State of the airports: The stakeholders of the aviation sector in the country, especially travellers expect the government to ensure quality growth in the civil aviation sector of the country by ensuring high standards of safety and world-class service quality for the passengers, said aviation expert Dhairyasheel Vandekar in an exclusive chat with Republic Business.

As per the aviation expert, while the aviation industry in India is upbeat, the Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities continue to crave for better airport infrastructure.

“Unfortunately the increasing number of flyers at even airports in metropolitan cities is a matter of concern as airports are crumbling to this pressure,” added the aviation expert.

The Airport Council International's ratings for most of the terminal infrastructure of airports in India raise many questions. Most airports, especially those based in smaller cities have seen ranked low for terminal infrastructure. The Airport Service Quality (ASQ) index seeks a facelift of airports, especially underlines the need for decongestion in waiting areas, entry and exit points of airports, said Vandekar.

Crumbling infra needs boost

With only about 770 + commercial aircrafts available with our Indian carriers, airports are turning out to be too fragile to cater to this huge growing pan India demand for flights. “Many important cities are handicapped for want of better airport infrastructure. Despite being based in major commercial business cities in the country, these airports are lagging behind in terms of their terminal buildings,” aviation expert Vandekar told Republic Business.

As per Vandekar, several of the Airports Authority of India ( AAI) operated airports need to see a runway and terminal expansion.

“Having tracked civil aviation, especially airport infrastructure, for a decade in various cities, I must admit that Airports Council International's, Airport Service Quality is an important parameter to take into account. It is a high time for airports' safety audit,” added the aviation expert Vandekar.

“In fact, several airports, which have seen their inaugural international connections do not have a desirable airport infrastructure in place,” added the aviation expert.

The schemes like Agri UDAN is also suffering at these places at the Tier 2 & 3 cities as the flights there are operated by smaller aircraft like ATR which hardly has space left for carrying cargo after having accommodated passengers and their baggage, added Vandekar.

UDAN scheme

While the UDAN scheme of the government was a youth success in stimulating aviation growth in the country there are many Tier 2 & 3 cities that have been demanding for the extension of this scheme at their airports for certain productive routes on which the commercial airlines did not start flights after the UDAN scheme period was over even though the routes had 85 per cent minimum seat factor round the year, said the aviation expert.

“This was mainly because of shortage of aircraft in the country and excessive demands and pressures from other emerging airports. While starting flights from new airports in future, the government must focus on the sustainability of the airports and ensure infrastructure is up to the mark,” added the aviation expert Vandekar.

Airport roof collapse: High standards of safety expected at Indian airports, say experts

The civil aviation sector expects world-class service quality for the passengers at Indian airports, says experts.

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