Hyderabad: As airlines consult passengers, arriving at least three hours before the flight due to increased safety conditions, the flyer at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) is re-tuning its routine.
“It’s a good precaution, and people usually arrive two hours in advance, but in the current situation, three hours before. There are fewer gates before 75 minutes before departure, so there are fewer margins of errors, so travel companies also provide us with real-time alerts and help if evacuation is needed.”
For some, the increased waiting time is not a hassle, but an opportunity. “I usually get two hours early anyway. That doesn’t change much. After checking in, I explore the airport, have coffee or catch up with work. Honestly, if I’m late and have problems with my check-in, I’ll suffer people. So I prefer early.”
“I think there will be chaos at the airport, everyone came early, but it was actually very peaceful. I have enough space in the waiting area,” said Sneha, who flew to Bengaluru.
While the terminal may see more early arrivals, RGIA officials say the current crowding is not a major issue. There wasn’t much rush as many flights, especially those to and from the north, were cancelled. “The overall operation is smooth inside the terminal,” an official said.
However, security has been tightened at various airports. “We have seen more passengers arrive before time. Given the current consultation, our safety checks are more thorough. In addition to standard screening, there are now additional hand luggage checks.”
Early arrival consultation seems to be more about preventive measures than panic. Flyers are cautious and choose to follow consultation.
Meanwhile, late Friday major airlines such as Indigo, Spicejet and India extended several flights to and from northern India, such as Srinagar, Jamma, Jamma, Leh, Amritsar and Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Dharamshala, Rajkot, Rajkot, Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Jodhpur, until the announcement of May 15, 2015.
Earlier, until 5.29 am on May 10, flight operations to affected areas were cancelled.
Passengers planning to and from affected cities check their airline’s website or contact customer support for the latest updates.
