New Delhi dumps screening by class

Tries to cut screening time by doing away with separate security lines

In a bid to cut down screening time Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi is doing away with separate security lines.

New Delhi dumps screening by class

In a trial to reduce lines at security checks, New Delhi has decided to do away with the practice of having separate lines for business/executive passengers for security screening.

The move is likely to be welcomed by millions of passengers worldwide, but not by executive class and high level frequent passengers flying in the back of the aircraft.

Before the announcement, there used to be a separate queue for screening of passengers in business and executive class. There was also a dedicated channel for airline crew, senior citizens, above 60 years of age, and for persons with disability.

Airline crew will still be treated separately under the new rules and will continue to be screened ahead of passengers.

Passengers in the queue whose flight are imminent will also be accorded out-of-turn screening at the airport. How that will happen in practice is to be seen.

With passenger traffic at Delhi airport set to touch 40 million mark by the end this fiscal are aimed at doing away with the chaos which is generally witnessed during the peak traffic hours at the country’s busiest airports.

The measures came into effect on February 26 and the effectiveness will be reviewed after one month according to The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

Officials at Air India, which is deeply in the red, say the new guidelines will hit them hard as business and executive class passenger, who pay more, will be up in arms.

Delhi airport serves about 25 million domestic and international passengers a year at its two terminals.

With over 700 flights taking off from Delhi in a day, security check terminals see long queues at most times.


Related links

Indira Gandhi International Airport

Air India

BCAS