Dummies Guide to IGI Delhi Airport India

Dummies Guide to DELHI Airport

This is a Dummies guide to Airports in India.

Airports are cities in them self and people are can get lost in them, they are like 7 star hotels with every thing thrown in them, I can not say the same about airports in India. I am writing this for people who will come to India so that they have a knowledge of the airports before hand.

Most of the Indian airports are vintage the Delhi airport from where the Private airlines depart is a vintage WW-2 era airport , Delhi is getting a new airport and work is going on at a killing speed the government has asked a private consortium GMR-FRAPO to make this airport and it will be the best in Asia and far east, till then we all have to make do with what we have a patched up airport with basic amenities. The IGI domestic airport is divided in three parts.

Terminal -1-A Departure: All domestic flights of the Indian national carrier now known as INDIAN (earlier known as Indian Airlines) and Kingfisher Airlines fly from here, so remember when you book a flight by Indian or King Fisher then go to Terminal- 1A- IGI Domestic Airport.

This a relatively a well organized and a very small departure terminal , this building was build when the old terminal caught fire, it is small so , has got a small parking, it has a ATM inside (only one) and has coffee shops and a business class lounge inside.

Both Indian and King Fisher have ticket and information window’s before you enter inside the terminal. Immediately after entry you will see the X-RAY machines, show your ticket and get your baggage X-RAYD make sure you get it strapped and they put a security clear sticker on it.Then get your boarding card and head for the security hold area, once inside relax and enjoy (Alcohol is not served on any flight in India however you can have a drink at the (King Fisher lounge J )

Terminal-1 B Departure: This is the vintage WW-2 departure terminal where a lot of patch work has been done and if you are looking for some peace of mind forget it when you come here it is a battle and you have to win it, this terminal has all the private airlines departures like Jet airways, Jet Lite, Deccan airways, Spice jet, MDLR airlines and Go air and Indigo. Apart from Jet airways all are Low Cost Carriers, it is a royal mess on a day when flights are delayed or late or canceled due to fog, which is just at the corner.

This is the most crowded terminal, you will see long lines (during rush hours) to get inside and once inside then another line to get your baggage X-RAYED and then a line at the counter, it can drive you mad, so have an I-POD or a book to maintain your sanity or you will go mad.

The moment you get down from your cab look a little up and you will boards hanging from the top where you will see the names of the airlines and the gate numbers, so head for the gate show your passport and ticket and head for the airline controlled X-RAY , get your baggage strapped and make sure the security check sticker is put on your bag.

REMEMBER DO NOT KEEP ANY KIND OF CASH, JEWELRY, IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS or VALUABLES IN YOUR CHECKED BAGGAGE, in case of loss the airline don’t take any kind of responsibility for it.

Head for the counter and get your boarding card don't forget to get your hand baggage tags, now the problem starts the lines for security check are quite long and when you reach there make sure you take what ever you are carrying in your hand baggage and your cell phone on a tray to be x-rayed, then head for the frisking booth ( ladies are frisked separately) get your boarding card stamped and your hand baggage tag’s stamped by the A.P.S.U. (airport security unit) Remember you don’t have a stamp on your boarding card or hand baggage tag, you will not be allowed to board.

It is a very small security hold area so first grab some thing to eat and then grab a seat and wait for your boarding call.

Departing from Delhi’s terminal 1B can be an experience of a life time. Be at the airport 3 hours before the departure and be prepared to wait for delayed departures as winters are approaching “ fog station” will be declared in some time….

Before I close this beware of touts when you get down at terminal-1B, there is no charge for trolleys don’t let any one hold the trolley for you or take it till the gate... these guys are touts, look out any airline staff to guide you.

When you face the terminal building the Airport Managers office will be on your left just after the Nescafe coffee booth. (there will be a duty airport manager there, if you have a complain or are facing a problem they will help you out)

Any question then leave comments and I will reply back .…. Here's wishing you a happy landing….

Note:Please don't follow the dummies guide word by word, this is as real as it gets, as the airport is under construction,actual places may change and for that please don't hold me responsible.

VT on security

Security workers threaten more strike action

Security is security it can be any where in the world.

September 21 2007
by A. Aisha Caleb-Browne
http://www.antiguasun.com

While airport security staff members returned reluctantly to their posts Wednesday after a short-lived strike, they and other airport personnel may still be prepping for more industrial action.

Wednesday’s action stemmed from a dispute between a female security officer and Chief of Airport Security Peter Abraham, which resulted in the subordinate being relieved of her duties amidst some controversy.

At the intervention of the Antigua Trades & Labour Union President, Wigley George, an apology was issued to the alleged victimised officer, and was reciprocated by the union on behalf of the accuser.

But there are apparent bigger issues at play, placing the officers on edge for sometime. They have silently agitated for an outstanding $135,000 in overtime wages, improved working conditions among other issues.

According to George, the employees have not been paid overtime wages dating back to April of this year and this was the main reason for their go slow. It was also revealed that similar action was to have been taken by the employees who had planned to disrupt the hosting of Cricket World Cup 2007 if they were not paid.

Their threat netted a portion of the payment.

Since then, no more monies have been forthcoming and the workers have expressed that they are fast running out of patience. George said, “Though I recognise the responsibility of the staff, especially security staff, to have the airport up and running, one cannot ignore the conditions under which they work. They have been ignored so many times and are treated like second class workers. The union wants to change this.”

Following the resumption of work Wednesday, a meeting was held between union representatives, members of the works committee, Aerodrome Superintendent Leon Smith, Chief of Airport Security Peter Abraham, Airport Operations Manager Edward Gilkes, and Neil Barnes, member of the Antigua Barbuda Airport Authority (ABAA) board.

It was only at this time that a discovery was made of inefficiencies at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, whereby documentation for the payment of overtime had been prepared months ago, but was held up by one of the departments within the said ministry, George told the SUN.

As a result, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Elaine Carter, who later attended the meeting in an attempt to avert a crisis, assured the union and the workers that matters would be dealt with immediately. “That was guaranteed to be paid out on or before Friday of next week. So it is now a wait and see situation at the airport in relation to what the workers may or may not do,” George said.

VT on security

Aviation Security and Stress Factor.......

Aviation security officers /Screeners here and every where in world daily walk the plank in there minds, they are worried over one thing..


Have i missed some thing? the stress factor on one shift is so high that they have to maintain there sanity and that is not easy......first time Low Cost Airlines, passengers who don't understand why they have to stand in long lines to get there baggage screened, not understanding why some items from there bags have to be removed... to cut this pressure the the regulatory body had decided to give screener's a 20 min rotation ..one sits on the XRAY and other keeps a watch on the line ( he is supposed to do profiling of passengers). The 20 min rotation is a good thing ...

Stress kills and it kills fast ,Stress makes you commit mistakes ...there is no programme in the world for aviation security personal teaching them how to deal with pressure...

A security agent/officers life from the moment he comes on a shift is a fight with the system which is trying to subvert his main area of function....Multitasking is a cross function which is now being used by airlines and mostly in Low Cost Airlines, it saves money for the company to Hire/train security officers, they are supposed to work as customer service agents also, as when required they can be taken off security roster and put to customer service duties....this further puts pressure on security if the person taken is a certified screener...now the team loses one screener...to the system...and have to make do with what they have...A certified screener is qualified to carry on all security functions from A-Z.....

This further builds pressure on the team...which plods on with what they have....Multitasking should always be from Customer service to security..so that Customer Service which are the Prima Dona's of every airline understands what is security , which most of them even after knowing tend to ignore...or just don't wish to see,as it goes away from there basic brief.."send the aircraft on time"...

In one of my earlier posts i wrote that security has to be independent of every department if it has to carry out its brief...Security gets two briefs one from the regulatory body and one from the airline management.....the airline managements brief...is always "Look guys, be good and don't be a stickler for rules".....who to listen and who to ignore......

India 20-20 WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS.

Indian Cricket goes down in history books and the first world cup champions of 20-20 cricket,they defeated Pakistan there arch rival.

It was an eruption of passion on the cricket field ,a young inexperienced captain and a young team who had very little experience but they played and Boy did they play!!

Smashing every team that came there way...and it was SWEET VICTORY at the end ...The World Cup in there hands...there is no looking back for this team now....

Its celebration time now...

Low Cost Airprots

This article came in Times of India, so we have it here first it was the Low Cost Carriers(LCC) and now Low Cost Airports(LCA).

WHAT WILL BE NEXT LOW COST SECURITY????, Every carrier pays hefty Airports charges to the AAI for airport security, so with Low cost airports it is logical for them to pay less for the upkeep of every thing even security ,will airport security be compromised yes it will be with the prevaling business attitude of LCC , you never know every thing is possible here as LCC have in principle never believed in security procedures they believe these procedures hamper there on time performance and security is just an added burden which they have to bear.


Air Deccan to build low-cost airports
30 Jun 2007, 0417 hrs IST,TNN.

BANGALORE: After low-cost flying it’s now low-cost airports. Air Deccan has announced plans to partner with builders to bid for the construction of four low-cost airports in Karnataka. The Karnataka government had recently called for expressions of interest for setting up airports in Hassan, Shimoga, Gulbarga and Bidar.

But the airline did not disclose who they would be tying up with. The partnership with the builder would be based on an assurance from Air Deccan that the latter would ensure regular passenger traffic to these smaller towns.

Air Deccan executive chairman G R Gopinath said his vision is to build no-frills airports at a cost of Rs 20 crore each, compared to the over Rs 300 crore that regular airports cost.

This would mean the airports will not have aerodomes, aircraft push-back vehicles and buses to ferry people from the aircraft to terminal buildings.

Speaking on the sidelines of a press meet to announce a tie up with India Post to sell Air Deccan tickets through post offices, Gopinath said, “These airports will be equipped with all the necessary infrastructure. But the terminal buildings will be smaller and less opulent than airports in a metro. Also the runway will be built to accommodate turbo-propelled aircraft like ATRs.”