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Hope floats

This has been an interesting month. The news that the final go ahead of the new civil aviation policy by the cabinet will come by April end can be easily regarded as one of the most anticipated events this year. Tipped at being a highly progressive policy initiative, the new policy will have answers to many questions - from development of new airports to issues regarding greenfield airports.

Also, the ministry reached a conclusion regarding the controversial User Development Fee (UDF) issue that was plaguing the passengers using additional facilities at the greenfield airports of Hyderabad and Bangalore. The one in Bangalore will not charge domestic passengers any UDF for the first three months of operations.

Another significant development has been the appointment of legal advisors for modernisation of non-metro airports by the AAI. NACIL also sees a change of command this April.

One more important unfolding in aviation has been the change in Kingfisher's strategy. Mallya made headlines by announcing that his airline will be branded Kingfisher all the way - at the national as well as the international level and Deccan will be phased out. Goyal has also strengthened Jet's international footprints with probable plans for Milan and Vienna. He says he wants to participate in the European traffic and "make money". So focused is the man that he even plans to dilute five to ten per cent of personal stake to see both his brands succeed.

What has been a dampener in all this is the unnecessary involvement of politics, like the stir to change the name of Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport as well as the location of Shivaji's statue there. The ministry had to send out a note that said that such issues should not be raked up in the best interest of aviation processes, specially at a time when India is on the verge of take-off. We as citizens will be happy to see it prosper to become one of the leading powers in the world, flaunting its world-class international airports that have the potential of becoming better than the best.

Reema Sisodia
Associate Editor
editorial.etw@expressindia.com