Global aviation hub a distant dream for India

New Delhi: Despite massive capacity expansions, Delhi and Mumbai airports will not be able to bridge the yawning gap with airports run by the Asian tigers, China and Dubai, raising questions about Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel’s vision of making India a competitive global aviation hub within Asia.
Delhi, which currently has a capacity to handle only 12 million passengers a year, is being expanded so that by 2010 it can support 37 million passengers and hit 50 million by 2012. Mumbai airport, which has limited capacity for expansion, is being expanded to handle 40 million passengers annually by 2010.
But these capacities pale in comparison to the massive investments in airports like Changi in Singapore, Dubai airport, Suvarnabhhumi airport in Bangkok, Incheon in SouthKorea,or even Beijing airport.
For instance, with the completion of a new terminal (terminal 3) in Changi with an investment of $ 1.75 billion, the airport will have a capacity to handle over 70 million passengers from 2008, nearly double Delhi's capacity in 2010.
Said Kapil Kaul, who heads Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) in India, “I think we have missed the bus in terms of being a hub. Airports like Dubai and Singapore have ensured through their expansion and liberal policy that Indians use it as a hub to fly to the US and UK.”
02/08/07 Surajeet Das Gupta/Business Standard

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: General Aviation Aug 2007