From April 1, the Chennai International Airport will have new ground services aimed at improving security and quality of ground-handling services in line with standards recommended by the International Air Transport Association.
Delhi and Hyderabad airports run by the GMR Group, and the Mumbai and Bangalore airports operated by the GVK Group have also been advised to implement the new ground handling policy. This policy was finalised in 2007 but its implementation was delayed since airlines were opposing it. According to the new policy, only persons cleared by the security agencies will be allowed to do ground-handling work at the airport. The services will be provided by fulltime employees of security-cleared ground-handling agencies and airline companies, according to a press release issued by Airports Authority of India.
Government-owned Air India and the Airports Authority of India will be major beneficiaries of the new policy. Being the national carrier, Air India has the right to do ground-handling at all Indian airports while the Airports Authority of India will get additional revenue of at least Rs 350 crore a year as the authorised ground-handling agencies nominated by it will start work at important airports such as Chennai from April 1.
While there is apprehension that over 3,000 employees of manpower supplying companies will lose their jobs, the ground-handling agencies have already started the process of shortlisting these employees for recruitment. The eligible ones are to be recruited if they get clearance from the security agencies.
Similarly, equipment now being used by airlines will also be leased by the new ground-handling agencies if they are not more than five years old and if their quality is approved, it is learnt.