Aviation min’s new ground-handling policy faces security bureau hurdle

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the agency responsible for aviation security in the country, has thrown a spanner in the civil aviation ministry's plan to implement the new ground-handling policy from January 1, 2011. Any delay in rolling out the new policy which bars private carriers such as Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines and IndiGo from undertaking ground-handling would help the airlines save on cost.
The new policy allows only three agencies in one metro airport — the national carrier Air India, the airport operator (such as Airports Authority of India, GMR and GVK), and one private firm selected through bidding to provide ground handling services. The service involves job of baggage movement, cargo scanning, taxing, refueling and cleaning of the aircraft among others.
The move would simultaneously hurt the commercial interest of private airport operators such as GMR-led Delhi International Airports Ltd (DIAL) and GVK-led Mumbai international airport Ltd (MIAL).
The proposed rules under the new policy had been cleared by the Cabinet committee on security (CCS) after being deferred thrice in the past. The BCAS now, however claims that they were not consulted before taking up the approval of the executive at the highest level.
The aviation security agency has also written to the civil aviation ministry desiring the continuance of the existing policy. It has argued that BCAS allows only the airline companies to undertake certain activities related to security.
22/12/10 Nirbhay Kumar/Financial Express

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Categories: Airports Dec 2010, Indian Aviation- In General Dec 2010