Surat airport slips on customer satisfaction index, placed 26th

Surat (Gujarat): Flyers from Surat airport have nothing to cheer about in the New Year. The airport has slipped from 16^th rank to 26^th rank under the customer satisfaction index of domestic airports. Among the domestic airports in Gujarat, Rajkot has been ranked at 12^th position, while Porbander and Jamnagar are at 14^th and 15^th rank respectively.

The Airports Authority of India’s AAI) customer satisfaction index survey of Round II (July-December 2022) states that in terms of points Surat airport gained fewer points (4.62) compared to 4.74 points in the Round-I survey (January-June 2022). The last survey placed Surat airport in 16^th place.

AAI releases the report every six months, which is based on 33 parameters. These include customer satisfaction scales like parking and restaurant facilities, check-in staff efficiency, and other infrastructure.

Surat slipped to 26^th place by securing 0.12 points in Round II compared to Round-I. Surat airport scored less in all the parameters including the availability of washrooms and toilets, the comfort of waiting and gate areas, cleanliness at the airport, speed of baggage delivery, customs inspection, the ambiance of the airport, cleanliness of the airport terminal, etc.

Many domestic airline companies have stopped operating from Surat airport due to a lack of infrastructural facilities and non-cooperation from the airport staff in various matters. The Surat airport witnessed its daily flights getting reduced from 28 to only 14 in the last two months or so.

With approximately 12 lahks of passenger traffic per annum, it is high time for the Surat airport authorities and the AAI to improve the infrastructural facilities for the passengers.

At present, the total passenger movement till November 2022 was recorded at 10.83 lakh domestic passengers and 25,487 international passengers. If Surat Airport crosses 91500 Pax in December, then the total number of passengers would be 12 Lac + for 2022. In November 2022, about 94,000 passengers traveled to domestic destinations, while 2470 traveled to an international destination.