Airports Authority of India (AAI) staff protest likely to disrupt flights tomorrow

The largest union of airport employees in the country has announced a protest against the proposed privatisation of Kolkata and Chennai airports, that could disrupt air travel schedules at several centres on Friday.

The Airports Authority Employees Union (AAEU) has called on its members to join the one-day casual leave, as it believes that the government is going ahead with the process of privatisation of these two airports contrary to recommendations made by an official panel.

Most fire personnel and engineering staff at over 120 airports are members of AAEU. Fire-fighters must be available round the clock to attend to any emergency, while engineering personnel ensure the operation of all systems. Their absence from duty would likely affect operations. Employees at Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad and Cochin airports that are privately managed will not be part of the protest.

However, senior officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said that civilian fire teams and defence personnel have been called in to handle these operations so that flights are not affected.

Union officials said that while flights from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport would not be disrupted, the handling of aircraft at other destinations could be affected.

The union stated in a letter to the civil aviation ministry and other authorities that “the modernisation of Kolkata and Chennai airports has been done by the AAI to all-round satisfaction. Media reports indicate that the government is proposing to call global tenders on PPP basis in respect of these airports in violation of the business principles incorporated in section 11 of the Airports Authority Act, 1994, and the recommendation of the tripartite committee set up by the government itself.”

“That despite severe flaws pointed out by the CAG in respect of OMDA (operation, management and development agreement) for Delhi and Mumbai, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is continuing its policy of favouring multinationals at the cost of the national exchequer,” the AAEU said.

“Accordingly, the regional set-up at the western region also proposes to go on mass casual leave at all stations/ airports in the western region, including the regional headquarters.” The AAEU has about 12,000 members.

City scene
The protest has been called by the Airports Authority Employees Union, whose members are predominantly fire personnel and engineering staff at more than 120 airports.

In Mumbai, the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is managed by a private operator, but navigation and traffic management are under the control of the AAI.

So, flights from Mumbai are not likely to be disrupted, although handling of
aircraft at other destinations could be affected.