Annual performance audit of each individual airport has, in fact, been a regular feature in the AAI. These are predominantly conducted by the departments themselves. Over the years, specific people in each department have developed expertise on conducting airport performance audits to highlight the systems change necessary to orient towards the organisation's Mission and to achieve the annual goals set by the Borad of AAI.

AAI can quickly organize a team of experts from Planning, Engineering, Operations, Commercial, Cargo and Corporate Planning & MS Deptt. To undertake airport audits for specific areas of concern at any airport or for airport as a whole.

Economic viability of airports has assumed utmost importance and the trend to privatize airports and make them economically self-sustained has gained worldwide momentum. The capital intensive nature of airport establishment throws up challenges of unprecedented magnitude to generate revenues to sustain operations and maintain growth.

With limited scope for enhancement in traffic related revenue, the emphasis world over has been to increase the non-traffic revenue by increased commercial exploitation of available airport infrastructure, improved and competitive passenger shopping facilities, advertisements etc. are subjects necessitating professionalism in managing commercial aspect of an airport.

From non-traffic revenue of 10-15% of total AAI revenue in early 90s, the AAI has moved to a regime of non-traffic revenue in the range of 20-30% of total revenue while the British Airport Authority (BAA) generates 70% of its revenue from non-traffic sources. Cargo revenue has seen a growth of almost 300% in last 5-6 years.

AAI has over the last 10 years or so developed a team of experts in the field of commercial aspects and based on the experience gained, can provide assistance to other airport operators in improving the financial viability of the airports.

The Department of Cargo with 157 Professional Executives, with average of 10 years, has grown gradually with establishment of Gateway Air Cargo Terminals at Kolkata (1975), Chennai (1978) & Delhi (1986). The capacities have been augmented keeping pace with air cargo growth.

The Integrated Air Cargo Terminal at Delhi provides for export/import transit cargo handling facilities. The Cargo Management System here has been upgraded to a fully computerized "On Line'' Integrated Cargo Management system with Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Bar Coding Capabilities. The Cargo Management Systems at Mumbai, Chennai & Kolkata are also computerized though not yet "On Line system''. At Delhi, the Multi level ETV system for handling loaded pallets & containers is being augmented by an additional ETV system enhancing the present 284 slot capacity by almost 50 per cent.

A perishable Cargo handling terminal with `Pre-cooling' chambers, independent chambers for Fruits, Flowers, Frozen Products etc., has been in operation at Dehi. A much bigger Perishable Cargo Terminal is planned at Mumbai Airport where perishable cargo constitutes 40% of total air cargo.

AAI Air Cargo Terminals provide for Truck Docks, Strong Rooms, Live Animal Sheds, Hazardous Cargo Godown, Palletisation Station, Offices for Airlines, Government Regulartory Agencies, Multi-model Cargo Operators, Break Bulk Agents, Consolidators for ease of operation and user convenience. To meet safety standards CCTV Systems, X-rays Scanners etc., are provided.

The gateway airport cargo terminals together are capable of handling One Million Tonnes of import/export/transit cargo annually. Present capacity utilization is about 75%-80%.

The design and construction of all air cargo terminals has been undertaken by Planning & Engineering Departments of AAI in liaison with Cargo Department. Feasibility study for Air Cargo Terminal at Kathmandu, Nepal was undertaken by AAI. AAI is capable of undertaking not only design, development and construction of cargo terminals, but also management and operations.