Gujaratis’ love for food is well-known, but a national survey has put Ahmedabad airport last among similar- sized airports for being unable to offer value for money when it comes to food. Not only are the number of restaurants woefully inadequate but also the quality of food is bad at the airport, the survey finds. Airport Council International (ACI) conducts survey every year under 33 different passenger utility criteria and gives a rating of 1 (lowest) to 5 (maximum) points. When compared with the results of Lucknow, Pune, Srinagar and Trivandrum airports that fall under the same category as Ahmedabad airport run by Airport Authority of India, the city airport gets least points in value for money for restaurant facility.
It also lags behind in queues at check-in counters, with airports like Pune, Srinagar and Lucknow scoring better as per the survey for year 2015. Interestingly, city airport had improved its first quarter rating of same survey results in 2016. As far as food is concerned, our airport scored low in providing restaurant facilities (4.18 Value for money and 4.28 Restaurant facility) compared to Lucknow (4.19 Value for money and 4.29 Restaurant facility) and Srinagar (4.25 and 4.33 points) airports. Also, Kolkata airport that is larger than Ahmedabad airport scores better when it comes to food and value for money of restaurant facilities.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport of Ahmedabad was among the top five airports in Asia-Pacific in the 2 to 5 million passenger traffic category in 2014, but failed to qualify in the top five in 2015 and failed to improve as much as other airports like Lucknow, Srinagar and Trivandrum. Taking into account improvement at airports of the same size from 2014 to 2015, Lucknow improved by 0.43 points, Srinagar by 0.30 and Trivandrum 0.26 points, while Ahmedabad just rose by a mere 0.15 points. Lucknow airport showed the maximum improvement, bagging the position of 2nd best airport in Asia Pacific in 2015.
HOW IT FARES IN OTHER ASPECTS
Ahmedabad airport scored 4.44 points for cleanliness, up from 4.36 in 2014, but it fell behind Srinagar (4.66), Trivandrum (4.54) and Lucknow (4.78) airports. However, in current year passengers have complained against filthy toilets and non-availability of lounge at the airport. Kolkata, Trivandrum and Srinagar airports have better lounges compared to Ahmedabad airport. However, Lucknow and Ahmedabad airports are at par with 4.35 points, when it comes to lounge for passengers. Passengers have been complaining of long queues at security check and that is reflected in ACI rating.
Ahmedabad airport scores 4.37 points compared to Lucknow (4.45), Srinagar (4.44) and Kolkata with 4.44 points. The queues have increased here as gap between two flights have reduced due to runway resurfacing work. City airport upgraded flight information system to digital screens in 2015 and that improved to 0.42 points compared to previous year, but long period of advertisement on the screen kept it behind other airports. Lucknow, Srinagar and Kolkata scored more in flight information screen too.
Ahmedabad airport scored only 4.36 points, as against 4.41, 4.42 and 4.40 for Lucknow, Srinagar and Kolkata respectively. Overall city airport scored 4.47 points for passenger satisfaction, which makes Ahmedabad airport ahead of Pune airport that has 4.34 points, while airports like Lucknow, Kolkata, Srinagar and Trivandrum are ahead of it. Compared to satisfaction between 2014 and 2015, Ahmedabad airport has shown the second lowest improvement with 0.15 points, while airports like Kolkata improved by 0.26 points, Lucknow 0.43, Srinagar 0.30, Trivandrum 0.26 and Pune 0.14 points.
WHAT PASSENGERS HAVE TO SAY
Entrepreneur Dewang Modi (37), Director of iValue said, “Ahmedabad airport does not meet expectations in many areas such as lounge, cleanliness of toilets and quality of food. International terminal does not have any proper restaurant and what they offer is of bad quality food for the price they offer. Secondly, lounge does not give feel of lounge with basic chairs and dirty tables. They do not even have loo in the lounge. Ahmedabad airport has more space compared to Pune or Jaipur airport but it is least utilised and very badly managed.”
National Institute of Design Director Pradyumna Vyas has been travelling since 1990 and believes that Ahmedabad airport has certainly improved to great extent, but it has a long way to go. “It gets chaotic with no proper information dissemination, long queues and lack of proper planning. It needs scientific approach, a study that shows how to make it more user friendly and involve all the stakeholders.” Cleanliness of toilets puts you off and maintenance of toilets is a major issue at times, he added. Joint managing director of Troikaa Pharmaceuticals Ltd and frequent flyer Milan Patel said, “Domestic airport lacks lounge, while the one in international is very pathetic.
Also there is very little sitting space and overall it is a very congested airport. There are no restaurants at international terminal, so if a flight is delayed you literally get stuck.” Jainam Mehta (23), business head of Oizom, a hardware startup, who makes frequent visits to Mumbai, Pune and Delhi for work, “The airport needs more seats and more check-in counters, as there are long queues for certain airlines. I also felt there was no proper air cooling.”