Building runway for air travel's successful take-off

Kanpur: Why has the city in spite of being India's fifth largest metro, a crucial industrial hub, presence of IIT, Green Park stadium, RBI etc has failed to establish itself on aviation map. Kanpur has failed to record any growth in terms of passenger load or revenue generation via air travel.
A comparative study with three major cities of state reflects this sorry state. Lucknow, the state capital has huge influx of passengers from all major metros. Varanasi sits pretty on the factor of it being an important holy pilgrimage, both for Buddhists and Hindus. An international flight operates from Kathmandu to Varanasi. Agra, cashes on fame of world famous Taj Mahal which contributes for bulk of domestic and foreign tourists to Agra.
Interestingly, the passenger load at Amausi airport in Lucknow comprises 60-70 per cent from Kanpur.
More importantly, Kanpur has huge share of international passengers as well but they prefer to take the route of state capital. Prashant Shukla, media co-ordinator of Air India, talking to TOI said, "all the international flights from Gulf, US, UK start land in Delhi at mid-night after 12 and they carry a huge load of Kanpur-bound passengers. But they all prefer to take indirect route to Lucknow in absence of immediate direct flight to Kanpur."
The aviation sector in Kanpur faces a tough competition from Shatabadi Express. The scenario will brighten up if fares come down or come at comparative level.
18/03/09 Harsh Pandey/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Mar 2009