In this new column, dedicated to the fast-growing Indian aviation, travel and travel retail market, we feature news and comment plus images of memorable launches, campaigns and other scenes.
30 APRIL
Airports Authority of India has called for a tender for a snack bar at Patna Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport. The proposed 9sq m location is located in the departures area (landside), between a casual dining restaurant and quick service restaurant on the city side. The outlet will be open to passengers, visitors and staff at the airport.
The Minimum Reserved License Fee (MRLF) for the proposed location is Rs.30,000 per month (US$367) and the contract will run for seven years.
No prior experience is required for technical qualification and the participant should have an annual turnover of 12 months MRLF, or Rs.360,000 (US$4,410) in any one of the past seven financial years.
The due date for submission of bids is 26 May. Technical bids will be opened on 27 May and financial bids will be opened on 17 June.
26 APRIL
Airports Authority of India is seeking bids for duty free concessions covering 85sq m at Vishakapatnam International Airport in Andhra Pradesh. The areas are further split into 34sq m in international departures and 51sq m in the international arrivals area.
The contract is for a maximum period of four years extendable by one year. Plus Max is the incumbent operator at Vishakhapatnam Airport.
The qualifying bidder should have a minimum turnover of Rs.74,52,000 (US$90,640), which is equivalent to 12 months’ minimum monthly guarantee, during any one of the last seven financial years.
AAI has proposed a minimum rate per international passenger (departing and arriving) of Rs.99.28 (US$1.21) and a Minimum Monthly Guarantee (MMG) of Rs.6,19,773.39 (US$7,553.33), whichever is higher, calculated at the end of the year.
A pre-bid meeting with potential bidders took place on 25 April and online submission of bids are due 8 May. On 9 May, technical bids will be opened, and the financial bids will be opened on 30 May.
Separately, AAI has called for offers for a Money Exchange Counter at Vishakhapatnam Airport. At stake is a 7sq m space for three years.
AAI has stated that the qualifying bidder should have a minimum turnover of Rs.8 Crores (US$974,979) in any one of the last ten years, of which 50% of the turnover should be from the foreign exchange business.
Online submission of bids is due on 15 May. On 16 May, technical bids will be opened, and the financial bids will be opened on 6 June.
For the Financial Year to 31 March, AAI reported 65,334 international and 2,435,320 domestic passengers at the airport.
The S. Shriram view: GMR Group has been awarded a greenfield airport contract for a new facility at Bhogapuram, 45km northeast of Vishakhapatnam town. The Indian Navy, which manages the existing airport, has agreed to move civil operations to the new facility, which is expected to commence operations by the end of 2024.
The new airport, spread over 2,200 acres to begin with, is being built at a cost of Rs.5,000 crores (US$609 million) and will have an initial capacity to handle 6 million passengers, rising to a total capacity of 40 million passengers per annum.
Given the importance of the coastal town in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Vishakhapatnam will emerge as the most important airport in the state. The two other international airports include Vijayawada and the temple town of Tirupati.
There are six more domestic airports in the state, each enabling good connectivity to the rest of the country and abroad.
The incoming duty free retailer at Vishakhapatnam will benefit over the next two years by gaining an understanding of the needs of passengers. This could present opportunity as bidding takes shape later for the new airport at Bhogapuram.
14 APRIL
Cafeccino is a concept created by F&B operator Travel Food Services (TFS) over a decade ago, with its first outlets at Delhi and Mumbai airports. The menu includes freshly brewed Italian styled coffee, hot tea prepared with tea bags, a range of snacks and regional food items, chocolates and a collection of donuts, muffins and cup-cakes.
“No trip is complete without a delicious cup of coffee. We are thrilled to announce that Cafeccino is now open at #GuwahatiAirport, 1st floor, opposite Boarding Gate No. 8. So, enjoy their scrumptious snacks and beverages, the next time you are at our #GatewayToGoodness”, said a Linkedin Post by the airport company.
11 APRIL
Akasa Air, India’s newest commercial airline, has tied up with DreamFolks Lounges to offer add-on lounge services to its passengers. While booking a ticket with the airline on its website, travellers can book access to one of 54 lounges across India. Flyers can purchase the service up to 12 hours prior to departure. Other locations offered by DreamFolks will be included soon.
DreamFolks Chairperson and Managing Director Liberatha Kallat said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Akasa Air and offer their customers access to our extensive network of departure lounges at select airports in India. DreamFolks Services Limited has always been at the forefront of delivering top-notch airport services and we are committed to providing an exceptional travel experience to all travellers through our partnerships. With Akasa Air’s fast-growing network and commitment to customer experience, we believe this partnership will bring immense value to Akasa Air passengers.”
Commenting on the introduction of the new add-on service, Akasa Air Co-Founder and Chief Marketing & Experience Officer Belson Coutinho said, “We are continuously augmenting ways to offer high quality, comfortable and convenient travel experience. The introduction of lounge access service is yet another step in this direction, which allows our customers to enjoy the convenience and comfort of a lounge at a reasonable fee. We are delighted to partner with DreamFolks to offer this added layer of comfort and peace of mind to our valued customers.”
DreamFolks operates 1,450 touchpoints in 121 countries, of which over 250 are in India. The company is an airport service aggregator platform facilitating an enhanced airport experience to passengers. The company offers meet & assist services, spa services, transit hotels and nap rooms, airport transfer services and F&B offerings, as well as lounges.
Akasa Air commenced operations on 7 August 2022 and currently has over 900 weekly flights to 17 cities.
10 APRIL
International currency exchange group Thomas Cook has opened four outlets under a five-year contract at the new Manohar International Airport, Mopa, Goa. The company is also opening two city branches alongside those at the airport.
Apart from currency exchange services, travellers arriving from G20 nations and Non-Resident Indians (NRI) can benefit from UPI-enabled (Unified Payments Interface) Indian Rupee transactions upon arrival. They can later access their INR wallet to ensure smooth and secure digital payments across millions of merchant establishments equipped with the UPI QR facility across India. This pre-paid payment product has been issued by Pine Labs under the PPI authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India.
Thomas Cook (India) Executive Vice-President – Foreign Exchange Deepesh Varma said: “Goa is a strong high-growth market for us at Thomas Cook India. With the new Manohar International Airport at Mopa (Goa), and its anticipated passenger loads of 13.1 million in five years, we foresee a significant foreign exchange requirement in the region. Our four new foreign exchange counters will ensure smooth and secure customer transactions at this prime gateway airport.
“Forex is a key business line for the company and our strong focus has ensured our leadership as India’s largest non-bank foreign exchange service provider. This contract will further strengthen Thomas Cook India’s presence in this growing market with presence at Goa’s new airport.”
Thomas Cook operates 25 counters across India, Sri Lanka and Mauritius.
In its first year of operations, Goa International Airport, Mopa is expected to serve around 4.3 million passengers, rising to 13 million passengers by 2028. Goa is a significant growth market for year-round domestic and international tourism. The existing Goa Airport had passenger traffic of 7.6 million passengers from 1 April – 28 February 2023, making it the ninth busiest airport in India. The new airport has been developed and is managed by GMR Group.
Rare Planet has opened its newest store at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, with images shared by Co-Founder Vijay Kumar TR on his Linkedin post.
He said: “We are delighted to announce the opening of our new store at Bangalore International Airport Terminal 2. If you are in the vicinity, don’t forget to pay a visit and check out the latest collection of handicrafts at our store.”
Founded in 2015 and based in Kolkata, Rare Planet takes everyday products and turns them into colourful and fun-filled products. The brand offers products in ten categories and has a pan-India presence across 60 stores including Crossword, Starmark and WHSmith and through online platforms such as Flipkart and Amazon.
As reported, T2 opened last November and the transition of many airlines from T1 continues. This process is expected to be mostly completed by May, ahead of the key Summer holiday period during which domestic and international air traffic peaks in India.
8 APRIL
Indian Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi today inaugurated phase one of the New Integrated Terminal Building at Chennai International Airport.
The spectacular terminal, spread across 197,000sq m, has been built at an estimated cost of INR1,260 Crores (US$152 million). It will cater to the burgeoning international departures and arrivals business.
The facility features more than 10,000sq ft of commercial facilities, including duty free and duty paid retail and an extensive food & beverage and lounge offering.
The Prime Minister tweeted: “The new terminal in Chennai Airport will greatly help the people of this great city and across Tamil Nadu. The terminal building also has a flavour of the rich culture of Tamil Nadu.”
Prime Minister Modi was accompanied by the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri R N Ravi; the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri M K Stalin; the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia; and the Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Shri L Murugan.
7 APRIL
A new era begins in Chennai
On 8 April, Chennai International Airport’s New Integrated Terminal Building (NITB) will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Shri. Narendra Modi, writes Regional Editor – India S. Shriram. Built at an estimated cost of Rs.1,250 Crores (US$152 million), the terminal is expected to ease congestion at the sixth-busiest airport in India, especially in the international departures and arrivals zones.
For the full story, click here.
Tender news at Patna Airport
AAI-managed Patna Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport has announced a tender for retail accessories in the security hold area. The contract runs for five years.
The Minimum Reserved Licence Fee (MRLF) is Rs.1,70,000 (US$2,038)
Financial criteria: 12 months’ MRLF as annual turnover in any one of the past seven financial years.
Technical criteria: No prior experience is required. Consortiums are not allowed to participate.
Bid submission date: 1 May 2023
Opening of Technical bids: 2 May 2023
Opening of Financial bids: 22 May 2023
Patna Airport is among the top 15 airports in India with passenger volumes of 3.4 million for the financial year 2022-23. Patna is the capital of the state of Bihar.
Ticketing book tender at Calicut Airport
Calicut Airport has announced a tender for visitor ticketing, covering three counters, one each in the international arrivals, departures and visitors gallery areas. Many Indian airports request visitors to pay a small fee to enter the departures and arrivals areas to avoid overcrowding. The tender is for the rights to operate this service.
The Minimum Reserved Licence Fee (MRLF) is Rs.300,000 (US$3,654) per month.
Period: Three months, extendable by another three months or until the award of a new Airport Entry Tender.
Financial criteria: 12 months’ MRLF
Technical criteria: Any entity with two years’ business activity in the last seven years
Bid submission date: 10 April
Opening of Technical bids: 11 April
Opening of Financial bids: 18 April (tentative) 
