Note: "Great Wall of Goa" = Military Presence at Dabolim http://in.rediff.com/money/2005/may/31airline.htm
http://mboard.rediff.com/board/board.php?boardid=money2005may31airline <Subject: Review Restrictions at Air Bases The author has rightly referred to the relatively high fuel costs, landing charges and navigation charges which militate against low cost aviation in India. What everyone overlooks is the stranglehold of Defence restrictions which many economically important airports suffer. Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, and Goa are some of these airports. There are about 25 defence controlled airports in which civilian flights operate under severe restrictions. No one is highlighting the acute need for a high level and expeditious review of the restrictions and easing of these at the earliest to facilitate low cost aviation without seriously undermining security needs. Such easing would go a long way in enabling low cost airlines to keep their planes flying point to point productively (at low fares) instead of either circling for a runway slot or sitting on the ground. Jet Airways recently approached the army with an offer to ferry personnel from the LoC at special rates. This may be a good ploy to open channels of communication with the military about airport bottlenecks. The Defence Minister is himself the chairman of the Empowered Group on airport privatisation! Posted by Philip Thomas on 01-JUN-05>