Objectives : Aim of the study is to evaluate and compare the Airtraq optical laryngoscope with the Macintosh for the ease of laryngoscopic intubation in terms of their time taken for intubation, number of attempts for successful intubation and hemodynamic parameters in peri–intubation period. Methods : In this randomized observational study 60 patients were enrolled into two groups of 30 each in the airtraq and macintosh group respectively. A comparision was made between the two groups in patients deemed at low risk for difficult intubation . Results : The Airtraq required less optimization maneuvers to improve glottis exposure, and resulted in less oral mucosal trauma as compared to Macintosh laryngoscope in patients with normal airway. There was no difference in the duration of intubation attempts or hemodynamic changes between the two groups. Conclusion: There was no difference between groups in the duration of intubation attempts. In comparison to the Macintosh laryngoscope, the Airtraq resulted in modest improvements in terms of optimisation maneuvers. Tracheal intubation with the Airtraq resulted in less alterations in heart rate. These findings demonstrate the utility of the Airtraq laryngoscope for tracheal intubation in low risk patients.