New Delhi [India], December 2: In a move to improve the passenger experience during delays caused by fog, weather, or technical issues, Delhi Airport has introduced special enclosures for more efficient processing. The government has also eased security protocols, allowing passengers of delayed or canceled flights (due to these factors) to disembark and return to the terminal if their flights are delayed by over three hours.
Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a subsidiary of GMR Airports Limited, which operates and manages the Delhi Airport, has set up these enclosures across all three terminals to streamline the re-entry process. These facilities, located at Bus Boarding Gates and select aerobridges in Terminal 3, the transfer area in Terminal 2, and the bus boarding gate in Terminal 1, are designed to serve both domestic and international passengers.
The enclosures, which range from 250 to 450 square meters, can accommodate between 55 and 120 passengers at a time. They are equipped to facilitate security screening, enabling passengers to smoothly return to the Security Hold Area (SHA) of the terminal. DIAL is also working to provide essential amenities, such as toilets and vending machines, within the enclosures, where possible.
After security screening, passengers will be allowed access to the SHA, where they can enjoy all available facilities. For safety reasons, only airline staff escorting passengers from affected flights will be allowed inside the enclosures.
To maintain security, CISF personnel will be stationed within the enclosures to screen passengers returning from delayed or stranded flights before they can join the rest of the passengers in the SHA. Additionally, staff from the Private Security Agency (PSA) will verify the documents of passengers impacted by weather or technical delays.
This new arrangement aims to save passengers the hassle of going through the normal security procedures, which typically involves processing at the arrivals area and then moving through the Domestic or International transfer zones before re-entering the SHA. The new system will reduce the time spent on de-boarding and re-boarding, from approximately 2.5 hours to just a few minutes.
DIAL CEO, Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, commented, “We are continuously working to improve the passenger experience at Delhi Airport. With this new initiative, we aim to significantly shorten the time required for de-boarding and boarding passengers affected by delays due to fog, weather, or technical issues.”