GMR's Delhi and Hyderabad airports receive ACI Asia-Pacific Green Airports Recognition

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GMR's Delhi and Hyderabad airports receive ACI Asia-Pacific Green Airports Recognition

18 June 2021

Embracing new technologies, and ensuring efficient use of existing processes have helped GMR Airports- led Delhi and Hyderabad Airports in their endeavour to conduct operations in an environment-friendly way. And, as both the airports continue to make progress on achieving their environment and safety targets aimed at zero discharge and zero emissions- their efforts are being recognized in the nation and across the world.

Environment sustainable initiatives of GMR Airports-run Delhi and Hyderabad airports got felicitated by the Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific Green Airports Recognition 2021. The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) , a GMR Group led consortium was awarded with the Platinum Recognition in the over 25 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA) category, while the GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) received the Gold Recognition by the ACI in the below 25 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA) category.

The Green Airports Recognition programme was established in 2017 with the support from the ACI Asia-Pacific Regional Environment Committee. ACI's Green Airports Recognition programme promotes environmental best practices to minimize aviation industry's impact on the environment and recognizes ACI Asia-Pacific members for outstanding environmental initiatives and projects. Each year, a different theme is chosen from the environmental aspects and the theme for 2021 was Air Quality Management, specifically emphasizing the benefit of local air quality management. Since 2018, DIAL and GHIAL have been continuously winning ACI Green Airports Recognition awards for various sustainable initiatives.

The award was decided by a distinguished global panel that appreciated DIAL's Green taxiing initiatives at IGI Airport based on TaxiBots. This is the fifth consecutive year where DIAL was awarded for its sustainable initiatives. The use of TaxiBot's have helped in reducing around 532 tonnes of carbon at Delhi Airport. It also helped airlines in saving around 214,000 litres of aviation turbine fuel (ATF), which was supposed to be burned by the aircraft during taxiing.

GHIAL has received Gold Recognition for the fourth time in a row for its sustainable airport operations for effective Air Quality Management. Some of the initiatives at GHIAL to improve the Air quality at the Airport and the surroundings that won the accolades of ACI include - Fixed Electrical Ground Power (FEGP) use resulting in prevention of Auxiliary Power Unit and saving of ATF. Use of solar-powered Baggage Freight Loader (BFL), step ladder, electric coaches, tugs, and vehicles resulting in the saving of diesel and associated air emissions. Use of Electric buses and cars in the city side of the airport resulting in the saving of diesel. Single engine taxiing of aircraft resulting in saving of ATF.

The airports also actively promote environmental awareness to sensitize the airport community and the passengers by observing World Environment Day, World Forestry Day, Earth Day, etc. The sustainable airport operations have resulted in significant reduction of fossil fuel consumption and consequent air emissions in and around the Airport.