Metro check-in facility fails to attract fliers
The much-hyped check-in facilities for domestic fliers at the swanky airport expressline is yet to attract airport-bound commuters.
The much-hyped check-in facilities for domestic fliers at the swanky airport expressline is yet to attract airport-bound commuters. Reasons like lack of clarity about the facility and of low confidence in its efficiency on the commuters’ part are being attributed to this.
It’s been almost a week since three airlines began check-in facility at the New Delhi and Shivaji Stadium metro stations. Still, majority of fliers travelling on the expressline are not using this facility at the New Delhi metro station. Every day, around 1,200 people use the expressline to reach the airport, of which only 10% are presently availing this ‘value-added’ service.
“Only 30-50 passengers on an average use the new service per day,” said an Air India official. Sources say that an average of 100-odd airport-bound commuters avail the facility in a day.
The airlines check-in counters remain almost empty during service hours (5am to 11pm).
“I wanted to use this new facility, but I do not have a lot of luggage,” said Archana, who was travelling to Hyderabad.
Some commuters were confused about the procedure while others cited lack of information about security seals and the time by which they can get their baggage checked-in.
Another commuter Ajit Gaur said he did not know that before checking in his luggage, he had to get it sealed by the Metro’s CISF security counter. “When I reached the check-in counter, I was asked to go back and get my luggage checked and sealed. So, I preferred to carry my baggage to the airport myself,” Gaur said.
“We have recorded an increase in footfalls after the check-in facility began. We are now promoting this facility among the commuters in different ways,” said an official of Reliance Infrastructure, the concessionaire company.