In what indicates the growing aspirations of middle-income group travelers, over 50 per cent of those using the special assistance and porter services at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), between February and May 2014, were found to be passengers traveling in the economy class. The ‘Pranaam’ guest service, the first-of-its-kind in India, was used by 500 international and domestic passengers between February and May 2014 at the new terminal (T2) and domestic terminal (T1) in Mumbai. The facility was initiated soon after the inauguration of T2 on February 12 this year. The ‘end-to-end’ service ranges between Rs 1,000 (per person) to Rs13, 000 (for a family of four). The service has to be pre-booked at www.pranaam.csia.in. While 53 per cent users were passengers flying economy class, 25 per cent were from first class and 22 per cent were from business class. Over 70 per cent of the total users were found to be Indian nationals. “The trend reflects that there is a growing aspirational need of economy class Indian travelers. Just like passengers of business class and first class, passengers flying economy class also aspire to have a smooth and easy travel inside the airport,” said a spokesperson from Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL). While facilities differ according to the packages, guest services offer a trained professional to look after the passenger at the airport. Besides helping with the mandatory procedures at security, immigration and customs, the ‘Pranaam’ officer has to assist passengers with baggage, booking a taxi or seeing off the passenger till the aero-bridge if the passenger is scheduled to fly out of Mumbai. A special buggy service of the Pranaam lounge at T2 is also provided to passengers to ferry them around the airport. Data also indicates that more than half or 52 per cent of those using the service were passengers who arrived at CSIA. Most of the international passengers availing the service arrived from Middle East, South-East Asia and Europe. “Large families as well as young working professionals have been found using the Pranaam services. Passengers from or to the Middle East are generally seen traveling together in large numbers. They gain from the service as their baggage is looked after and the family is assisted in getting a taxi or in ensuring that all members have boarded the aircraft safely,” said the spokesperson. Interestingly, passengers in the age group of 30 to 50 top the list of users with 34 per cent users falling under this cayegory.This is closely followed by passengers over 50 years of age. Teenagers have been availing this service too with 11 per cent of the users being in the less than 15 years age group. priyal.dave@expressindia.com
