Surat Airport Terminal Fails Global Standards, Say Passengers

Surat | Gujarat —  Even as Airports Authority of India (AAI) chairman Vipin Kumar stressed the need for “resilient, future-ready, and world-class infrastructure” at a brainstorming workshop in New Delhi, frequent fliers from the diamond city have raised a red flag over glaring shortcomings in the newly expanded Surat Airport terminal.

In a strongly worded email addressed to the AAI chief, frequent fliers pointed out that despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the expanded facility two years ago at the Surat airport, the terminal is still unable to support simultaneous international and domestic operations.

“While we welcome the vision outlined by the AAI chairman for modern and integrated airport infrastructure, the current terminal design at Surat falls far short of these benchmarks,” the email stated. “Passengers are unable to experience seamless movement due to poor segregation and inadequate planning. This is a fundamental flaw that continues to restrict Surat’s potential as a regional aviation gateway.”

The fliers underscored that the absence of concurrent operations is not merely an inconvenience but a serious limitation that hinders Surat’s economic and connectivity aspirations. “Despite rapid growth in passenger traffic and the city’s increasing global relevance, Surat Airport lacks the basic infrastructure that international airports worldwide consider standard,” they emphasized.

The group called for urgent intervention from AAI, urging the body to revisit and redesign the passenger flow and layout of the terminal. “It is imperative that the AAI team urgently reviews and addresses these issues to make Surat Airport truly future-ready. Without immediate action, Surat risks falling behind in meeting international benchmarks,” the email read.

Speaking to this correspondent, a senior frequent flier from Surat, who was part of the representation, remarked, “The chairman’s call for world-class infrastructure resonates with us, but Surat’s reality is different. Two years after expansion, we are still waiting for a terminal that allows domestic and international passengers to move seamlessly. This gap in planning must be corrected.”

Another passenger added, “The city’s business community and travelers deserve an airport that reflects Surat’s economic stature. We are not asking for luxuries—only for a functional design that can handle both domestic and international flights simultaneously.”

The correspondence also acknowledged AAI’s leadership in promoting stakeholder collaboration and best practices, but stressed that these commitments need to translate into tangible outcomes.

“With Surat’s growing importance in trade, commerce, and global connectivity, it is vital that the airport infrastructure keeps pace. We trust AAI will prioritize this matter and ensure Surat Airport evolves into the resilient and world-class facility it was envisioned to be,” the email concluded.