Hyderbad Airport bags World No.1 rank

Hyderabad, March 07: The Telangana's Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) has bagged the World No.1 slot in the 5-15 million passengers per annum category in ACI-ASQ Passengers Survey 2017.

In the 2016 survey, the airport was tied at the first spot with China's Tianjin Airport.

Making the announcement on Tuesday, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. (GHIAL) officials said the Montreal-based Airports Council International (ACI) awarded Hyderabad airport as the World No.1 in Airport Service Quality (ASQ) based on passenger feedback.

Hyderabad airport has bagged this award for the fourth time. In 2014, it was the first in India to be awarded the prestigious ACI-The Director General's Roll of Excellence in Airport Service Quality.

"The growth momentum of Telangana has been instrumental in the remarkable passenger uptick at Hyderabad airport. Growing by over 20% in the last four years, the passenger throughput at Hyderabad airport is all set to reach 18 million passengers per annum by end of the current year," said SGK Kishore, CEO, GHIAL.

Starting from 6.2 million passengers in 2009, Hyderabad airport is aiming at clocking over 18 million passengers by 2018.

Starting with 28 destinations globally in 2008, the airport is now connected to 60 destinations across the world with nine domestic carriers, as 15 foreign and three Indian carriers fly in and out.

The airport has taken to green energy in a big way and replaced halogen lighting with LEDs at the terminal building, apron lighting, street lights and offices, and plans to turn into a 100% LED-lit facility.

The ASQ Awards Ceremony will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada from September 10 to 13.