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AEP Colour & Airport Zone Guide
Last updated: 6 Jul 2026Reviewed by Ms. Rubab Nizami, Lead AVSEC Faculty
In short
An airport has zones that get tighter as you move in — landside, airside and the Security Restricted Area — and an Airport Entry Pass (AEP) uses colour codes to show which zones its holder may enter. Here is how the zones and colours work.
Airport zones, tightest last
| Zone | What it is | Who can enter |
|---|---|---|
| Landside | Public area before security | Anyone (no screening) |
| Airside | Past security, near aircraft | Screened passengers + AEP holders |
| Security Restricted Area (SRA) | The most protected airside zones | AEP for that zone + screening |
How do AEP colour codes work?
Each colour on an AEP maps to the set of zones the holder may enter, so security can check at a glance whether a person belongs where they are. The precise colour-to-zone mapping is set locally by each airport under BCAS rules, which is why staff learn their own airport's key rather than a single national palette.
Quick answers
Do AEP colours mean the same at every Indian airport?
The colour-coded concept is standard, but the exact colour-to-zone mapping is set by each airport under BCAS rules — always follow your own airport's key.
What is the most secure airport zone?
The Security Restricted Area (SRA) — the most protected part of airside.