Air India Flight IX1202 from Bucharest, Romania to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) via Kuwait, successfully landed at 07:36 hours with 182 young passengers onboard on March 1, 2022. CSMIA in compliance with BMC, Government and Airport Health Organization (APHO), undertook several measures to facilitate a smooth transit of the passengers to their respective destinations while adhering to all necessary norms and protocols.
Of the 182 passengers, around 25 were from Maharashtra, 38 from Haryana, 34 from Uttar Pradesh, 10 from Gujarat and the remaining 75 were from the rest of the country. Union minister Shri Narayan Rane addressed the students inside the aircraft and the passengers later were received at the Aerobridge by the CSMIA team who escorted them out and were cleared on priority. Of the 182 passengers, 175 passengers were fully vaccinated, and the remaining seven passengers were sent for Rapid PCR testing. Blank Information forms were distributed on arrival to all passengers as required by the MCGM.
Around 10 passengers were escorted to buses at Level 1 for their onward journey to Gujarat. Besides, the airport had set up dedicated Check-In Counters for recheck and baggage drop of all domestic connecting passengers. CSMIA, in coordination with travel operators, assisted approx. 85 passengers with their domestic onward ticket booking. The airport and the domestic airlines also coordinated together and waived off the excess baggage of the young passengers. In addition, 1 passenger was made comfortable in the Aviserv Lounge as he had a late evening flight. CSMIA also aided 30 passengers by transferring them via CSMIA vehicle to Terminal 1 for their onward domestic connecting flight. All passengers connecting on domestic flights were assisted with security clearance and boarding.
The passengers went through thermal screening by the APHO Officers at the airport, ensuring all health measures were carried out throughout the transit process. Ten dedicated counters were made operational at the immigrations for quick processing and clearance. At the same time, a dedicated area was made available in the Arrival Reclaim Belt for quick Check-In Baggage process, and XBIS machines were made operational for customs screening. The Meet and Greet (M&G) area was made available as the assembly point where the passengers were welcomed and seated. The young passengers along with MCGM officers were served pre-packed breakfast and beverages at the triage area. The passengers were segregated state-wise as state governments of Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Bihar, Haryana, Assam, and Chennai were present to receive the young students from their respective states.
