New Delhi: Those flying first or business class would now need to queue up with economy passengers for immigration clearance at Delhi airport. The separate immigration counters for such passengers at the departure lounge have been shut from Wednesday . That means premium flyers would have to report early to factor in the waiting time at serpentine immigration queues.
Highly placed sources said the move came as the bureau of immigration, which comes under the home ministry, felt there was no need for such a facility when there were long queues at the counters for those flying economy class. Now, these counters would be available as common pool for all passengers. "Only diplomats, top officials and crew members will get priority immigration clearance," said a source.
Senior officials of other big Indian airports say the bureau of immigration may be in favour of doing the same at other places too. But Hyderabad airport does not have separate immigration counters for premium flyers and hopes that the same would be allowed once it expands the terminal. DIAL did not comment on the issue.
"The aviation ministry and Delhi airport management tried to reason that separate counters for premium flyers is a facility that is extended at most big airports globally . It may still take up the issue again," said a source. But for now, the decision has been taken and airlines are conveying the same to flyers.
28/10/17 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India
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Highly placed sources said the move came as the bureau of immigration, which comes under the home ministry, felt there was no need for such a facility when there were long queues at the counters for those flying economy class. Now, these counters would be available as common pool for all passengers. "Only diplomats, top officials and crew members will get priority immigration clearance," said a source.
Senior officials of other big Indian airports say the bureau of immigration may be in favour of doing the same at other places too. But Hyderabad airport does not have separate immigration counters for premium flyers and hopes that the same would be allowed once it expands the terminal. DIAL did not comment on the issue.
"The aviation ministry and Delhi airport management tried to reason that separate counters for premium flyers is a facility that is extended at most big airports globally . It may still take up the issue again," said a source. But for now, the decision has been taken and airlines are conveying the same to flyers.
28/10/17 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India
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