Witnessing a spurt in passenger traffic, the rapidly growing Tiruchi international airport has emerged on top among all non-major airports in the Southern region in the first round of a customer satisfaction survey conducted for 2016.
The Tiruchi airport has ranked sixth at the all-India level in the nationwide survey that was conducted for the period January to June by an agency commissioned by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
The customer satisfaction survey was carried out in 53 airports across the country taking into account various parameters on a scale of five. The survey result was released recently.
With a score of 4.66 on the five-point scale, the Tiruchi international airport emerged on top among all non-major airports in the Southern region. It was ranked sixth at the all-India level in the Round –I of the survey.
Chandigarh was on top at the all-India level scoring 4.85 closely followed by Raipur (4.79), Udaipur (4.71), Dehradun (4.70), and Amritsar (4.70).
Various parameters were taken into account during the survey at each airport to come out with the final ratings.
Airport sources said 33 parameters were taken into account to determine the customer satisfaction level.
The parameters included cleanliness of airport, speed of baggage delivery, availability of washrooms/ toilets, availability of baggage carts / trolleys, waiting time in check-in queue, safety and security, security inspection, courtesy and helpfulness of inspection and security staff, internet access/ Wi-Fi, restaurant / eating facilities, availability of bank, ATM, money changers, shopping facilities, business / executive lounges and ambience of the airport.
Airport Director K. Gunasekaran said the second round of the survey would be done for the period July to December. The AAI had commissioned a private agency to carry out the survey, he added.
The unique aspect about Tiruchi international airport is that more international flights are operated as compared to domestic services.
The overseas flights are operated to Colombo, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Dubai every day by Air Asia, Sri Lankan Airlines, Tiger Airways, Malindo Air, and Air India Express. The lone domestic connectivity is to Chennai operated by the Jet Airways. The airport has handled over four lakh international passengers from January this year.
