[sadhuji]

Yes, the air waves in India have never had it so good. From only two airlines a few years back, the list has grown to a total of nine today namely Air India, India, Jet Airways, Air Sahara, Air Deccan, Kingfisher, Spicejet, GoAir and Paramount. They have between them 238 aircrafts and cover 1130 routes, there are duplications.

Plans are afoot to prepare for the induction of the Airbus A-380 Superjet that can carry 555 passengers! It has a huge wing span of 79.8 meters and hence, airports round the world are modifying existing hangars (or bays) to cater to the requirement. Here, the four major airports at Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai are slated for the improvements. One bay is already built in Chennai, two will be built in Delhi, and one in Kolkata. Simultaneously, one of the taxi-ways in Mumbai will be widened. The runways at Delhi and Mumbai can accept A-380 as it stands. Major airports at San Francisco and Singapore are already getting ready with Heathrow to follow.

The ICAO has finally sanctioned a second airport at Mumbai – Navi Mumbai, in fact. The cost is expected to be Rs 2500 crores in the first phase and will come up in an area of around 1200 hectares of land. The existing facilities at Santa Cruz ands Sahar will reach saturation point by 2014; hence, the urgency.
It was interesting to learn of how so many airlines can survive in the skies at the same time – one reason is that there are more persons who have taken to flying. It saves a lot of botheration and, with easy connectivity, distance in not a deterrent any longer. Therefore we have politicians, film folk, sportspersons and news reporters who have been labeled as ‘frequent fliers’. The airlines, in order to combat the high operating costs have resorted to a novel method. They buy brand new aeroplanes from the manufacturers, sell them and lease them back from the agency to which the planes are sold. It seems, the profit margins are enormously high and the proposals attractive enough.