INDIA. GMR Hyderabad International Airports has reported a strong first three weeks of operations at the new Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad.
One of this year’s two major new Indian airport openings (the other, Bengaluru International, opens next month) has ushered in a new progressive era for Indian aviation – and promises to offer a radically different experience for travellers.
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Into a new era: Liquor is among the key categories at the Nuance/Shoppers’ Stop impressive Arrivals duty free store | |
The offer includes extensive Departures and Arrivals duty free stores operated by the Nuance/Shoppers’ Stop joint venture, plus a fine mix of local and international food & beverage brands from major concessionaire HMSHost Corp. Among the innovations is Arrivals duty free shopping, previously unavailable at Hyderabad’s older airport.
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Wide variety: The International Departures Area houses an extensive retail selection, including the Odyssey CTN brand (top left), while a strong F&B offer, led by major concessionaire HMSHost Corp, includes brands such as The Coffee Club (top right) and a Hard Rock Cafe (below left and right) | |
The facility has replaced Begumpet Airport, built in 1937. That had capacity for 3.5 million passengers but at its peak was handling 6 million.
The new airport has capacity for 12 million passengers, a year, but that will rise to 40 million when the final phase of development is completed.
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Food to the fore: The Paradise Food Court in the International Departures Area |
GMR Hyderabad International Airports has said it expects commercial activities to account for 40% of revenues in year one.
In the first 19 days of operation (to 11 April), the airport handled 380,000 passengers, 57,000 of them international.
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Convenience shopping is a strong feature; pictured is one of the pre-security stores for Domestic travellers |
About GHIAL
GMR-HIAL is a joint venture company promoted by GMR Infrastructure Ltd. (63%); Airports Authority of India (13%), and Government of Andhra Pradesh (13%) and Malaysian Airports Holding Berhad (11%), with a mandate to develop a world-class international airport spread over 5,500 acres in Shamshabad, about 25 km from the main city of Hyderabad.
The airport has been designed to handle 12 million passengers per annum, and is set to position Hyderabad as a prominent player on the global aviation map contributing to the prosperity, development and economic well-being of the region.
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Reputation-enhancing: The Departures Bar (top left and right), the Nuance/Shoppers’ Stop Departures duty free store (bottom left) and Plaza Premium Lounge (bottom right) offer a radically different experience to the Indian traveller | |
MORE STORIES ON HYDERABAD AIRPORT
Hyderabad Airport takes off to a “˜good start’ – 31/03/08
New Hyderabad Airport cleared for takeoff – 20/03/08
Hyderabad airport opening hit by last-minute delay after inauguration by Sonia Gandhi – 16/03/08
Vajja Technologies awarded call centre contract for Rajiv Gandhi Airport as big opening looms – 04/03/08
