Kolkata: Passengers waiting to board flights at Kolkata airport can now charge their laptops more conveniently, with dedicated pillar and island charging units being installed near major boarding gates and select seating columns across the domestic and international security hold areas.The new facilities are equipped with standard electrical sockets and paired with high seating stools, allowing passengers to plug in laptops and continue working while waiting for their flights. The move is particularly aimed at business travellers and flyers who need to remain connected during longer waits at the terminal.“The charging points and seating arrangement are very good. I needed to charge my devices and easily found a charging point. Earlier, it was a hassle,” said Souvik Sen, who was heading to Ahmedabad on Sunday.“The charging stations are properly managed. We can charge our phones while sitting in the rest areas and waiting for our flights. It is a very convenient facility,” said another passenger. “It is a good initiative, but the number of charging points can be increased. The seating area is quite large, but the number of charging stations is relatively less. More charging points, including on the ground floor, would help passengers.”The passenger, who was travelling to Bangkok, said he had noticed several improvements at the airport over the past one or two years.“The charging points have been positioned at locations where passengers tend to spend considerable time before boarding. Unlike conventional charging points meant largely for mobile phones, the new units provide standard electrical sockets that can be used for laptops and other devices requiring conventional plugs,” said airport director Vikram Singh.The latest installations are part of a wider effort to improve passenger amenities at the terminal. The airport had earlier identified the shortage of charging points as a passenger pain point. In February, airport authorities had said island charging facilities were available near every other boarding gate, but their capacity was limited, with only three or four passengers able to use them at a time.The airport has 1,774 three-seater chairs, of which 954 are being upgraded to ones with charging ports. Sources said replacing the chairs, most of which are 12 years old, is estimated to cost around Rs 5.5 crore.The bulk of the seats at the airport are in the security hold, mostly near boarding gates. There are also seats in the arrival area, near baggage claim belts and in the lounge.Airport seating arrangements are designed to adhere to a worldwide standard, featuring sets of three connected seats divided by armrests. The placement of these modular units in a parallel configuration has reduced the likelihood of face-to-face encounters between passengers, officials said.Passenger satisfaction surveys have also shown improvement across several parameters. In the latest quarterly assessment, 20 of the 31 passenger-experience parameters recorded an improvement, including charging points, waiting time at security screening, flight-information availability and washroom facilities.
