On December 19, 2023, Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel, Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia, spearheaded an Advisory Group Meeting with Airport Operators, focusing on preventing congestion at airports during the upcoming season. Stressing on the importance of a hassle-free travel experience, the Minister assured proactive measures by the ministry to facilitate efficient travel for passengers.
During the session, Minister Scindia actively engaged with airport operators, addressing their queries and guiding them on optimizing operations for passenger convenience. The meeting highlighted the significance of ‘DigiYatra’ promotion aimed at transitioning from manual to digital check-ins and entry gate processes, facilitating smoother and quicker passenger movement. Presently available at 13 domestic airports across the country, the discussion also explored extending ‘DigiYatra’ for international passenger access, both at departure and arrival gates. Airport operators were encouraged to present successful biometric-enabled models from other countries to explore best practices.
Furthermore, the Minister reviewed the Capital Expenditure targets of airport operators, aligning them with the actuals acquired in Q3.
The meeting witnessed the participation of major airport operators such as GMR Airports, Adani Airports, BIAL, Cochin Airport, and the Airports Authority of India. Also in attendance were Secretary Civil Aviation, Shri Vumlunmang Vualnam, DG BCAS, Shri Zulfiqar Hasan, DG DGCA, Shri Vikram Devdutt, along with other joint secretaries and senior officials from the Ministry.
Additionally, Minister Scindia chaired the Cargo Advisory Committee meeting on the same day, focusing on enhancing collaboration within the cargo industry. He assured the committee of the government’s proactive stance in addressing industry concerns and emphasized fostering collaborative efforts among stakeholders. Emphasizing synergy between the ministry and industry players, the Minister highlighted the need to align with industry requirements closely.
Discussions in the cargo industry meeting highlighted the necessity for digital transformations encompassing E-KYC and digital shipping invoices. Minister Scindia urged the committee to draft a comprehensive action plan to explore and implement digital transformations in the industry.
Addressing various taxation and operational challenges presented by industry representatives, the meeting underscored the Ministry’s commitment to a supportive regulatory environment.
Both meetings reflected the Ministry’s commitment to nurturing an efficient cargo ecosystem and ensuring the aviation sector’s substantial contribution to the nation’s economic growth.
Key participants in the cargo industry meeting included AAICLAS, FFFAI, EICI, BlueDart Aviation, ACAAI, Adani Airports, DIAL, ACFI, DACAAI, and SpiceJet. Secretary Civil Aviation, Shri Vumlunmang Vualnam, DG DGCA, Shri Vikram Devdutt, and senior officials also attended the meeting.