3 Adani Group-owned domestic airports accredited to ACI Health Accreditation programme

Three Adani Group-owned domestic airports in Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Mangaluru have been accredited in the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) programme, it is understood.

'This accreditation is a significant step in the pursuit of reinvigorating air traffic in the wake of COVID-19 and the ensuing vaccination drive', said Behnad Zandi, CEO, Adani Airports said.

The ACI programme enables airports to demonstrate to passengers, staff, regulators and governments that they are prioritising health and safety in a measurable and established manner.

The ACI assessment covered the health and safety measures undertaken by the airports for passengers and staff in all the terminal areas, transportation and food and beverage (F&B) services, escalators and elevators, lounges, facilities and baggage claim area among others, Adani Airports said in the release.

The accreditation is valid for the next 12 months. The programme is designed to help reassure the travelling public that airport facilities remain safe and that precautions are being taken to reduce health risks, as per the release.

Adani Airports is a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, the flagship company of the Adani Group.

The company won the mandate to modernise and operate six airports viz. Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram for a period of 50 years through a globally competitive tendering process conducted by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Of these, it took over the operations of Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Mangaluru in 2020.

The airports have demonstrated a safe travel experience for all travelers which is in line with the recommended health measures established in the ACI Aviation Business Restart and Recovery guidelines and ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force Recommendations, along with industry best practices, it added.

With vaccine distribution underway, gaining the public's confidence in air travel will be crucial as our industry prepares to restart and sustain continuing operations. The Adani Group airports are paving the way by providing passengers and employees globally-recognised standards on health and hygiene, said Stefano Baronci, Director General, ACI Asia-Pacific.

Adani Airports is also in the process of acquiring majority stakes in the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) with rights to develop the Navi Mumbai International Airport.