Archive · 12 Sep 2026
Kolkata Airport Plans Larger Lounges and Expanded Retail Space
Kolkata airport wants to make its waiting areas bigger and improve its shops and restaurants.
The airport plans to add space to the international business-class lounge.
It also wants to enlarge domestic lounges and redesign the food-and-drink area.
International lounges are often quiet during the day but become crowded when many nighttime flights leave together.
The airport also wants more stores, possibly increasing retail space to 1,500 square metres.
A new company may be chosen to manage the airport’s retail outlets.
The airport proposes charging this company based partly on the number of passengers.
Some people support the plan, but others worry that the proposed fee formula could make international shops too expensive to operate.
Kolkata airport plans to expand its international and domestic lounges after the existing operator’s contract ends early next year.
The international lounges cover about 5,000 square feet and serve roughly 500 passengers daily, while domestic lounges cover 5,500 square feet and serve about 2,400.
The expansion aims to reduce overcrowding during concentrated nighttime international departures to destinations including Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok and Doha.
Airport authorities may increase retail space from 1,310 square metres to 1,500 square metres after discussions with the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.
A proposed passenger-based concession fee is intended to attract retailers, but sources warn that weighting international passengers twice as heavily could make some shops commercially unviable.
- Who
- Kolkata airport authorities, the existing lounge and food-and-beverage operator, prospective retailers and concessionaires, and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.
- What
- The airport plans to expand passenger lounges, remodel food-and-beverage facilities and increase retail space.
- When
- The overhaul is expected after the existing operator’s contract ends early next year; a tender is expected for a new master concessionaire.
- Where
- Kolkata airport, including its international and domestic terminal areas.
- Why
- The changes are intended to ease peak-time lounge congestion, improve passenger facilities and attract a broader range of retailers and airlines.
Airport Expansion Supporters
Tender Critics
Larger lounges
Airport Expansion Supporters
Airport officials say unused space can be converted into larger international and domestic lounges to address nighttime overcrowding.
Tender Critics
No direct opposition to the lounge expansion is stated, but sources emphasize that commercial and passenger-flow considerations must be managed.
Retail growth
Airport Expansion Supporters
Airport officials say more retail space would provide a wider range of brands and help transform the terminal into a broader shopping destination.
Tender Critics
Officials caution that additional stores must not obstruct passenger movement or reduce convenience.
Concession fee formula
Airport Expansion Supporters
Airport officials say a per-passenger charge could give operators more predictable margins and encourage a wider product mix.
Tender Critics
Sources argue that assigning international passengers twice the weight of domestic passengers assumes they spend twice as much and could make international retail units commercially unviable.
- International lounges
- Two lounges covering about 5,000 square feet and serving approximately 500 passengers daily.
- Domestic lounges
- Lounges covering about 5,500 square feet and serving approximately 2,400 passengers daily.
- Planned retail area
- Potential increase from 1,310 square metres to 1,500 square metres.
- Terminal expansion
- A new structure added 4,000 square metres and increased annual passenger capacity from 26 million to 28 million.
- Peak congestion
- International lounge demand rises sharply at night when several flights depart close together.
- Existing operator contract
- The current lounge and food-and-beverage contract is expected to end early next year.
- Proposed concession model
- A per-passenger charge with revenue sharing linked to passenger footfall.