THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Air India has nominated AI-SATS as a ground-handling agency for the upcoming Kannur international airport overlooking the objections of a section of employees. Mr V. Thulasidas, managing director, Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL), told DC that KIAL had nothing to do with the decision as Air India had nominated the AI-SATS. “As per the centre's civil aviation policy, one ground-handling agency in all major airports should be either Air India or its subsidiary of a joint venture company. Air India has nominated AI-SATS,” Mr. Thulasidas told DC.
A section of Air India employees had earlier objected to a move to hand over the ground -handling of the Kannur airport and the Air Corporations Employees Union had also petitioned Air India chairman and managing director against the move in 2016. Sources said that a section of the CPM top brass was also not in favour of the move to hand over the ground-handling operation to a company controlled by a foreign firm. Ground-handling is an area where many local people can get jobs.
Hence, they prefer Air India Air Transport Services Limited, which is a subsidiary of Air India, rather than AI-SATS which is a joint venture with a Singapore firm, sources said. Air Corporations Employees Union had said in its petition to the Air India CMD that the national carrier was suffering huge revenue loss as the ground-handling was handed over to AI-SATS. Moreover, AI has to pay huge charges for ground- handling of its aircraft.
