In awe of the operating efficiency of the airline staff in India

“Vallavanukku pullum aayudham”

                                                              Tamil Saying

To a strong (capable) person, even a blade of grass is a weapon.

The above statement seemed to ring true over and over again, as I experienced domestic air travel in India after a gap of two and a half years, and after having lived outside India for over a couple of decades. The airports are much smaller in size compared to those in India. In general, the luxury of land availability for urban fixtures is a lot less in India compared to the United States, given that people have been living in these areas for a few thousand years and urban symbols had to be built around existing structures.

This limitation in size naturally translates itself into a limitation in the number of airline departure gates. However, this does not limit the services that the airline companies of today offer.  Thousands of passengers walk through the small number of gates;  shuttle buses faithfully await their arrival and ferry them off to their flight that is patiently waiting on the tarmac. A ladder moves on to the gate of the plane. Smiling stewards and hostesses greet the passengers as they embark on their flight in a very efficient loading operation. 

Having gotten used to very large airports that deal with a relatively smaller number of passengers in the Western Hemisphere, it was wonderful to watch this quick handling of passengers through a handful  of gates  as departure after departure was announced at domestic airports at Chennai and Mumbai.

Equally amazing was the efficiency with which elaborate (hot) meals (hot Kanchipuram idlies with sambar, tender coconut juice) were served on short distance flights and the dexterity with which the plates were cleared.  A welcome change for someone who has gotten used to the fact that airlines in the United States have suspended meal service over the last few years.

The feather in the cap was the ruthless efficiency with which damaged baggage was  handled. A co-passenger whose suitcase was damaged only had to tap on a red-coated airline staff person standing nearby. Out came a few staff members, apologized for the damage and presented the passenger with a set of substitute suitcases to choose from!

I do hear complaints of flight delays and the like; however, the ground reality is that given the limited space resources, the airlines function with a stagerring degree of operating efficiency.