TRICHY: Don't be surprised if you are given a thorough check-in the next time you are boarding an international flight from the Trichy airport. To make the checking process easier for passengers bound for various destinations in the Gulf and other countries through transit points, several low-cost airlines flying from here are providing the thorough check-in facility, a service that is usually offered by executive airlines.

With AirAsia also joining the bandwagon, the move by all airlines comes as a major relief to international passengers at Trichy airport. Over the last few years, all low-cost carriers operating from the city have witnessed a spike in passenger traffic and the introduction of such service has been given the thumbs up by the travellers.

All these years, people travelling from here to other countries had to first check in their baggage at the Trichy airport and again at the transit point before boarding the next flight to their final destination. For example, if a passenger has to travel to Australia, he has to first check in his baggage at the Trichy airport and then at the transit point in Kuala Lumpur before reaching Down Under. But now, all this will reduced and the passenger can save some precious time.

"The service is offered only by executive airlines. However, the low-cost airlines have also entered the big league after seeing the spurt in passenger traffic," said a senior airport official. He further added that the passenger waiting time will be reduced and they also need not think about their baggage.

The Trichy airport on a daily basis witnesses at least 250 passengers boarding the five international airlines that connect various international destinations mostly to the south eastern nations.

H Ubaidullah, an independent analyst based in Tamil Nadu who has done several studies on the Indian airports says that the Trichy airport despite being small has attracted several players and the passenger traffic has been growing at a rapid pace and such a move will further encourage the passengers.

According to him, in the financial year 2012-13, the airport received about 7,73,423 passengers which was 1,60,578 during 2006- 2007. The increase from that period has been a whopping 382%, which shows that the airport is growing in terms of passengers. On an average, at least 3,000 passengers fly to the East Asian countries in a month.

According to officials from AirAsia, the flights will be offering the 'thorough check-in' facility to Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea. While, SriLankan Airlines will connect Trichy with all major Gulf destinations like Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Damman, Doha via Colombo and other East Asian countries.