Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Tuesday, May 13, 2003 |
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Logistics
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Airlines Chennai airport to get CUTE Nina Varghese
CHENNAI, May 12 SITA's common user terminal equipment (CUTE), the shared use departure control system, will be commissioned in three months at the new international departure terminal at Chennai Airport, according to the airport Director, Mr R.J. Treasuryvala. (SITA is a leading provider of integrated information and telecommunications solutions to the air transport industry.) He said the facility would enable airlines to reduce congestion at check-in counters, as they would have the option of opening up more counters depending on the number of passengers travelling. The system allows airlines to share check-in, departure control and back-office operation, increasing efficiency and reducing congestion as well as improving the passenger's journey through the airport. CUTE is operational in Mumbai, he said. Two airlines — Lufthansa and Emirates — have signed up for this facility in Chennai, while others are expected to follow suit, he said. The system provides airlines with direct, real-time access to their host system and also gives them seamless interface with their existing facilities. The three-storied departure module adds 24,670 sq. m. to the existing 18,200 sq. m. facility. There are 36 check-in counters on the ground floor, double the earlier number. The number of immigration counters and x-ray machines, both at entry and at security has been increased, Mr Treasuryvala said. The transit lounges on the first floor for the First and Business Class passengers are run by hospitality majors Oberoi and Le Royal Meridien (still under renovation) while the third one is the Air India lounge. Hidesign and the MMTC have their duty-free shops on this floor with airline offices on the third floor. Almost all the airlines have shifted to the new departure terminal, the airport Director said. Malaysia Airlines will also be shifting from the domestic airport to the new terminal, he said. The space vacated by the departure control will be used for arrivals, he said. The passenger handling capacity of Chennai airport is expected to grow from 1.5 million to 2.7 million. Also commissioned at the same time was the international cargo terminal, which can handle 72,000 tonnes per year.
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