AAI upgrades Port Blair's Veer Savarkar International Airport from grade III to II

Port Blair: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has upgraded the category of Veer Savarkar International (VSI) Airport at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands from grade III to grade II airport, an official said.

The VSI Airport was a grade III category airport and headed by a joint general manager level officer but after its upgradation to the grade II category, it will be headed by a general manager level executive who will have more powers to execute work as per the delegation of powers by AAI, the official said.

The classification of various airport categories is done for the purpose of deciding the level of executive to head the airport and it has been decided based on parameters such as passenger traffic, development activities, state capital, profitability and number of employees, etc.

"This is a very positive move by the management of AAI towards strengthening/empowering the administrative framework of the airport for the decision making and execution of passenger facilitation centric works,' speaking to PTI, VSI Airport Director, Devender Yadav, said.

The new integrated terminal building of VSI Airport was inaugurated on July 18, 2023, by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi via video conferencing.

The commencement of flight operations from the new integrated terminal building started from August 21, 2023. With a total built-up area of 40,837 sqm, the new terminal building is capable of handling 1,200 passengers during the busiest operational hour.

The passenger volume from April to February this year is more than 13 lakh which is more than 12.5 per cent in comparison to the passenger volume of the previous year.

The Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Port Blair Airport will also be operationalised from April 18. The ILS is a precision radio navigation system that provides short-range guidance to aircraft to allow them to approach a runway at night, with bad weather and poor visibility.

"The operationalisation of ILS will be a game changer for civil aviation in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and a major enabler for monsoon tourism, flight operations at night and bad weather conditions. The year 2024 will be a turning point for civil aviation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands," Yadav said.