RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM: The Rajamahendravaram airport has achieved 73 per cent growth in air traffic during the April-June quarter this year compared with the same period in 2015. This is the highest growth rate amongst the domestic airports in Andhra Pradesh.
As many as 64,643 passengers used the airport between April and June 2016, as against of 37,219 during the corresponding period last year.
As per a seven-day survey of airport service quality (ASQ) by an international organisation, the Rajamahendravaram airport secured the first place in Andhra Pradesh in terms of the occupancy ratio and the second place in terms of the overall ASQ rating among the domestic airports in the state.
The Tirupati international airport bagged the second place as per air traffic occupancy ratio. The ASQ survey obtained feedback from passengers on safety, infrastrucure, cleanliness and greenery, behaviour of airport staff, coordination among airport staff, and maintenance of flight schedules, amongst others.
Airport director M Raja Kishore said Rajamahendravaram's success was due to "perfect planning, coordination and cooperation by airport staff and flight operators besides passengers."
The airport is centrally located between Visakhapatnam and Chennai with good road and railway connectivity and night landing facility. The runway is being extended up to 10,000 m from the existing 5,000 m to enable landing of big aircraft.