestic) where as they were three in Begumpet? And Mr Bhat, its not the speed of conveyor for speedy disposal of baggage, rather it is the no of conveyors, because, the conveyor has to run at a specified speed only so as to pick up our baggage. it cant be run very fastly so that all the baggage will be disposed in 5 minutes, its impossible. and imagine the condition when there are three to four flights arrives at one time and baggage has to be disposed on two conveyors? As mr Venkat rightly said, this requires more attention. What is passenger facilitation mean? is it not the quick disposal of baggage? is it not the arriving at airport/home/office quickly? is it not the cool mood to get into the flight? is it not the good facilities at airport including snacks, rest rooms, entertainment etc? these all are meant for the facilitation of passengers. And Mr Bhat also true that new establishment takes time to get into business. but my question is whether the operators doesnot have experience? or they dont know how many passengers are flying from Hyd? and what are the minimum facilities reguired for PAX and visitor's at a world class airport? Malaysian airport partner runs malaysia's biggest airport and the design adopted is of Munich, the world's beautiful airport. But where r those world class facilities? No water for visitors? no directions for rest rooms? no coffee or tea for visitors? lack of facilities inside the terminal? keeping 40 gates to enter inside and putting self checkin counters doesnot make passenger feel happy. basic facilities and snacks at affordable rates and correct information about the facilities and directions to reach correct place is verymuch required. In the year 2008 when the operators are tied up with world class operators and airport builders, we cannot spare them saying that it is new airport and would take time to get settled. Knowing the passenger movements and visitors to the new airport, the facilities are also to be provided well in advance. we are not in an age of BC, we are in 21st century. Anyways my personal feeling is govt has taken wrong decision to closed down begumpet without proper connectivity to new airport and without ensuring the facilities are intact at new airport. and operators are verymuch worried in getting revenue of 2.5 crores rather giving good facilities to passengers. They are commerical minded not service oriented. And I am sure that every passenger, visitor and even airline operator will face the music once the FREE facilites extended by GMR like, free car parking for one week, free visiting, No UDF, no fee for ground handling to airlines for this year etc are lifted and i am sure i also will be the one of the sufferers who will curse the Govt for taking such a hasty decision to closed down a convenient airport. And at last but not the least, I request everybody's attention on the latest developements begin taking place in the ministry of civil aviation, for re thinking on the Greenfield airport policy.....by which we can imagine the mistake done by the Govt. and now we the public who are at stake.

[BhatlSingh]

The whiners and losers ! All you could do was "complain" and cry ! How bad things are with the airport, the staff, the baggage, this .. that.. Mr Venkat, you truly have a miserable life !

[Bhat]

I agree with you Mr Venkatesh to certain extent. But any new establishment takes some to stabilise. This can be seen in Shamshabad airport right away. when i travelled yesterday I could get my baggage within 10 minutes. Now tell me, in which Airport in India we get the baggage in such a shorter time? Why Heathrow Terminal 5 airport failed on first and second day? Didn't they have experience in Airport operation? Infrastructure is created for good, let's support it. Now lack of one infrastructure (connectivity) doesn't make the other infrastructure bad!!

[Sudhakar]

All my high expectations on the new international airport crashed when I landed on the very first Monday after its opening. I have travelled to many international airports and I can bet that this one is very far to match. Once cannot even think of doing a comparison. The worst part is the to & fro travel to the airport. The roads are not good, it is too costly to travel by airport cabs or busses. I have to travel for 3hrs to get to the airport and my air travel to chennai is just 1hr. If I sum up all these time I can very well go to Chennai by my own Car. I think the Begumpet airport can be open for domestic travels which take 1-1.5 hrs of travel. It is not good to force people who are traveling to small distance. recently AP government declared that the Begumpet airport will be opened to interstate travel. Rather than telling it as interstate a radius of certain distance or time can be taken which makes more sense.

[vikram]

HI GUYS, CAN ANYBODY TELL ME WHERE SHOULD I PARK MY CAR AT SHAMSHABAD OR HYDERABAD FOR A WEEK. AS I AM FLYING TO DIFFERENT PLACES I NEED A PLACE TO PARK MY CAR SAFELY AT OR NEAR TO AIRPORT. PLEASE SUGGEST ME.

IS EXTENDED PARKING AVAILABLE AT SHAMSHABAD AIRPORT ITSELF? THEN THAT IS MORE CONVENIENT FOR ME.

PLEASE PLEASE, LET ME KNOW

vic.banda@gmail.com

[Raju]

hello alll,
this is Mr R Raju from Kakinada. will you please tell me if there are rooms availabel in shamsabad airport to stay one night to catch early morning flight to Amstradam? will you please give the Rooms manager phone number so that i can call and reserve one room for one night. i cannot go out to stay since i need to catch early morning flight. so i want to stay in shamsabad airpiort. i will be so thankfu; l to you if you send me the contacting person's number
thanking you
Raju

[pass a the drug test]

This is Nice information Need to Know more

[v.s.pani]

I need to park my car at shamshabad for two days..where do I park with affordable fee?