AAI assigns ground handling to private agencies

Kochi: Following continuing reports of pilferage, mishandling of luggage, collision and accidents of ground handling at various airports, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has entrusted the tasks of ground clearance, cargo facilities and fuelling the aircraft to private agencies selected by the AAI.
At present, ground handling operations at airports are being carried out by Air India, Indian Airlines and Cambatta Aviation. Some foreign airlines also do self handling at airports or the work is entrusted to certain private agencies approved by the AAI. AAI sources said the ground clearance at Chennai, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Coimbatore, Tiruchi and Mangalore airports will be handled by Bhadra International India Ltd. The present operations at these airports will cease on December 31, 2010, and the new agency will carry out the operations next year.
It is pointed out that, at present, numerous manpower suppliers resort to availing ill trained casual ad hoc workforce without valid antecedent checks and have access to terminals, especially the apron area. Now, the entry will be regulated and restricted to a few legitimate agencies of the AAI in addition to the national carrier.
02/11/10 Byju Aryad/ExpressBuzz

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Categories: Airports Nov 2010