Bombay airport is nothing short of horrific, but there are some good airports too, such as the new Nedumbassery airport in Cochin, and the domestic airport in Calicut (the international part of the same airport is filthy)

Dude, this white girl totally took a little pre-dawn nap in Bombay's airport in July 2003 on those weird vinyl reclining thingies that let you lean back and stretch out your legs. The Indian guys next to me also made sure I was up in time for the flight, even though I hadn't said anything to them and wasn't letting myself go completely under anyway. I thought those chairs were fab. What gives? Despite the general horrors of Bombay, I remember nothing particularly negative about the airport.

I second the comment about the new Cochin Airport. I haven't tried sleeping there but i can testify that it's very nice looking, clean, and seems well-designed. Baggage claim also took no time.
When i landed at the airport it was a beautiful december day and the sight, from the terminal, of the planes against a backdrop of green fields and coconut trees was spectacular. This photo-gallery doesn't do it justice though : http://www.cochin-airport.com/asp/0170phot.asp

The airports are usually cleaner than the public places. Bombay airport being cleaner than the city. So don't compare airports together - ITS UNFAIR !!! :)

As I remember it, the Calicut airport was absolutely stunning. Coconut trees neatly lined along the tarmac. Also remember the tarmac being on a small plateau, the perfect spot for a nice view. Liked the scenery better than the Cochin airport.

The airport in Kolkata is relatively decent. There's nothing perticularly dirty about it... not luxurious but certainly not as horrible as people mentioned.

I might be a little biased since I never had to stand in the lines (my father used to work there and his old buddies would always let us cut).

that's a little too general, the airport in Chennai was definitely not brand new but it was quiet, comfortable and didn't smell... and the chairs were more comfortable than the ones at the airports in Vancouver and here in Toronto.

Trichy's airport is definitely deserving though... anyways its hard to sleep when there are guys with ak47's wandering around

I will have to agree - airports in India suck big time. I have had the unfortunate pleasure of spending many a long nights there. And to top it all, the airport tax charged in Indian aiports is pretty high - compared to what they offer.

When I visited India last summer, I found that Bombay's domestic airport (at Santacruz) was better than the international airport.

Indians all round the world love to do one thing thing and one thing alone. This common thread units us all onto being desi.
Bitching,Ranting,Screaming about all things Indian.
Thinking all that needs to be done to Indian airports it that they should be Privatized.
That could have been mentioned. But then again comments would have been stemed

Airports in India are fuctional, aren't they? Who the hell cares if they aren't luxurious enough for the random picky Americans who wrote these reviews? India has plenty of problems to worry about, and I'd much rather see money going into public works for the common people rather than money being spent to appease those who are just visiting or leaving the country. Health care and education should come before shiny impressive airports.

People don't go to India for the airports, come on now. People go to India to experience...well the splendor and chaos of the country. Indians and NRIs go to visit relatives and family. I dont see the big deal about making a fuss about airports. If these people cared so much then they shouldnt bother going to India at all. Stay in the western world where everything is sterile. I mean India is not for everyone, but it seems so stupid to 1.research about the country 2.buy the tickets 3.spend hours on the flight 4.fully know what you are getting into before hand ...and then complain about it once you are there..come on non-indians..grow up!

both banglawarrior and Sona get it dead wrong. People don't go to India for the airports but when presented with filthy often non functional airport - yes non-funcitonal - try the conveyor belts where luggage falls off frequently, power breakdowns, filthy bathrooms and so on, they perforce have to adjust their expectations with some not returning. Banglawarrior - airports are every bit as important as "public works" - they actually provide employment for starters and are an integral part of the infrastructure

I don't know about you guys, but I don't think I'm keen on the idea of sleeping in any airport after this

Try being stuck at the airport in Kabul for 24 hours circa 1989. Mangled aircraft all over the runway, heavily armed airport personnel shoving hijab-less females around with their guns. Intrusive "pat-downs", salty water, frustrating delays. Makes the airports in Delhi and Mumbai seem like Sandals resorts.

On the subject of airports, has anyone had the misfortune of flying through Miami? My advice: don't.

Try Amritsar Airport. The place has nothing, and they charge money (those without a ticket) to sit in the lounge (which is not in the airport, but next to it). The conveyor belt for the luggage is super small too... However, it is conveniently located to my family, so it does get one thumb up!

Damn, I'm jealous. I wish I had a conveyor belt conveniently located next to my family, even if it was a super small one.

Yes, airports should be fuctional. If the conveyor belts don't work, they should be fixed.

I still don't think that making airports super-comofrable for foreigners and expatriates should take priority over getting education, indoor plumming, and health care to the poor. So no, Airports aren't THAT important.

making airports super-comofrable for foreigners and expatriates should take priority over getting education, indoor plumming, and health care to the poor.

Commie/Atheist/Marxist! Don't you support Indian development :)

Shoot you think the airports are bad? Try having to drop a tut on the train...

If its true that what doesn't kill you makes your strong...then our lovely transportation system makes us some baaad mather-ch.......but I'm talking about desis....

I still don't think that making airports super-comofrable for foreigners and expatriates should take priority over getting education, indoor plumming, and health care to the poor. So no, Airports aren't THAT important.

How about investing in these airports to make them super comfortable, neat, functional, and logistically managable to ensure more travelers come through India or visit (First impressions are sometimes the last impressions).

With the recent open skies agreement coupled with India's geographical location, and projected future increases in travel, it would be an intelligent investment to upgrade atleast the major hub cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkota, Chennai, Bangalore, etc.) to internationally neutral standards (we are not talking Kansai or Hong Kong here, but something pragmatic). That is not asking for too much. For a country of a billion with a rising economic status, airports serve as the primary port of entry/exit and have great potential to generate income.

This past summer, I visited India and flew in and out of Delhi. Four years ago, when I went last, I remember the airport as being very rundown and just overall unsavory. There was also the Times of India article about the young NRI girl who was killed after falling into the loose trap door at the bottom of the escalator. That horrendous story summed up my experience of Indian airports. This time I went though, the airport was much cleaner and efficient. I agree that airports are public works and should be taken care of precisely because the first and last impression of the country is projected to the visitor and more importantly, the economy is boosted by airports locally as well as nationally.
The question should be of safety at this point, not of creating world class airports by investing crores. I believe that the safety issue is being taken care of.
http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/000154.html

Yes, India does have serious pressing poverty issues, but when a city like BAngalore has high tech cities,fly overs, those damn blinkin diodes on the road divider, and everybody patting them selves in the back that WOW! Bangalore is getting Hep, what a Shock I had when I landed last summer. Damn, Lufthansa's loo stunk, so I held my bladder, and rushed to the first loo in bangalore airport, guess wot ? I still get shivers: No commode. and hello, wot to do with my carry on ? Cant leave it outside right? And cant leave it on the floor inside the bathroom either, no hooks on the door to hang my rucksack, So i managed this great job of crouchin with my 10 lb bag. I was cussing the hell out. So, if you wanna entice foreign investors and tourism, cant we atleast provide decent, sanitary restrooms ?

"cant we atleast provide decent, sanitary restrooms ?"

"I didn't go to the bathroom once the whole time we were in India!" - George Costanza

It's so sad to recall the bad experiences that I had in travelling through india. Airports is the first point of entry into a country and the impression gathered at this point is highly crucial. An airport should have two to three runways atleast. Chennai airport has only one runway and it does not have any eyecatching infrastructure to call it an airport. It looks almost like a public school in Australia. The baggage conveyor carousel is too narrow to accomodate even a 27" bag. My bag was badly bruised and damaged by a set of marons called the porters on arrival. I found unflushed shit sticking all over the toilet seat which made me to throw up. All toilets at the international airport should be washed every hour. The airport taxi is nothing more than large piece of scrap metal on wheels. They cannot even accomodate medium sized bags. Furthermore the taxi driver was very rude to us. My husband and me spent over 45,000 american dollars in India alone. There are scores of other travellers like me bring in alot of foreign money into india and india gains largely through this kind of foreign exchange. I call the airport authority of india to employ western educated architects to add or improve the chennai airport infrastructure. To date chennai airport is one of the world's worst airports.

Barbara,

I'm sure once they get done dealing with malaria, illiteracy, widespread and deep poverty, malnutrition, religious tensions, and the possibility of nuclear war in the 50 years with one or more neighbors, I'm sure they'll be right on making sure the airports are decorated with pretty balloons and the taxi drivers are required to go to finishing school. By the way, what could you possibly have spent US $45,000 on in India?

In closing, it's "moron", not "maron".

My husband and me spent over 45,000 american dollars in India alone.

and for that you feel entitled to preferential treatment or some colonialized ass kissing? It's India, not the South of France...

damn, im glad i didnt even think about using the washrooms at the chennai airport...

welcome to india, have a nice day!

Barbara,

To reiterate, India doesn't need your small-minded American dollars. Keep them in your purse or up your ass along with your head. Please don't come again. Thank you.

where does 'babara' get $45k american dollars from? Her grammar does not sound american... but i can tell by her spelling skills that she was probably educated in the Dallas ISD ;)

good call Andrea, I also thought she didn't have an american tone...

Besides, if a poop on a seat lid is enough to make one throw up, stay out of NYC ;)

Oh please, I don't see why you are all outraged at Barbara. If tourism and its promotion are good things, then Barbara has been a good customer of India, and needs to be treated better. Treating a customer badly will certainly diminish the product. I, for one, am happy that she and her husband spent their money in India. And I concur that Chennai airport stinks and needs to get better pronto, like yesterday.

You guys are acting like tourism in India should be treated like a boutique product, somewhat like the "Soup Nazi" in Seinfeld treated his product and customers. Please take your blinders off.

Woah folks, lets not give the impression to other genuine folks that India is not a place to go to. This issue highlights how marketing companies alter expectations of people for their travel dollars and uneducated travellers who won't take personal responsibility to do the proper research.

Travel Company A shows a nice package deal. People look at the Taj Mahal and get wooed. Travel Company does not give information on how to deal with local situations or what to expect. Travellers assume everything will just be like America. I mean, what could be different right?

and for that you feel entitled to preferential treatment or some colonialized ass kissing? It's India, not the South of France...

You don't have to go to S. France to get your ass kissed. Vegas, Mexico, UAE, etc. all do a good job of that in a fair and professional manner. You expect to get what you paid for. If I paid 200 bucks/night for a room at the Bellagio and got treated like I was at the San Remo, I would be pissed.

By the way, If it was colonial, then people wouldn't even get paid, only some creative accounting to show that people got paid.

Being prepared for their travel and doing the right research though is upto the traveller themselves.

Barbara: You can't blame anyone else for going to India with the improper expectations. Borders, Barnes and Nobles, the INTERNET, have many resources to educate you properly.

By the way, what could you possibly have spent US $45,000 on in India?

Saurav: With all the issues you mentioned, plenty of developing nations take measures to ensure the health of their travel industry. Bottom line is that fair criticism (cleanliness in airports, luggage handling) should be considered. Only when people complain will authorities/businesses make changes to institute better infrastructure and professional services that would eventually generate cash so a family can afford malaria treatments, education for their kids, food, etc. If Indians were willing to do this for the tech sector, why not the travel sector?

India has incredible potential that hasn't even been tapped yet. I'm fortunate enough to have traveled India extensively and see these treasures via the trains (if anyone has gone from Gujarat to Trivandrum, 3rd class, raise your hand, as Vurd said, taking a tut was difficult). Travel money from foreigners as well as Indians would help ensuring many of the nation's beautiful spots get funded and protected for future generations to enjoy.

Saurav: With all the issues you mentioned, plenty of developing nations take measures to ensure the health of their travel industry. Bottom line is that fair criticism (cleanliness in airports, luggage handling) should be considered. Only when people complain will authorities/businesses make changes to institute better infrastructure and professional services that would eventually generate cash so a family can afford malaria treatments, education for their kids, food, etc. If Indians were willing to do this for the tech sector, why not the travel sector?

This is a nice, oversimplified neoliberal analysis. I think it has a little truth to it, but I think it won't hold up particularly well overall when you consider the social, political, etc. ramifications of what happens when policymakers cater to tourists like Barbara (whom I assume is Australian) instead of prioritizing their needs over those of the people you're supposed to be accountable to. Have you ever been to Goa?

In any case, I was responding more to Barbara's sense of entitlement and total lack of perspective. She's the worst kind of tourist. When I travel, I get angry and complain about stupid and/or uncomfortable things too, because it's human; but I try, at least, to keep in mind who I am and what currency and passport I hold too. Especially with the benefit of some hindsight.

This is a nice, oversimplified neoliberal analysis. I think it has a little truth to it, but I think it won't hold up particularly well overall when you consider the social, political, etc ramifications of what happens when policymakers cater to tourists like Barbara (whom I assume is Australian) instead of prioritizing their needs over those of the people you're supposed to be accountable to. Have you ever been to Goa?

I've been to Goa and thought the spicy food was wonderful. People were very nice too. Can't say much more than that since I don't have much knowledge of local Goan culture and the impacts of tourism.

I am not claiming the government should specifically cater to tourists like Barbara. They ARE the worst kind. It drives me nuts when I go somewhere and you hear people whining about being entilted to a standard, even when the expecation was unrealistic. However, India should uphold some basic fundamentals: Cleanliness, good logistics, and a sound infrastructure (not extravagant). Balance may be achieved. You don't have to jump out and wow peole, a neutral approach works. To attract a healthy and genuine market of tourists you don't have to re-write the book.

Numbers wise, India has so many diverse tourist opportunities that there is amazing potential for growth just by making basic improvements.

Now only if the Indian government was somewhat accoutable and uncorrupt, thing would be different. Dreams can come true, I hope.

So, Jeevan and Dr. Venugopal, if you had to make a list of 100 priorities for your government to spend your money on, around where would the airport renovations come in?

Just curious.

just thought i'd add my mundane 2p: i think indian airports are fine as long as the loos are clean. which they mostly are, btw. i mean, if you're not neurotic about it.

and one doesn't really need anything more than that in an airport. there are about a million other things we need to do. right now i can think of one: housing for the homeless who are trying to deal with mumbai's unrelenting rains.

People get caught up in the symbolism of airports. It's a very 1960s view of national pride, in which the airport is a prime signifier of the accomplishments of the nation as a whole. Partly because it is a gateway to foreigners but mainly because of the modernistic prestige once associated with air travel.

It doesn't square with reality today at all. And besides, there are very few pristine and hyper-efficient airports in the world anyway. Most airports were build in that spirit and quickly found themselves overloaded. I was in Paris CDG-2 a couple months ago; once it was state of the art, now overcrowded and inefficient and hard to navigate. Terminal 4 in Heathrow is great so long as you aren't connecting from another terminal -- and also don't get exiled to the set of gates that are a 15-minute walk away from all the others. Frankfurt is a pit. And so on.

Meanwhile here in the US all our airports are basically enormous bus stations. The standard is low. The only thing improving is the average quality of shopping concessions, and that's simply because there is private $ to be made in it.

peace

But a bad airport drives away both business and tourists. If it takes a long time to get through an airport, if luggage is hard to retrieve after a flight, if the bathrooms are in bad enough shape to discourage somebody from flying through there, then both tourism and investment go down. On the other hand, where airports are clean, efficient and modern, they serve as advertisements for a country.

I'm not arguing that India's airports should be up to Singapore's standards - Singapore is a small but rich country with one airport. But it would be a good idea for India's airports to move towards the quality of the "enormous bus stations" that America has, or at least half that quality.

I've had worse experiences flying out of Delhi International Airport (IG) than out of any other third world airport, including six different airports in Africa.

Tourism is a major growth industry for India, and should be cultivated from an investment perspective

The economic contribution of tourism is measured in terms of its share in GDP and employment which currently generates 0.9 per cent only and the value added was Rs 744.76 billions. The travel and tourism sector provided employment to 212 millions directly or indirectly, i.e., 10.7 percent of global workforce.

The tourism and hospitality industry is one of the world’s fastest growing export industry. It is estimated to be the third largest export industry in India. The magnitude of this sector can be visualized with the total tourist of 750 million by spending $423 billions. Tourism accounted to 6 per cent of total of world’s exports and more than 30 percent of the international trade in services. India had received 16,829 international tourists in 1951 and the arrivals increased to 2.29 million in 1996-97 registering an annual growth rate of 11.5 percent by providing forex earnings of Rs 10,000 crores. Economic liberalisation has given a new impetus to the hospitality industry. [CITE]

I hear you Ennis, and I'm all in favor of nice airports, but I'm not sure I agree with your premise:

But a bad airport drives away both business and tourists.

I don't think a bad airport drives away business when there's big money to be made. Look at all the ill places oil execs will travel to find new supply: Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Chad... And for some investors, a bad airport might be proof of investment opportunities, at least in the infrastructure sector!

As for tourists, they are in three classes: posh tourists in groups, backpackers, and others. Category 1 gets whisked through airports by handlers, and category 3 doesn't care (or worse, digs the experience, exotica and all that.) Leaving category 2.

All in all, I guess I'm saying that while a bad airport is nothing to be proud or happy about, it's not that big a deal either.

Peace

Aviation Industry is not a welfare organisation as many of us think

vimala, i don't think the aviation industry is a welfare organisation at all.