A long wait indeed!

Some hardcore fans have been sitting near the ticket counters for over 24 hours as the chill factor takes hold, all in the hope of watching today's show

A long wait indeed!

Some hardcore fans have been sitting near the ticket counters for over 24 hours as the chill factor takes hold, all in the hope of watching today's show

Aviation enthusiasts braved the cold all night and into the wee hours of today at the Aero India registration counter waiting for their entry passes to be issued. The registration counters operate on two 12 hours shifts, from 10 am to 10 pm and vice versa. With a dozen dedicated counters for members of the delegation, service providers, press, air force personnel, the fire department and exhibitors, enthusiasts huddled in groups, venting their frustration hoping that their passes would be issued before dawn.

Worth the wait: Enthusia-sts line up at the counter.

Muruga Das, district manager, Jubilant Food Works, said, "I've been waiting here since last night and I don't know how much longer I'll have to wait."u00a0 He added, "It doesn't seem to be getting better either. They won't even give me an approximate time frame." Sedhu Manivannan, a building contractor, said, "I have been coming here for three straight days now, but I have not been successful in getting my pass.

Some people with influential friends have been getting preferential treatment and we common folk have to wait like dogs." R Babu Rao, executive applications supporter, said, "I came here at 9 am yesterday morning. It is now past midnight and I'm still sitting here empty handed. I'm hoping to get it in the next few hours."

Uttam Kumar, a manager at the registration counter said, "The problem is that people who didn't register online have been having trouble getting their passes. And yes, I admit some of them have gotten a little cranky, but no one has got violent."