Air Transport: Fast, Costly, Preferred for Long Hauls

Air transport has brought about a connectivity revolution in the world. Air transport is the fastest means of transportation, but it is very costly. It is preferred by passengers for long-distance travel. Valuable cargo can be moved rapidly on a world-wide scale.

Bridging Inaccessibility and Strategic Significance in Challenging Terrains: Lifeline, Global Connectivity, and Strategic Impact

• Air Travel as a Lifeline: It is often the only means to reach inaccessible areas. 
  • In the Himalayan region, the routes are often obstructed due to landslides, avalanches or heavy snowfall. 
• Enabling Rapid Connectivity Globally: At such times, air travel is the only alternative to reach a place. 
  • At present no place in the world is more than 35 hours away. 
• Strategic Significance of Airways: Airways also have great strategic importance. 
  • The airstrikes by countries for defence purposes are of crucial importance. 

• Revolutionizing Air Transport: Recent developments can change the future course of air transport. 
  • Supersonic aircraft cover the distance between London and New York within three and a half hours.

Inter-Continental Air Routes: Hubs, Disparities, and Inter-Continental Networks

• Northern Hemisphere: There is a distinct east-west belt of inter-continental air routes. 
  • Dense networks exist in Eastern U.S.A., Western Europe and Southeast Asia. 
  • The U.S.A. alone accounts for 60 percent of the airways of the world.
• Nodal Points: New York, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome, Moscow, Karachi, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago are the nodal points where air routes converge or radiate to all continents.
• Air Service Disparities: Africa, Asiatic part of Russia and South America lack air services. 
  • There are limited air services between 10-35 latitudes in the Southern hemisphere due to sparser population, limited landmass and economic development.

Air Transport in India: Air Transport Evolution and Connectivity

• Air transport in India made a beginning in 1911 when airmail operation commenced over a little distance of 10 km between Allahabad and Naini (Prayagraj, U.P.). 
  • The air transport was nationalised in 1953.
• Airport Authority of India (AAI): It is responsible for providing safe, efficient air traffic and aeronautical communication services in the Indian Air Space. 
  • The authority manages 137 airports.
• Air Transport Landscape in India: The air transport in India is managed by Air India. 
  • Now, many private companies have also started passenger services. 
  • Air India provides International Air Services for both passengers and cargo traffic.
  • It connects all the continents of the world through its services. 
  • Some private companies have also started operations to foreign countries.
• Pawan Hans is the helicopter service operating in hilly areas and is widely used by tourists in the north-eastern sector. 
  • It also provides helicopter services to the petroleum sector and for tourism.

Also Read: Evolution of Communication System: Drums to Satellites & Connecting the World