Spike in usage: 2,500 international passengers use free Wi-Fi facility at Chennai airport

Nearly 2,500 international passengers are currently using the free Wi-Fi facility launched at Chennai airport recently.

The airport was under sharp criticism from international passengers for years now for failing to provide free Wi-Fi facility for those who didn’t possess an India number. Passengers felt when airports across the globe were able to provide the facility in a jiffy, they were disappointed that a metro airport couldn’t establish one for its passengers. Following this, in June this year, kiosks were put up in the international departure and arrival halls of the airport.

Officials of Airports Authority of India (AAI) said, initially, about 500 passengers were using it every day and it has consistently grown and off late, nearly 2,500 people avail this facility. Passengers have been scanning their boarding passes and passports to get the OTP in a voucher to use the Wi-Fi. “We have fixed four free Wi-Fi kiosks; two are near boarding gate 10 in the security hold area and near the food court in the departure hall and two kiosks are available before the immigration area and near baggage belt 6 at the arrival hall,” an official said. 

Some of the passengers have been asking why there was a need to get boarding passes and other details, AAI officials said, it was inevitable and done due to requirements by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). 

Vasanthi K., a frequent flyer, said, for everything from making a payment to buy a coffee or to book a cab, an international passenger is in need of free Wi-Fi and it is something that airports have been providing for years. Also, when senior citizens travel alone or even otherwise, people need to get in touch with their family, she said. “For instance, when I travelled alone to Mexico once, my husband was anxious to hear from me and as soon as I landed, I could inform since there was free Wi-Fi available. These are basic necessities. I’m glad that it has finally come to Chennai after all these years. My daughter would find it difficult every time she landed in Chennai without this facility and from hereon, this problem may not persist,” she added.