Travel on the roads and trains of many emerging economies can be a challenge. The overcrowding, the chaos of many vehicles – including cars, trucks, motorcycles, bikes and animals of all kinds – with very few stop lights and little traffic enforcement can leave many a Western head spinning.
I understand that feeling. I’ve done quite a bit of traveling lately in some emerging economies like India, China and other countries of Southeast Asia.
What I have found heartening, however, is that in a number of cities in those countries, airports are oases of order and a marked contrast to the tumult of the cities that they serve. Often, entering the airport access road is like entering a very different country. The congestion and chaos disappear. Where the city buildings frequently suffer from lack of maintenance, the airports often provide a marked contrast, with modern glass and steel terminals. By keeping visitors out of the terminals, they eliminate congestion and strain on facilities.
Sitting here in Hyderabad’s Shamshabad Airport waiting for a flight to Delhi, I can see what I hope is a reflection of India’s future. An organized ramp operation. Equipment in good condition, in their designated spots. What appears to be an orderly and efficient system of loading and unloading passengers and cargo.
