Ground Handlers Association of India has said that allowing domestic airlines to carry out ground-handling services as suggested in the draft aviation policy could compromise security.

In a statement, the association said that by allowing domestic airlines and charter operators to deploy their own ground-handling staff and equipment would lead to unnecessary increase in traffic and chaos at metro airports, thereby increasing security risks.

Apart from the fact that the huge investments made by the ground handlers will lead to a loss if the draft policy is implemented, it will also violate the provisions of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act 1970, the statement said.

Draft policy The draft policy, announced on October 30, aims to improve regional air connectivity as well as make flying cheaper. The deadline to send views by the stakeholders ended on November 30.

Rakesh Jain of Indo Thai Airport Management Services Pvt Ltd and a member of the Ground Handlers Association of India said that if the suggestions in the draft policy are revised to suit the Ground Handling Policy of 2007, it could bring down the cost of ground handling by around 60 per cent.

“This in turn will bring down the cost of flying, which is the primary aim of the draft civil aviation policy,” Jain said.

“If the number of ground handlers allowed to operate at each airport is not restricted to a few security cleared specialists, a lot of unauthorised personnel and fly-by-night operators will find their way into the airports,” ground handling agency Bhadra International Chairman and Managing Director Prem Bajaj said.

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