4,000 passes for ground handlers withheld

Chennai: With a view of implementing the new ground handling policy from April 1, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has stopped issuing passes to the ground handlers of various airlines, putting the operations on tenterhooks. As many as 4,000 passes are now pending at the airport with many operators fearing that ground handling jobs would come to a standstill next month.
A release from the AAI in Delhi said the new policy was aimed at beefing up security and improving quality of services. “Quality of services will also improve in a big way with battery-operated vehicles replacing ageing diesel-run tractors and buses. The ground handling agencies selected by the AAI have been asked to use new equipment, which will not be more than five years old. Thus, the passengers will get better quality of service at the Chennai airport,” the release said.
However, no such sign of new equipment was visible at the Chennai airport. In a closed door meeting between the AAI officials and the ground handling licence holder Bhadra International (India) Limited’s top honchos, the latter reportedly had admitted that some of the critical equipment were still in transit.
“We are all willing to go ahead with the new policy as security is our prime interest. But in Chennai’s case, there are many lacunae,” an airline official informed.
31/03/11 Mamta Todi/Express Buzz

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Categories: Airports Mar 2011