The Tiruchi airport has been ranked fifth best among non-metro airports in the country in a nation-wide customer satisfaction survey conducted this year. It has emerged on top among non-metro airports managed by Airports Authority of India (AAI) in the southern region this time.
The survey was carried out by engaging an agency selected by AAI from January to June. The team inspected various airports and ascertained feedback from passengers. It was conducted for a week at Tiruchi airport in May.
Tiruchi airport’s rating was 4.70 out of 5 in the survey conducted twice a year (January to June and July to December), said Mr. Gunasekaran, Airport Director, Tiruchi. Raipur airport emerged on top followed by Udaipur, Amritsar and Dehradun. Tiruchi, which was in the sixth position last year, had improved to fifth place this time, said Mr. Gunasekaran. Except Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi, the other airports in the southern region were non-metro airports.
Various parameters were set to rate the airports which included cleanliness, toilet facilities, car parking, trolley facility, speed of immigration authorities and customs, other infrastructure facilities and staff behaviour.
Questionnaires were circulated to passengers and feedback obtained from them. It was compiled to arrive at the rating. “Based on the feedback from customers we will ascertain where we are lacking and take corrective measures accordingly,” he said.
Meetings would be held with other stakeholders to make improvements. Mr. Gunasekaran said he had informed them about the transformation of cargo wing into a separate entity named AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company, which would be a wholly-owned subsidiary of the AAI. New billing along with new logo would be introduced at the terminal from July 1.
Introduction of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) at Tiruchi airport would pave the way for movement of general cargo other than perishables which constitute bulk of exports dispatched to various destinations from Tiruchi. The profile of commodities was poised to change once the EDI comes through, he said.
