Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and persisting travel restrictions, Kolkata airport has hit the milestone of one million passengers. The airport thanked the passengers via a tweet to mark the occasion.
Bookings open for all days in October
For the month of October, all airlines have opened booking on all days anticipating a higher number of passengers due to festive season. However, the state currently practices a three-days-a-week restriction for direct flights from six major cities. The flights can operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The state government has not announced any change in the norms as of now. The passengers have raised concerns on the social media handles about the restriction as it can jeopardize the travel plans for many. Some argue that the count of these six cities may have been high when the regulation was announced in July, but the situations have changed since then.
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Kolkata airport transit facility open to public
In another development, the airport transit facility for domestic-to-domestic passengers was thrown open last Friday. The facility would allow the passengers on arrival to move directly to the departure security area after a quick check at the security check portal. The new facility would enhance the social distancing protocol at the airport and reduce the hassles for transit flyers. It would save around 50-60 minutes of the passengers, according to the officials.
The transfer facility with dedicated security check portal can manage around 300 passengers in an hour. The 24,000 square transfer facility comprises of two baggage X-ray machines, three frisking booths for men and women, three elevators to move to the security area, two bus coach boarding gates and separate sets of toilets. The facility was developed at an investment of Rs. 6.5 crores.
The facility primarily serves the passengers who booked the same airlines for flights arriving and departing Kolkata. The other passengers who booked different airlines will have to collect their luggage at the arrival hall, exit the terminal and proceed to complete facilities.
