India and China addressing infrastructure and pilot challenge

Insufficient infrastructure and flight crew availability have often been cited as the cause for potential constraints to growth in emerging markets. However, where there is growth there is often opportunity, with infrastructure projects like airports and aviation support services firmly in this category. Also, when demand and opportunity are combined with a political will, much can be achieved.
In India an innovative strategy has been applied at an early stage in the development of airport infrastructure, through partnerships encompassing airport authorities, financial institutions, industrial conglomerates and top foreign airport operators. Airport infrastructure is rapidly benefiting from these public-private partnerships. The Indian Government�s national airport upgrade and modernisation plan will see an investment of US$9 billion. New Delhi and Mumbai International airports are currently undergoing major mordernisation programmes. This will include the completion of two brand new, world-class airports in Bangalore and Hyderabad, which will be capable of handling large capacity passenger and cargo aircraft, with traffic expected to reach 50 million passengers.

All four airports will be fully operational by 2010. Two other greenfield airports were recently confirmed for Navi Mumbai and Goa, and as many as 35 additional airports are being modernised. When completed, with the later addition of a fourth and then fifth terminal, New Delhi Airport will have over 500 check-in counters, over 200 aerobridges and 150 immigration counters. The international terminal alone will have 130 check-in counters, 70 immigration desks, 55 aerobridges, a high-speed metro and a six-lane approach road. The airport�s 2005 capacity of 15 million passengers will grow to 37 million in 2010, following completion of Terminal 3, and eventually to over 100 million with the later terminal additions, making it one of the largest, most modern airports in South Asia.
Such projects, particularly construction at Bangalore Airport, which will open in 2008, having been built from scratch in just 33 months, are a clear sign that infrastructure projects can - and do - move fast in India. They also provide an efficient and cost-effective use of precious land resource, when compared to that needed for other mass transit options like, such as extensive motorway systems for example.

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The forecast fleet growth in emerging nations will inevitably drive a strong demand for supporting services. Increased requirements for pilots, maintenance and parts will drive a significant growth in service businesses, such as pilot training and maintenance, repair and overall among developing nations over the next ten years. China is expected to need between 1,900 and 2,000 additional pilots every year to cover the increasing size of fleet, as well as to replace pilots that choose to retire or move to jobs in other countries.
Similar service demands will be evident in India, which is expected to need between 800 and 900 additional pilots per year to cover their fleet size increase and the requirement to replace pilots. Today, a significant part of this need is satisfied by "imported" services from Europe or the US. However, driven by airline demand for local, skilled, low labour rates, indigenous providers are emerging and are becoming increasingly autonomous and competitive. The trend is continuing to evolve with the consolidation of some of these local providers. In addition, some providers are even beginning to export services, leveraging their advantages in terms of labour, costs and, at times, favourable exchange rates.






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