If there is any one defining symbol that shows India is on the move, it is in the aviation sector. After decades of socialist pampering where national carriers enjoyed a monopoly, the current scenario is a revolution. I remember a time when Indian Airlines was the only option and one was forced to reach other cities a day earlier for business meetings because of the lack of alternatives and flight delays. Short-notice travel was an impossibility. It was a frustrating waste of time and energy.

Today, millions of Indians can pick their flight, time of departure, even the choice of fares. Competition, thanks to the entry of private operators, has been a huge bonus for those travelling on business or pleasure. The advent of budget carriers has brought air travel within the grasp of the middle class. Tickets on low-cost carriers or the range of special fares offered by major players are almost at par with upper-class rail fares. With more private airlines waiting to launch, flights could become even cheaper. The aviation boom is supersonic. Domestic airlines sold 16 million seats last year and are operating 600 flights a day. Air traffic is growing at 20 per cent annually and is set to grow even faster.

That is great news for the sector and consumers but as always, there is a downside. Poor planning and short-sightedness have ensured that infrastructure has not kept pace with growth. Most Indian airports are not equipped to handle the expansion. Singapore's Changi airport handles 3,200 flights a day compared to 600 across India. The turnaround time at Indian airports is 1.4 hours as opposed to the international average of 0.75 hours. The entry of new airlines has led to a critical shortage of pilots, engineers and parking slots while there are other infrastructural bottlenecks urgently in need of long-term solutions.

On a positive note, the current aviation minister, a businessman himself, is aware of the handicaps and plans are in place to upgrade facilities and airport services. Right now, however, India's aviation boom is definitely a boon. Our cover story focuses on the aviation sector from the consumer point of view. As Principal Correspondent Puja Mehra, who along with Special Correspondent Sandeep Unnithan worked on the story, says, "Indians are enjoying the triple treat of affordability, availability and connectivity." Despite the hurdles, the aviation sector, like it and telecom, is poised to change the face of India. A better connected and more mobile one means a healthier economy. As our cover line says, Welcome Aboard.

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