Have you ever imagine waiting on tarmac for your flight to take off? Worst could happen to you in Brazil. In 2007, the Brasilia International Airport has faced an average delay of 15 minutes to take off in 27% of their flights. Forbes has conducted a survey recently (2009) across the globe regarding the arrival and departure time of flights.

Arrival times of the fights are calculated by the airport authority to calculate the delay. If a flight is 15 minutes behind the schedule, then it is considered as a delay. Pilots are capable of compensating the time on air, which he has lost on the ground. But it becomes very frustrating for the travellers and others to wait at the lobby or runway.

Even flights at the Mumbai or Delhi airports were delayed for a long time. These airports are known for the worst arrival time. The Indian officials at the International Civil Aviation Organization stated that the airports across the country are undergoing modernization and will soon be in a position to tackle the vast economic growth of India.

The worst airport for arrival in the US is LaGuardia Airport. In 2007, only 58% flights arrived on time. The John F. Kennedy Airport at New York is not far behind; only 60% of its flights arrived on time. Guarulhos and Congonhas International Airports at Sao Paolo (Brazil) has witnessed a 59% and 57% respective delay in departures of all flights. On the other hand, arrivals at this airport have been delayed by 41% and 46% respectively. During 2007, only 33% of flights took off on time from the Beijing Capital International Airport in China. The Cairo International Airport of Egypt has witnessed only 47% of its flights to take off on time. One of the busiest, yet glamorous airports Charles de Gaulle Airport of Paris has seen not more than 50% of its flights to take off on time.

As per Forbes.com, the world’s worst airport is the Chhatrapati Sivaji International Airport of Mumbai closely followed by New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. The Bengalooru International Airport is in a bit better situation; it has got the 4th place.

The congestion in airport has increased many folds mainly due to the increase in the number of small flights. Robert Poole of Reason Foundation has stated that there has been an increase of 128% during the last 5 years in the categories of planes with less than 100 seating capacity. It was also opined that the airline companies should be asked to pay damages for any unwanted delays.

Some least delayed airports.

The Gimpo International Airport at Seoul (Korea) has suffered delay of only 5% of its flights last year. It has been ranked as the world’s most efficient airport by Forbes.com. Jeju Internation Airport is just behind and only 6% of its flights were delayed last year. Only 8% of the flights failed to make it on time during 2007 at the Osaka Itami International Airport at Japan. Haneda Airport ranks after Itami for its efficient service.

Far East is the ideal place from where the policymakers of the West can learn how to keep the flights on time.

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