‘Rihanna’s arrival and departure was a major challenge’, says Jamnagar Airport Director as the airport handles five times traffic than usual – Know airport’s challenges & security measures

As per Singh, the airport encountered a significant challenge during the arrival and departure of singer Rihanna. (PTI)

The Jamnagar Airport has had to handle five times the traffic it usually does since February 26, The Indian Express reported. The domestic airport, which also serves an Air Force Station, has received special permission from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to handle international flights from February 26 to March 6.

The special permission was received to manage the guests attending the pre-wedding bash of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. The three-day celebrations marking the impending wedding of Anant, the younger son of Reliance Industries Limited Chairman Mukesh Ambani, to Radhika, daughter of Encore Healthcare CEO Viren Merchant, will wrap up on Sunday. Among the celebrities attending, more than 50 are arriving from overseas.

Jamnagar Airport’s challenges

In a chat with The Indian Express, Jamnagar Airport Director Dhananjay Kumar revealed that the airport operated 40 international flights between February 26 and March 1 after CIQ granted the special permission on February 25 on the request of Reliance Industries to help facilitate international movement at the airport.

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The 40 flights include 20 arrivals and 20 departures, including cargo flights. “The international flights have mostly arrived from the United States, United Kingdom, Paris, Milan, Middle East and Bhutan…Usually, we handle six flights, three arrivals and three departures, per day,” Singh added.

Rihanna in Jamnagar

As per Singh, the airport encountered a significant challenge during the arrival and departure of singer Rihanna. While Rihanna herself arrived in an Airbus, her staff and luggage were transported on a Boeing 767.  “The challenge has been to accommodate all the incoming flights…Rihanna’s flight was specifically challenging, as the flights had to be brought close to the terminal,” he elaborated.

Singh said that disembarking passengers and ground handling has been a challenge, and the airport has had to deploy support staff  from Ahmedabad and Rajkot airports to have more manpower for ground handling, housekeeping and immigration services. “While the Air Traffic Control and the runway belong to the Air Force, the AAI runs the terminal building, the parking bay for aircraft as well as the parking area outside the terminal,” Singh told The Indian Express.

The aircraft are being parked in Rajkot or Ahmedabad airport terminals or are “flying back” due to the shortage of parking space in Jamnagar.

Enhanced security in Jamnagar

The Jamnagar district police have bolstered security measures to maintain law and order throughout Jamnagar during the VVIP movement. Additional police personnel from other districts have also been dispatched, and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad is conducting thorough inspections of the airport three times daily. A Quick Response Team is on stand by.

Jamnagar Superintendent of Police P S Delu mentioned that a total of 1,500 personnel have been deployed in Jamnagar, including 600 from other districts. Among these, approximately 500 are homeguards. With the significant VVIP movement, individuals classified under X, Y, or Z categories are receiving protocol-based escorts. “Additional 50 vehicles have been deployed to provide escort facilities,” he added.

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Delu further emphasised the heightened security measures at the airport. The Jamnagar airport has also seen onlookers gathering to catch a glimpse of the celebrities. “We are ensuring that bottlenecks on the national highway that connects Jamnagar airport to the Reliance Township, about 30 km away, are taken care of to prevent traffic jam, as there is heavy vehicular movement,” he added.

Challenge ahead

Jamnagar Airport faces its next challenge on March 4 and 5 when most of the Ambani guests will depart.