According to International Air Transport Association's global airport monitor, the international airport in Delhi scores 2.6 in total customer satisfaction against a global average of 3.7 and an Asian average of 3.5. The Mumbai airport has an even lower score of 2.3. No wonder then that it is imperative for the Civil Aviation Ministry to spruce up its act not only in the case of these two airports but also others around the country. This is an ironic situation especially when it is public knowledge that the AAI is not starved of cash- it generates annual profits of around Rs. 300 crore (US $ 66 mn) and has free reserves of almost Rs. 1,300 crore (US $ 288 mn).

The country's airport infrastructure is already overburdened with only 170-odd jets crisscrossing Indian skies. This number will jump to over 400 in the next five years as seven or eight new airlines are set to take wings and existing carriers, Indian as well as international, will press more flights into service. Realising the need to move fast, the Civil Aviation Minister hopes to revamp at least ten airports this year. "We have been making buildings and not terminals," he was quoted as having said, adding that there will be rapid exit and taxi tracks, and better air traffic control.