It is no laughing matter that the very negative term “Indian Stretchable Time” can also be extended to operations at major airports in the country. An international “on-time performance survey” covering 513 airports revealed that not a single major Indian facility made the top 200. While the country’s busiest ~ the IGIA in the capital ~ notched up the 451st slot, Mumbai’s CSIA was ranked fifth from the bottom.

The IGIA was rated as 70.07 per cent on the punctuality index, Mumbai at 60 per cent: Hyderabad, Kolkata and Bengaluru were also at unimpressive 270, 262 and 246 places. Only the minor facility at Port Blair broke 100 and was listed at the 65th spot ~ but how many flights operate from there every day? Of course there are both alibis and promises aplenty.

The civil aviation ministry cites problems with infrastructure and holds out some hope of improvement when new airports are commissioned in Mumbai and Delhi ~ acquisition of land for the latter has yet to commence. Another explanation was that punctuality was impacted by a chain-reaction, delays in incoming flights threw schedules awry.

Then there were issues with Air Traffic Control, technical glitches, and bad weather. Does any of that apply uniquely to India or cut ice with the paying passenger whose travel plans are frequently disrupted and who has to wait hours in crowded terminals ~ often without even the courtesy of an explanatory announcement from the airline? And of the 137 carriers surveyed, Air India’s punctuality ranked a lowly 131. Indigo did the best among domestic players, its rank was 33.

Those less-than-laudatory statistics have to be perceived in the context of frequent claims that the civil aviation sector is going places with the regional connectivity programme bringing new destinations on the map (as was earlier boasted by the now-defunct third-level operator, Vayudoot), and the huge orders for new planes by the airlines.

Alas, as evident in other spheres too, the obsession with “quantity” relegates quality to inconsequential levels ~ a collective failure of the DGCA, Airports Authority, private airport managers and, of course, the airlines.

The welcome “no fly list” of rowdy passengers has not been backed up by deterrent action against staffers who have thrashed passengers and turned the air-conditioning to full blast to force the de-boarding of passengers protesting against long delays. Or when in public sector carriers, the crew plays hookey. Grim-faced stewardesses who believe they are doing the passenger a favour by providing a drink of water, mishandled baggage, or ignoring requests for wheelchair assistance are comparatively minor irritants.

Sadly, even private carriers have lowered their service standards ~ even as they consistently reduce their free-baggage allowance, and favour predatory pricing policies. When last did a civil aviation minister earn public applause? At least a couple of them were said to have earned big bucks under the table.