2020- A year of learning & rising from the Chaos

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2020: A Year of Learning & Rising from the Chaos

5 January 2021

2020 came in as a year of learning. It taught us many life-changing lessons, but the top amongst all was not losing hope and managing the chaos with creativity and innovative technology. While Covid-19 disrupted the passenger travels across the globe, it never resulted in a complete halt. Teams at GMR run airports never went off duty, while some engaged in innovating solutions to control the spread of contagion, the others were there on ground-zero managing the situation with health officials and authorities from Government of India.

Here is a quick recap of all our efforts to restore normalcy with utmost precaution and care suggested by the authorities

Safe and Smooth Movement of Essential Supplies

With the world-class cargo facilities available at both Delhi & Hyderabad Airports, our teams ensured to work round-the-clock and extended maximum support to Government in streamlining essential supplies across the nation.

The largest airline network of Delhi Airport connecting 75 International and 69 Domestic destinations served by 63 Air carriers and 17 Freighter airlines served as a great factor for the government to trust our capabilities in handling, processing and facilitating distribution of emergency consignments and essentials arriving at the airport to various parts of the country. It was during this time only that the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) designated Delhi Airport as major hub for Import and distribution of Covid-19 essential supplies. Know More

On the other hand, Hyderabad Airport has a crucial role to play in managing the global vaccine integrity. Experts opine that Hyderabad being the pharma hub and vaccine capital of India which has the capacity to be the formidable producer of over a third of global vaccine supply. At this backdrop, GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo (GHAC) has a major role cut out in the entire value chain of vaccine shipments to provide the necessary infrastructure for unbroken cool-chain for the global vaccine shipments. Know More

Technological Innovations and Interventions for Safe Travel

The creative minds at GMR Airport never went off-duty instead, they ramped up their efforts during the crucial times of Covid-19 to ensure safer and smarter travel experience for all our passengers. Apart from the on-ground touchless, contactless and self-service technologies, here is a look-out at some crucial technological bests of our airports during Covid-19.

Delhi Airport developed AIR SUVIDHA, a first-of-its-kind portal where India-bound international arriving flyers can apply online for exemption from mandatory institutional quarantine process. Those who are exempted can skip institutional quarantine and head home. This portal also allows them to fill the mandatory self-declaration form. Passengers considered for exemption includes- pregnant women, passengers who have suffered a death in the family, passengers suffering from serious illness (Description to be provided), Parents accompanied by children below 10 years and Covid-19 negative in recent RT-PCR test (96 hours prior to undertaking the journey as per govt. guideline). Know More

GMR led Hyderabad International Airport became the first and only airport in India to offer truly end-to-end paperless E-boarding to all its domestic passengers across all flights. Building on this laurel, under the true spirit of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', the airport has now started offering this service to international flights as well. Thus, becoming the first airport in India to do so. This marks a significant milestone in the history of Indian aviation.

As a process, any passenger boarding an international flight using e-boarding service will have to follow the steps below:

While Booking:

Book the ticket online
Do a web check-in

At the Airport:

Departures Entrance Gate: Display the digital/printed boarding card at the e-boarding scanner; CISF validates the documents and allows passenger entry
Check in Counter: Check in agent scans the boarding card/s; Passenger drops luggage at the counter
Immigration: Passenger completes passport verification by officials of Bureau of Immigration
Security Screening Zone: Puts hand baggage on Automatic Tray Retrieval System (ATRS), moves for security check. Scans the boarding card on e-boarding scanner and moves on
Boarding Gate: At the announcement of boarding, scans the boarding card on e-boarding scanner and moves towards the gates for boarding the aircraft Know More

Delhi Airport has also introduced Xovis passenger tracking system (PTS), a system that would help airport officials in reducing waiting times, enhance operational efficiency and manage passenger flow to ensure social distancing is maintained at various passenger touch point areas of at Terminal 3 of the airport. They also provide real time updates to passengers about the waiting time at various processes like check-in, security check, immigration etc., Know More

Covid Testing at the Airport

In view of increased demand of Covid testing facilities across the nation, GMR led Delhi and Hyderabad Airports took the initiative of setting up on-site coronavirus testing labs within their premises. The sample collection process is quick and easy with the results being declared within 4-6 hours of test. Until then, the passengers will be isolated at the waiting lounge or may opt to stay in a hotel. In case of a positive result, the passenger will be processed in line with applicable ICMR protocols by the State authorities. This will help the authorities concerned to avoid passengers affected with the disease from coming in close contact with those already having RT-PCR negative report.

As per health regulations set up by government authorities, all arriving International passengers having onward connections need to have a negative RT-PCR test certificate (done within 96 hours prior to the departure time) either from port of origin or test done on arrival at airports to avoid institutional quarantine. This may also be used by those departing passengers who may be required by the destination country to carry a negative RT-PCR Test report.
Know More about Covid Testing at Delhi Airport
Know More about Covid Testing at Hyderabad Airport

Disruptions are a part of learning. They have not halted our efforts, instead, they have added a perspective to our commitment of serving you with safer and smarter travel options.