AAI to extend passes of their ground handlers

Chennai: Private airlines got a breather as the Airports Authority of India (AAI) agreed to extend passes of their ground handlers by a month. But that was seen as temporary relief as the AAI eventually intends to centralise ground handling and has outsourced the operations to Bhadra, a service provider.
AAI wants airlines to scrap their existing ground handing pacts with various private companies and instead sign it with Bhadra, a move firms are trying to resist due to many concerns.
On Monday, talking to Express, Bhadra chief Prem Bajaj clarified that its joint venture with Danish company Novia was intact in spite of the latter being acquired by Aviator, a Nordic supplier of ground handling. “Aviator has taken over Novia but the management remains the same and so does the equation and understanding on the joint venture. In fact we are ready to takeover the airport in the next two weeks. I am already in talks with the senior management of various airlines on this. We have already started servicing charter flights at Chennai Airport,” Bajaj said.
Airline companies, however, had a different take. With a new company taking over, the existing joint venture doesn’t inspire confidence, they argued. The contract demands that the joint venture between Bhadra and Novia be intact for at least five years.
05/04/11 Mamta Todi/Expressbuzz

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Categories: Airports Apr 2011