Bengaluru: The Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) also known as Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) has won the Airports Council International’s Airport Service Quality Awards for both arrivals and departures. Bengaluru international airport is the first to win this award.

The award was initiated for the first time in 2018. The awards were given based on the survey of passenger satisfaction.

All airports across the world were considered and Bengaluru won the award. In addition, it has also won the award for best airport by size/region in the 25-40 MPPA category in the Asia-Pacific zone.

Economic Times reported that Hari Marar, MD and CEO, BIAL, operator of the Bengaluru airport as saying that these awards reaffirm BIAL's commitment to provide excellent passenger experience at the airport. BIAL is proud of the awards in both categories — arrivals and departures, he said.

Marar also added that BIAL was undergoing tremendous development and will ensure that passengers have a great experience.

The reports also quoted ACI world director general Angela Gittens as saying that these awards celebrate the achievements of airports delivering best customer service in the world.

Accordingly, the airports that have participated in all four quarters of the year and followed the sampling methodology of the ACI are considered for the award. World Airport Awards by Skytrax, and these awards by ACI are considered as most prestigious accolades in the aviation industry.

BIAL is known for introducing new facilities and services for its passengers including all-women cab service facilitated from January. The service called women-only taxi service is for women and driven by women, was launched in association with Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC).

The Bengaluru airport also has 16 fully automated self bag drop machines making the luggage checking an easy task completed in 45 seconds instead of waiting in the queue. The system was introduced in November 2018.