-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Add your name to the CLEAN GOA INITIATIVE | | | | by visiting this link and following the instructions therein | | | | http://shire.symonds.net/pipermail/goanet/2005-October/033926.html | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- These days the news is all about the melodramatic stand taken by Churchill Alemao who has put his political future on the line by threatening to quit the Congress party if GOG does not stop work on the Mopa airport project.
It may be useful to get some perspective on this matter by recalling some earlier airport controversies in India and abroad. People may vaguely recollect that years ago when it was proposed to upgrade Trivandrum airport in Kerala into an international facility due to the surge in Gulf-Kerala traffic the folks in Bombay airport did not take too kindly to this prospect of being bypassed by direct Gulf-Trivandrum flights. It was many many years before the upgrade could be effected. Now Kerala has three international airports (at Kochi and Calicut besides Trivandrum) and is planning not only for a fourth one (at Kannur) but is also toying with the idea of launching an airline to cater to the Gulf traffic of its expatriates. A few years ago, however, Hong Kong's legendary airport Kai Tak closed down without a fight when the ultra modern Chek Lap Kok was commissioned together with new high speed surface transport links to its more distant location. Currently, all eyes are on Bangkok's Don Meung airport as progress is made in commissioning the brand new Suvarnabhumi airport which is also further away compared to the existing airport. Low cost carriers are reportedly insisting that Don Meung should continue to operate for the benefit of budget air travellers. A decision is awaited with bated breath. The original actors in this kind of drama were the authorities of Dallas who along with giant American Airlines were intent on consolidating traffic at the brand new Dallas Fort Worth International airport in the early 1970s. However, fledgling Southwest Airlines fought to continue at close-in Love Field in pursuance of its pioneering low cost strategy. During the airline deregulation era of the late 1970s, American Airlines successfully lobbied a senator to introduce legislation to prevent direct flights from Love Field to other destinations except a few. Southwest Airlines continues to operate from Love Field inspite of this long standing hurdle (by issuing fresh tickets at the prohibited places!) So the kind of soap opera we are seeing over Mopa is nothing new, really. In India it seems to be centred so far around civil enclaves and greenfield airports. But as I said earlier it is the average citizen who suffers due to all the delays and cost overruns.