Srinagar “International” Airport has slipped to 61st spot in the latest rankings announced by Airports Council International (ACI), for services offered to flyers.
According to the ratings conducted for 20 airports, in 2million to 15 million passengers’ category, Srinagar airport received 4.68points in 2018, compared to 4.78 in 2017.
The Srinagar airport is one among only three airports,besides Pune and Patna airports which has witnessed a fall in rankings.
The final ratings of airports for 2018 were announcedrecently and different parameters which were assessed for the rankings includedground transportation to/from airport, parking facilities, waiting-time,check-in, queues, efficiency of check-in staff, courtesy and helpfulness of check-instaff availability of toilets and others.
The Srinagar airport has recorded slide in all 33 parametersreviewed by the ACI. The last quarter (October-December 2018) survey resultswere announced in January this year in which Srinagar airport got 4.84 ratings,while as it had received 4.71 ratings in third quarter. In the first and secondquarter surveys, the airport had got 4.54 and 4.61 ratings respectively.
Between January and March this year, amid inclement weather,the airport recorded as many as 200 flight cancellations, mainly due tooutdated landing system and equipments.
“The need is to concentrate on proper use of existinginfrastructure and upgrade it as much as possible, which I think is still nothappening,” commented Farooq Ahmad, a frequent flyer.
Director Srinagar Airport, Akash Deep Mathur said “lotof developmental works and expansion” has taken place during last 11months.