Indian airports have become critical hubs of passenger and cargo movement, handling over 411 million passengers and 3.7 million tonnes of freight in 2024-25 alone. Managing such large volumes requires robust safety protocols and effective operational monitoring. Key areas requiring monitoring include passenger management, baggage scanning and screening, crowd management, aircraft operations, and emergency preparedness. It is essential to maintain smooth passenger movement while ensuring strong security and reliable operations to support India’s rapidly growing aviation sector. Striking a balance is crucial for sustaining growth, improving passenger experience, and meeting global safety and efficiency standards.
Integration of technologies
The rising passenger footfall at airports has necessitated the adoption of new and advanced technologies for effective screening and monitoring of passengers and baggage. While safety remains the top priority, these processes must be executed with precision and speed to ensure seamless passenger flow across multiple checkpoints. Innovations such as the Digi Yatra facility, in-line baggage handling systems and advanced body scanners have significantly improved security and operational efficiency. Delhi airport, for instance, recently procured four state-of-the-art full-body scanners – two installed at T1 and two at T3 – to enhance security, expedite processes and elevate passenger experience. The scanners use millimetre wave technology operating at 70-80 GHz. A step up from traditional systems, the scanners can detect both metallic and non-metallic threats, without emitting any harmful radiation. A standard operating procedure for the full-scale implementation of these machines will be finalised based on trial results.
Moreover, there are plans for the installation of 3D CTX scanners and full body scanners at airports in India. With the implementation of these scanners, passengers will no longer be required to separate electronics and liquids during the screening process. In addition to safety, these scanners will reduce time taken at check points, facilitating the smooth flow of passengers. These are planned to be implemented following a detailed evaluation.
Airports are also advancing towards holistic airport monitoring through technologies such as airport predictive operation centres (APOC), digital twins, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The Hyderabad airport pioneered the shift towards an AI-powered digital twin platform integrated with a next-gen APOC, data analytics and internet of things (IoT) used for real-time data collection across operations. This is expected to significantly drive operational efficiency. The Delhi airport also recently introduced unified total airside management, which combines AI, ML and IoT to enhance operational efficiency and safety at the airport. It also facilitates real-time tracking of airside movements, including aircraft, fuel trucks and maintenance vehicles, using radar technology. The system sends alerts in case of speed violations or route deviations. It also tracks and evaluates real-time data across the airport to identify potential operational issues and safety risks.
Moreover, airports have widely deployed CCTV cameras for surveillance inside airports and on the airside, and conduct regular checks to ensure their proper functioning. Efforts are also being made to install AI-integrated cameras. For instance, T3 at Delhi Airport now features a smart police booth, with real-time CCTV monitoring, flight information, e-FIR filing, emergency helpline, interactive passenger services and live surveillance.
Airside and aircraft operations
Airlines frequently face challenging weather conditions and low visibility, which poses difficulty for pilots to carry out safe take-off and landing procedures. Collaboration among various stakeholders is essential for managing operations and facilitating timely decision-making, particularly during delays, to ensure smooth passenger flow. To maintain operational safety in such scenarios, several measures have been implemented. The instrument landing system (ILS) has played a pivotal role in enhancing aircraft operations by providing pilots with precise vertical and horizontal guidance during landing. This system significantly improves safety, especially in low visibility conditions. The CAT III ILS enables aircraft to land in conditions where the runway visibility range is 200 metres (CAT IIIA) or as low as 50 metres (CAT IIIB). As of December 2024, six airports in India are equipped with CAT III ILS.
Airports are continuously upgrading their aircraft management system through ILS upgrades, air traffic control (ATC) improvement and other technological integration. In a recent development, the Delhi airport temporarily shut down operations on runway 28/10 in June 2025 to upgrade its ILS to comply with CAT IIIB. Similarly, Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur installed two runway visual range systems in March 2025. It facilitates the accurate and automatic calculation of visibility, communicating it between the ATC tower and pilots. This is a significant improvement over the earlier used manual polar diagram method, enhancing safety and operational efficiency.
There is also a growing emphasis on advancements in research and development (R&D). In this regard, in April 2025, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) inaugurated a digital flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder (DFDR and CVR) laboratory in New Delhi. Set up at a cost of Rs 90 million, the facility is part of India’s efforts to enhance safety in aviation. It is equipped to repair damaged black boxes and retrieve data, facilitating a thorough analysis of incidents and accidents. The facility will also extend support to neighbouring nations for aviation accident investigations.
Other initiatives
In addition to technological integration, various regulations have been introduced to ensure the safe functioning of airport and aircraft operations. In June 2025, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) undertook a comprehensive surveillance exercise at major airports to evaluate compliance with regulatory requirements and identify areas needing greater focus. Key areas covered during the surveillance included flight operations, air worthiness, ATC and communication, navigation and surveillance systems. The exercise reported various instances of non-compliance with procedures, equipment defects, or lapses in checks.
In addition to adverse weather conditions, several other external factors impact safe aircraft operations. For instance, bird strikes can cause engine damage and visibility issues, often forcing emergency landing. Animal encroachments on runways also pose safety concerns. To mitigate these threats, airports have implemented measures such as grass trimming, fireworks and effective waste disposal in areas.
Apart from this, airports and airlines have witnessed a recent rise in hoax threats, which disrupt operations, and lead to diversions and additional security checks. Around 1,000 hoax bomb threat incidents were reported in 2024 in India, significantly affecting airport functioning. To address this, guidelines for assessing and handling these threats have been implemented. Moreover, airports conduct mock drills including full scale emergency drills and testing of safety systems, to ensure preparedness in uncertain situations. Special audits are also carried out based on risk perception. Further, the National Aviation Safety Plan (2024-2028) has been implemented by the DGCA to address operation risks.
In sum
Airports have significantly improved operational safety through the integration of technologies and advanced monitoring processes. While unforeseen incidents remain inevitable, they continue to drive upgrades in security infrastructure and sustained investments R&D. In addition to aligning with international safety standards, these efforts enhance passenger confidence in air travel. Looking ahead, with airports already equipped with extensive current and historical data, the application of predictive analytics holds immense potential and is expected to play a transformative role in shaping the future of airport operations.
