Mohandas Pai, former Chief Financial Officer of Infosys and current chairman of Aarin Capital, has publicly called for airports to make the use of aerobridges mandatory wherever they are available. Pai voiced his support on Tuesday, responding to concerns raised by author Anuradha Goyal on social media.
Pai emphasized that the current practice of herding passengers into buses, despite the availability of aerobridges, stems from high airport charges. He stated, "Very high charges by airports is hurting passengers who are herded into buses. Use of aero bridge should be mandatory if available."
Passenger Inconvenience and Industry Debate
The debate began when Anuradha Goyal tagged Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, highlighting the issue. "Aerobridges lie idle while passengers are shuttled in buses. It is not just inconvenient, but also adds to the non-flying time we spend on airports. Please do something to minimize the used of busses and maximize use of aerobridges," Goyal wrote.
The discussion quickly broadened, with other users on social media offering different perspectives. One user pointed out that the decision to use an aerobridge typically rests with the airlines, not the government, suggesting that airlines might find buses a more economical option.
"I know. But it needs to change - their greed is inconvenient for us," Goyal responded, acknowledging the airline's role but stressing the need for change.
Entrepreneur Ikas Poddar provided a potential financial explanation for airlines' preference for buses. Poddar suggested that airlines might incur a fixed cost for buses, and using an aerobridge would mean paying additional aerobridge charges on top of the already incurred bus cost, making the bus option financially preferable in some scenarios.
Pai's intervention brings renewed attention to passenger experience and the operational economics influencing airport services, pushing for a policy shift to prioritize convenience for travelers.