Date:20/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/20/stories/2008032050881100.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Survey ranks Chennai best AAI airport

Ananth Krishnan

CHENNAI: A nation-wide survey to assess the facilities at airports has ranked the Chennai airport the best among the 127 airports managed by the Airports Authority of India.

The survey, conducted by the Air Passengers Association of India (APAI), a non-profit organisation, rates airports on cleanliness, amenities, comfort and processing at customs and immigration. Around 15,000 copies of the questionnaire were distributed among travellers at airports around the country, D. Sudhakara Reddy, president, APAI, said. Around 2,000 passengers responded.

Chennai rated higher than the Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata airports, but New Delhi and Mumbai were not included in the same category as they are run on a public-private partnership, Mr. Reddy said. Among the public-private partnership airports, the Chhatrapati Sivaji international airport in Mumbai ranked the highest.

Dinesh Kumar, Director of Chennai airport, said he was “delighted” at the award. “The staff and officers take pride in maintaining the airport, and the award is a matter of great pride for all agencies involved,” he said.

“It is a result of teamwork among the AAI, the customs and immigration and the CISF.”