Efforts on to defy Air India Board decision

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even after the director board of the Air India decided to set aside the proposal to hand over the ground handling service to the Singapore-based agency, attempts are on to hand over the service to Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS).  Sources said that defying the decision of the director board, the Air India authorities are going ahead with the proposal and have issued orders to hand over the ground handling at Thiruvananthapuram and Mangalore airports to the joint venture between Air India and SATS.  It is learnt that the airport authorities in Thiruvananthapuram have been asked by Air India to hand over the flights to the new joint venture company for the wing functions. An order issued by the Air India authorities claims that ‘’further reference to the minutes of the meeting held on May 31 with AISATS (Air India - Singapore Airport Terminal Services), the baggage and aircraft loading/unloading activities for Air India, Air India Express and customer airlines flights except erstwhile IC flights will be taken over by AISATS with effect from July 1.’’   This has come as a shock for the staff of Air India Air Transport Services (AIATSL) and Air India Engineering Service Limited, who were handling ground services since 2003 at the Thiruvananthapuram airport. The staff had earlier complained to the Union Civil Aviation Minister and the State’s Chief Minister against the government move and were much relieved after the Air India director board decision, which set aside the proposal.  The director board meeting on June 28 had discussed the proposal of Air India authorities to hand over the ground handling service of Thiruvananthapuram and Mangalore airports. It was set aside pointing out the fact proper study has not been done for implementing this proposal.  ‘’We will have to check the implications first before accepting this. Hence, the Board has deferred the decision to hand over the ground handling services of Thiruvananthapuram and Mangalore airports to this joint venture,’’ Civil Aviation Director General, Bharat Bhushan, had told Express after the director board meeting.  But now the decision by the Air India authorities to go ahead with the proposal has come as a surprise. The AIATSL staff who have been working since 2003 and handling the ground service have been asked to report to the new company, AISATS.