Flyers arriving early have to wait outside Kolkata airport

If anyone arrives at the Kolkata airport late at night for an early morning flight, be prepared to wait it out. For domestic flights, passengers must wait outside even during the day if they arrive more than four hours in advance.

The security guards are refusing to let anyone in, shared a few passengers. 

Many travelers spend the night in the departure waiting area of the airport, which also houses ticket counters for multiple airlines. They are not allowed to enter until four hours prior to the flight’s departure.

There are no food stands or restrooms in the vicinity. Both men and women must exit the building, descend to the arrival level, and use the restroom.

Fliers who have early morning or late night flights and reach the airport well in advance, often the night before, suffer most. The only entry point for these travelers is gate 3C, which is located next to the airport manager’s cabin on the second floor. If not, they are forced to wait outside the terminal building’s entrance gate or outside under the open sky.

There, they sleep for the night on a rung of chairs until it’s time to head into the departure terminal.

The closest restroom is located next to the parking lot on the ground floor. It entails a trip down the elevator followed by a stroll.

According to a senior airport official, they have asked the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which oversees airport security, to permit travelers to enter the terminal, especially at night and even if they arrive four hours prior to a flight’s departure. On the day of their trip, passengers with valid tickets are free to enter the terminal without restriction. During the next coordination meeting, they will once more ask CISF officers to investigate the situation.