RGIA turns 15: Muskuraye! Aap Hyderabad main hain

Hyderabad: GMR Hyderabad International Airport has established itself as a premier air travel hub, connecting southern India to the rest of the world.

Since its commissioning in March 2008, the airport has successfully combined spaciousness and comfort to provide a vibrant, efficient, secure, and enjoyable experience for travelers.

To celebrate its 15th anniversary, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. (GHIAL) has launched the #DestinationCelebration campaign, aimed at redefining the standards of service, design, and the business of air travel. The campaign aims to showcase the airport as a destination of emotions, where people from all walks of life can experience the thrill of a new journey, create memories, and fulfill their hopes and aspirations.

The #DestinationCelebration campaign features a range of activities including a short-format digital film for social media, on-ground activities, exclusive retail and F&B offers and promotions for travelers, musical events by renowned artists from the city, and acrobatic performances by international artists from Dubai. The campaign aims to capture the various emotions of celebration that travelers experience when starting a new journey from GMR Hyderabad International Airport.

Hyderabad airport expands capacity

Hyderabad Airport is set to cater to over 34 million passengers per annum as part of its expansion plan. Work is already underway to enable the airport to meet the growing passenger demand. The airport has already completed the first phase of the expansion, which includes the commissioning of the East Pier area, spread across 15,742 square meters in three levels, and integrated with the existing terminal.

As the airport moves into the post-pandemic era, it is witnessing an uptick in passenger traffic, with over 1.82 million passenger footfalls recorded in February 2023. With over 80 domestic and international destinations, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is positioned for continued growth in the Indian aviation industry.

Milestones of Hyderabad International Airport

November 2015: 5 MW solar power plant commissioned

December 2015: First airport in India to offer end-to-end E-boarding facility for all domestic flights

August 2017: First and only airport in the country to offer an ‘Express Security Check’ facility for passengers with only hand baggage

April 2019: DGCA permits GHIAL to use a stand-by Secondary Runway during the night times

July 2019: Hyderabad International Airport becomes the first airport in India to initiate Face Recognition Trials

September 2019: GMR-led Hyderabad International Airport becomes India’s first airport to induct a Cloud-based Central Irrigation Control System

November 2019: GHIAL introduces the FasTag Car Park system at the airport

March 2020: GHIAL becomes a Single-use Plastic free airport

July 2021: The second phase 5 MW solar power plant was commissioned, bringing total solar power generation to 10 MW and meeting 50% of the airport's energy requirements

August 2022: GHIAL rolls out the Digital processing of passengers through the DigiYatra platform as a proof of concept for three months

Ground Service Equipment (GSE) tunnel construction project was initiated at the airport to improve operations and minimize time loss during crisscross movements of GSE vehicles and aircraft.

GSE tunnel construction project completed, connecting 24 new remote aircraft stands and 18 existing remote stands on the east side of the airport to contact stands and the expanding passenger terminal.

Annual savings of carbon emission with the newly built GSE tunnel are estimated to be around 7000 tonnes per annum.

As a part of two sustainable initiatives, GHIAL launches an EV (Electric Vehicle) charging station at Main Car Park and a Bio-Diesel Filling station at the Public Transportation Center (PTC)

New destinations and airlines

Passengers flying out of Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport can now look forward to more travel options and convenient connections. The airport has recently witnessed the inauguration of the A350-900 medium-haul, wide-body aircraft, which will serve the Hyderabad-Singapore sector, promising a comfortable and enjoyable flying experience.

In addition to this, the airport has added several new destinations to its list of offerings, including Dhaka, Baghdad, Don Mueang International Airport, and the upcoming New Goa International Airport, Mopa. Whether you're traveling for business or leisure, these new destinations promise to open up exciting opportunities for exploration and adventure.

To complement these new routes, two new airlines have commenced operations from HYD Airport. Akasa Air and Nok Air bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the airport's roster of carriers, offering passengers greater choice and flexibility in planning their travels.

GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo (GHAC) delivers an elevated cargo experience

Hyderabad Airport's Cargo Terminal has a capacity of 150,000 metric tonnes per annum

The 'Pharma Zone' at the Cargo Terminal specializes in temperature-sensitive cargo

GHAC has a large multi-ULD Cool Dolly, making it one of India's largest centers for handling temperature-sensitive cargo

The Cargo Terminal has been certified with the World Health Organization's Good Storage and Distribution Practices (WHO-GSDP)

GHAC played a crucial role in handling the Formula E Championship event in Hyderabad

Lufthansa Cargo has resumed its scheduled freighter services from HYD, connecting Frankfurt-Mumbai-Hyderabad-Frankfurt

Quikjet Cargo Airlines has launched its maiden freighter service from HYD

The Cargo Terminal offers modern temperature-controlled containers and a 180X180 large tunnel X-Ray for efficient screening

GHAC and HYD Airport aim to deliver an elevated cargo experience and set new industry benchmarks.

GMR Aerocity: Building a growth engine for the region

Hyderabad Airport offers a unique proposition of adding economic value to the state and the entire region. The airport offers the largest airport city in India. Around 1500 acres of land have been dedicated to developing the airport city

GMR Aerocity offers theme-based, anchor-led development zones which include key ports and establishments, viz. Business Port, Health Port, Edu Port, Fun Port, Logistics Park, and Aerospace Park.

The Key attraction of Hyderabad Airport City is GMR Aerospace & Industrial Park. The Aerospace Park offers the right infrastructural support for companies dealing in MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) services.

The Aerospace & Industrial park at Hyderabad Airport also houses companies like SAAZ Imaging Systems Pvt. Ltd., Global Aerotech India Private Ltd, Turbo Aviation, SAS Applied Research, and Lab Materials Pvt. Ltd., among others. World’s largest e-tailer Amazon has also invested at Hyderabad Airport City with its largest fulfillment center in India.

The Delhi Public School (DPS) is all set to launch its campus at GMR AeroCity Hyderabad in March 2023. The school will commence from the academic year 2023-24.

Amara Raja Batteries has recently signed a land lease agreement with GMR to set up an Advanced Energy Research and Innovation Centre at GMR Aerospace & Industrial Park, AeroCity Hyderabad. This Centre will be a one-of-a-kind institute in India that will pioneer the development of advanced clean energy technologies for mobility and energy storage.

GMR Aero Technic (GAT) has recently signed an agreement with Spirit AeroSystems to be the Spirit Authorized Repair Center in India for its Boeing and other aircraft.

Safran Group has recently inaugurated two new facilities for Safran Electrical & Power India (SEPI) and Safran Aircraft Engines Hyderabad (SAEH). Located at the GHASL Industrial Park, the two industrial facilities will produce electrical harnesses for civil and fighter jets and components for advanced aircraft engines.

GMR Hyderabad Aviation SEZ Ltd (GHASL), and Schneider Electric India Pvt Ltd (SEIPL), the leading French energy and automation solutions provider, recently entered into an agreement to build and lease a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at GMR Industrial Park located at Hyderabad Airport.

Multiple awards

GHIAL was recognized for having the 'Best Airport Staff in India and South Asia' in the 2022 Skytrax World Airport Awards

Hyderabad Airport was ranked as the 'Best Airport of 15 to 25 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA)' in the Asia-Pacific region for 2022 in the ACI ASQ survey

GHIAL was awarded the Gold category for Business Excellence by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at the 30th Quality Summit

Hyderabad Airport received a Special Award for Energy Conservation from the Government of Telangana under the 'Commercial Building' category

GHIAL won the 'National Energy Leader' and 'Excellent Energy Efficient Unit' awards at the 23rd National Award Ceremony for 'Excellence in Energy Management' organized by CII-Godrej Green Business Centre.