Airports Authority of India expands safety training and Rourkela airport operations

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) began a five‑day pan‑India Safety Management System training programme for airport safety managers at its Eastern Regional Headquarters in Kolkata. Twenty‑five managers from airports across the country attended, with sessions covering safety policy, risk management, assurance, promotion and regulatory requirements. The programme was inaugurated by AAI Regional Executive Director Hargovind Meena and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport Director Vikram Singh.

Separately, AAI and the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) signed an extended operations‑and‑maintenance agreement for Rourkela Airport in Odisha. Under the stop‑gap arrangement, AAI will continue to manage the airport while the Odisha government bears an interim cost of about ₹3.72 crore per year. The agreement, lasting up to 12 months or until AAI fully takes over, aims to maintain efficient operations and restore commercial flights, with Alliance Air slated to resume ATR‑72 services on regional routes from October.