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NEWS BITSReview of developmental progress at Tirupati AirportShri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Hon'ble Union Minister of Civil Aviation reviewed the ongoing progress and developmental initiatives at Tirupati st Airport on 21 February, 2026, along with Shri Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, MoCA and Shri Vipin Kumar, Chairman, AAI. The airport has successfully surpassed the significant milestone of handling over one million passengers in a single year, reflecting enhanced regional connectivity and growing passenger demand.Continuous infrastructure upgrades are underway toaccommodate the increasing traffic. During the review,the Hon'ble Minister emphasized the incorporation ofcultural elements and local art within the terminal toreflect the spiritual heritage and regional identity ofTirupati. Key initiativesdiscussedincludedthe initiationofa dedicated General Aviation Terminal and theenhancement of passenger amenities within and aroundthe terminal to further elevate the overall passengerexperience.AAI signs MoU with Bharat Taxi to enhance inclusive last-mile connectivityThe Airports Authority of India has signed ath Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 6 February,2026 with Bharat Taxi, operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Ltd., for the provision of proposed passenger transport services at select AAI airports. TheMoU was exchanged by Shri Vipin Kumar, Chairman, AAI. Promoted by the National Cooperative Development Corporation and supported by leading cooperative institutions, Bharat Taxi operates on a driver-owned cooperative model that emphasizes transparent pricing without surge charges and fair fares for passengers. The services are proposed to commence at airports in Rajkot, Vadodara, Surat, Bhuj, Pune, Aurangabad, Varanasi, Kanpur, Prayagraj, and Agra, further strengthening seamless airport connectivity across the country.ISSUE 52 | February 2026 AAIConnect 7Four-Day Domestic Slot Coordination Meeting for Summer Season 2026The four-day Domestic Slot Coordination Meeting for th the summer season 2026 was inaugurated on 10February, 2026 at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, Safdarjung Airport, in the presence of Shri Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, MoCA; Shri Vipin Kumar, Chairman, AAI; and senior officials from MoCA and AAI. The meeting witnessed active participation from airline network planners, airport slot coordinators from across the country, and representatives of the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.