Govt may put off airport ground-handling policy till elections

MUMBAI: The government is likely to postpone the new ground handling policy till the general elections, an industry source close to the development said. The policy, which was supposed to be implemented from January 1, 2009, is yet to receive the cabinet���s nod.

The civil aviation ministry will reportedly meet cabinet ministers this week to discuss the policy. The draft policy has invited the wrath of private carriers, international airlines and trade unions. While the workers feel that the new policy will divest a staggering 15,000 people of their jobs, airlines fear that it will affect customer services.

Over 70,000 workers are responsible for ground handling activities, including passenger check-in, baggage handling, transportation of passengers, aircraft handling, etc. Airport workers and a section of the Air India employees have decided to protest against the policy from Tuesday.

Six trade unions with a combined strength of 20,000 airport workers are expected to take part in the agitation. ���We may have to lay off around 4,000 ground workers if the policy comes into force,��� said a senior Jet Airways official. Low fare carriers such as SpiceJet and IndiGo have 2,000 and 2,500 ground handling staff respectively, while Wadia Group���s GoAir has 500 workers.



In fact, international airlines and domestic carriers are lobbying hard against the policy, anticipating that it would reduce the quality of passenger services. ���We provide extra facilities to passengers through our ground handling people, which may not be possible if we are forced to outsource services from the government appointed agencies,��� said an executive of an international carrier. The draft policy proposes that airlines operating from Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad airports should outsource ground handling jobs from the government recognised agencies.