Airport

Passenger found carrying 22 snakes and a chameleon at Chennai Airport

On Friday, a female passenger was detained at the Chennai airport after 22 various types of snakes had been found on her luggage upon her arrival from Kuala Lumpur.

In her checked luggage, the snakes were kept in numerous plastic containers. Moreover, a chameleon was also taken from her luggage. The removal of the snake with a long rod is seen in an airport video as some snakes wriggle out of the floor-mounted containers.

The woman was detained by customs officers after arriving from Kuala Lumpur. Upon landing on flight AK13 from Kuala Lumpur on April 28, Customs apprehended a female passenger.

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: On 28th April, a female passenger who arrived from Kuala Lumpur by Flight No. AK13 was intercepted by Chennai Airport Customs. On examination of her checked-in baggage, 22 snakes of various species and a chameleon were found & seized under the Customs Act,… pic.twitter.com/mRGKivczbA
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) April 29, 2023

On 28.04.23, a female pax who arrived from Kuala Lumpur by Flight No. AK13 was intercepted by Customs.
On examination of her checked-in baggage, 22 Snakes of various species and a Chameleon were found & seized under the Customs Act, 1962 r/w Wildlife Protection act, 1972 pic.twitter.com/uP5zSYyrLS
— Chennai Customs (@ChennaiCustoms) April 29, 2023

The Tamil Nadu forest department has increased its monitoring of the movement of alien species entering the state illegally and subsequently to other states and even international countries.

Owning alien species, including birds, animals, and rodents, will be a punishable offense under the modified Wildlife (Protection) Act, which will go into effect on April 1st, 2023. At the international airport in Chennai, numerous instances of smuggled alien species have been discovered.

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Airport

Three Major UK Airports Up for Multi-Billion Pound Sale

Three major UK airports, including London City, Birmingham, and Bristol, are set to be sold in a multi-billion pound deal as their Canadian owner, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), seeks to capitalize on a booming air travel market.

The OTPP is in talks with minority shareholders about selling its stakes in these airports, as well as its holdings in Brussels and Copenhagen airports.

Current evaluations suggest the combined value of the five airports exceeds £10 billion, with OTPP owning between 25% and 70% stakes in each, potentially bringing the total sale to over £3.5 billion.

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The move comes as global aviation experiences a strong recovery, driving increased demand for air travel, particularly across Europe. The OTPP, which holds a significant portion of its portfolio in these airports, is in the process of offering its shares to co-investors with a 30-day “right of first refusal” period.

Analysts speculate that the sale could trigger a chain reaction, prompting other stakeholders to consider selling their shares, particularly if a new buyer seeks a controlling interest.

Bristol Airport, for example, has outlined an ambitious master plan to expand its capacity from 12 million passengers per year to 15 million by 2036, addressing the growing demand in the region.

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Meanwhile, London’s Heathrow and Stansted airports have seen record passenger traffic, further underscoring the sector’s recovery.

As the 30-day period progresses, the OTPP’s decision could spark a flurry of activity, with other investors such as Australian giant Macquarie reportedly showing interest in the airports.

This potential sale is set to reshape the future of UK airport ownership and investment, as the aviation industry continues to recover and grow.