Passengers Seek More Aerobridges, Better Utilisation At Chennai Airport

CHENNAI: Passengers have renewed their demand for additional aerobridges at Chennai airport, alleging that airlines and airport authorities frequently park aircraft at remote bays even when aerobridges are available, forcing travellers to disembark via stairs and use shuttle buses.

The demand comes amid growing complaints that elderly passengers, persons with disabilities, women with children and those with health issues are made to endure unnecessary inconvenience, particularly during extreme summer heat and the monsoon season.

Chennai airport currently has more than 100 aircraft parking bays. However, aerobridges are available only at 11 bays — six in the domestic terminal (bays 19 to 24) and five in the international terminal (bays 26 to 30). Work is under way to add two more aerobridges.

Aerobridges are primarily used for larger aircraft such as Airbus and Boeing jets, while smaller ATR aircraft cannot use the facility. Passengers travelling on wide-body and narrow-body aircraft generally expect to board and disembark through aerobridges, which provide direct access to the terminal. Aircraft parked at remote bays require passengers to descend mobile stairs and travel to the terminal in shuttle buses.

Passengers said the practice often causes overcrowding in buses and poses difficulties for senior citizens, differently-abled persons and families with young children. Exposure to rain and high temperatures further adds to the inconvenience.

Fresh complaints surfaced on Thursday night after an IndiGo flight from Mumbai, carrying around 180 passengers, was parked at a remote bay, instead of an aerobridge-equipped bay. According to the passengers, several aerobridges nearby appeared to be vacant, prompting questions over why the aircraft was assigned to an open parking stand.

Some passengers reportedly raised the issue with the IndiGo staff and Chennai airport officials before taking to social media to question the decision. In posts addressed to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), they asked why passengers were made to use stairs and shuttle buses when three aerobridges were allegedly lying unused.

Responding on social media, AAI stated that the flight had initially been allocated bay 19, which is equipped with an aerobridge. However, the authority said the aircraft was reassigned to remote bay 25 on IndiGo’s request.

Passengers have urged the airport to expedite the installation of additional aerobridges and, in the meantime, ensure that existing facilities are utilised to the maximum extent possible to improve passenger comfort and accessibility. However, attempts to obtain a response from IndiGo on the issue did not elicit any reply.