The Hindu Business Line : Metro airports may set up entertainment zones

Mumbai connect
Plan for 100-300 sq ft space at 4 spots in Mumbai airport.
The airport already has Bharti Airtel’s Wi-Fi system in place.
Bharti Airtel says free Internet kiosks at all terminals by August.

A file photo of the transit lounge at the Delhi airport.

Shubhra Tandon

Mumbai, July 23As you wait at the airport to board your flight, killing time with games, some news and entertainment, perhaps free Internet browsing too, would not be a bad idea after all.

Working on the lines of the Changi Airport in Singapore, airports in Indian metro cities are exploring the possibility of setting up ‘entertainment zones’ in the passenger waiting areas soon.

Sources told Business Line that Mumbai airport would be the first one to have such systems followed by all metro airports. However, a senior official from Mumbai International Airport Ltd said, “We cannot discuss specifics at the moment as no concrete plan is in place.”

According to sources, the airport would have 100 sq ft to 300 sq ft of space available at four places for the facility. These would be under the Jet Airways Waiting area after security check, Kingfisher waiting area after security check, international Air India and international private airlines waiting areas.

Singapore’s Changi Airport, like many other international airports, provides pastimes like games, real-life entertainment programmes screened on channels like National Geographic, and films you can watch in the comfort of a movie lounge.

Mumbai airport already has a Wi-Fi system in place, powered by Bharti Airtel Enterprise Services, for passengers to avail the facility on their Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, hand-held devices such as pocket PCs, smart phones, mobile phones, gaming devices, and PDAs.

The telecom company told Business Line it will be through with its plans of setting up free Internet kiosks at all terminals by next month. To begin with, there will be four kiosks in all, with one at each terminal, and will be exte nded depending on space and usage, the company said.

Gaming zones

Gaming zones also form a part of the company’s road map, for which content providers need to be finalised. No timeline has been set for the same.

On the other hand, Mr Saleem Mobhani, COO of Hungama Mobile, said, “Any company into gaming would like to explore newer spaces like airports for the games.” The company, however, reserved its comment on tying up with MIAL for any such proposal.

Other airports like Delhi are also looking to setup gaming areas, a senior official from the airport said, “As we have food and beverage outlets, gaming areas would also be looked into.”

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