Flight delays, cancellation without intimation mar Chennai airport’s image
Chennai: This year was a mixed bag for Chennai airport from the passengers’ point of view. What began with a passenger, Ekta Vashishtha, raising a complaint in January that toilet water was used to clean utensils in a Café Coffee Day outlet, saw a steady but slow improvement as the number of complaints reduced. Till November, 94 complaints had been registered.
Until June, the number of complaints was between 10 and 13 per month with June witnessing the highest record of 13 registered complaints. But, then the numbers did start reducing with only two complaints in September.
It was around this period that PPP ( Public Private Partnership) logjam also ended with Chennai being taken off from the list of airports to be privatised and AAI was handed over control.
However, in October and November complaints again rose to eight. Passengers generally complained about delays and cancellation of flights without prior intimation and delay in scanning and delivery of baggage. Loss and damage of property was another common trend. Many also complained that car-parking attendants did not issue slips and indulged in overcharging. In a complaint, one Suresh Dharmadurai said, “ There is mismanagement of car-park, timings are fabricated and the staff are very rude”.
Responding to this, an airport official said, “ Most complaints are against airlines and overcharging by car parking attendants. But, then we cannot do much about it as these are under the discretionary powers of the airlines and car parking contractors.”
Meanwhile, Rohit Thakur and R.S.Mani called for a general upkeep of the airport. Earlier, M. Srinivasan raised another grievance that the male rest-rooms were not maintained properly. Airport authorities instructed the housekeeping department to take necessary action and advised it to maintain the rest rooms on a continuous basis. As if these were not enough, an online survey stated that Chennai airport stood seventh worst in Asia and a main reason for it was the stink emanating from dirty toilets. However, airport director Deepak Shastri said officials have been taking note of complaints and are responding steadily.
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