-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Wishing all Goanetters | | a Prosperous | | and | | Happy New Year - 2006 | | Goanet - http://www.goanet.org | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fliers may soon take the long road home CUCKOO PAUL
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2006 01:22:21 AM] MUMBAI: Long queues at check-in counters, airport terminals swarming with people and delayed flights are already par for the course for domestic and international passengers transiting out of Mumbai and Delhi airports. If the privatisation process is further delayed, as looks likely, passengers should brace themselves for much worse. With 25per cent growth expected in air traffic this year, thousands of first-time fliers who have only recently begun to sample the delights of air travel, may well consider taking the train. Runways and terminals at both Mumbai and Delhi are already saturated. By the end of this year, airlines are expected to take deliveries of at least 60 more aircraft. If no changes are made fast, airline growth will also be constrained, say airline operators. Many aircraft are being ordered in the hope that the infrastructure will improve, says Jeh Wadia, CEO, Go Air, which began operations two months ago. Prime-time slots at the two airports are not available to new airlines and growth could well be put into deep freeze. Go Air, for instance, is among the airlines that has cut flights and reduced aircraft utilisation to 9 to 10 hours a day, to make sure that flights are not delayed. Delays at the airport can have a domino effect and make schedules go haywire, says Mr Wadia. Mumbai and Delhi together account for 48per cent of the total air passenger traffic (domestic and international) in the country. "The AAI has built up a huge surplus of cash and reserves from the two airports by milking the passengers and airlines over the years," says Cyrus Guzder, the former chief of the CII civil aviation committee. Both airports are still below par on every parameter, he says. Frequent fliers complain about poor housekeeping on the passenger side and poor management of air traffic on the airside. "Not one of our 168 airports is even half as good as Dacca," says one. Many aircraft are being ordered in the hope that the infrastructure will improve, says Jeh Wadia, CEO, Go Air, which began operations two months ago. Prime-time slots at the two airports are not available to new airlines and growth could well be put into deep freeze. Go Air, for instance, is among the airlines that has cut flights and reduced aircraft utilisation to 9 to 10 hours a day, to make sure that flights are not delayed. Delays at the airport can have a domino effect and make schedules go haywire, says Mr Wadia. Mumbai and Delhi together account for 48per cent of the total air passenger traffic (domestic and international) in the country. "The AAI has built up a huge surplus of cash and reserves from the two airports by milking the passengers and airlines over the years," says Cyrus Guzder, the former chief of the CII civil aviation committee. Both airports are still below par on every parameter, he says. Frequent fliers complain about poor housekeeping on the passenger side and poor management of air traffic on the airside. "Not one of our 168 airports is even half as good as Dacca," says one. ------ Forget airlines and focus on airports. That seems to be the message. It seems strange that 10 years ago Tatas were denied permission to launch an airline on the grounds that infrastructure was inadequate. Today policy makers seem least concerned about airport infrastructure! What a switch! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
