Noida International Airport – the digital commercial experience

Pictured: Ross Falconer, Head of Content, Future Travel Experience, and Akhilesh Singh, Head of Commercial, Noida International Airport. They discussed the pace of commercial developments and the importance of the digital journey through the new greenfield site airport in a country which boasts one of the world’s largest and fastest digital ecosystems.

Akhilesh Singh, Head of Commercial, Noida International Airport (right) met Future Travel Experience Head of Content Ross Falconer at the recent TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes to discuss the pace of commercial developments and the importance of the digital journey through the new greenfield site airport in a country which boasts one of the world’s largest and fastest digital ecosystems.

Following Prime Minister Modi’s official inauguration of the airport on in March this year, commercial operations commenced in June, opening a new gateway in the Delhi National Capital Region and North India.

Zurich Airport holds a 40-year concession to design, finance, construct, and completely operate the airport through a wholly-owned subsidiary, Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL).

The four-phase master plan under the 40-year concession involves the active $900 million First Phase for a 25-stand terminal and single runway designed to handle 12 million passengers. Subsequent phases involve scaling the airport’s infrastructure to reach 70 million passengers. International operations are expected to begin by next April.

Concerning the commercial strategy, Singh explained that NIA doesn’t simply want to wait until passengers arrive before they started thinking about spending. “Pre-order should be a very significant driver, especially for food and beverage with an “ambition” to achieve 20-25% penetration for delivery at the gate and grab-and-go. Digital engagement with these customers will be through the airport’s website but Singh also says other traffic will be driven by partners who are pre-engaged with the traveller such as MakeMyTrip.com, India’s largest online travel agent.

“We have certainly taken the opportunity to hard-wire the connected traveller into both the operational and commercial fabric of NIA – from a commercial perspective smooth, seamless operations are vital because a speedily processed passenger is swiftly transformed into a relaxed customer, mindful to shop and eat – our focus is to make purchasing as easy as possible, an opportunity presented to us in developing a greenfield site.”

Heinemann, which has a joint venture with India’s BBM Group, will operate the master concessions across both duty free and domestic duty-paid at NIA, a deal which also marked Heinemann’s first landfall in India.

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