Passengers who come to Chennai or fly out might face a nightmare next week as the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and most of the airline companies are at loggerheads as the former had demanded that ground handling agencies (which handle ground operations on behalf of the airline companies) pay more royalty.
“Passes of outsourced manpower engaged by airlines including the national carrier Air India at Chennai airport shall be renewed subject to payment of 32.5 per cent of gross turn over (GTO) with effect from August 1 as against the present 13 per cent,” a circular sent by AAI to airline operators read.
However the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security had given permission to the ground handling agencies to enter the terminal for another week with the current passes.
Airline companies blamed AAI for delay in communication, which added fuel to fire. “While AAI had taken a decision about the increase in royalty last month the information was conveyed to us only last week.
While AAI gives us less time to come to a decision, they force us to shed more money to continue our ground handling,” an airline official said.
The official alleged that a private ground handling company had exerted pressure on AAI to handover ground handling services to it across the country.
“We outsource our operations to some ground-handling agent, who provide coaches and equipment apart from drivers, cleaners to clean aircraft, equipment operators, checking agents and other employees.
Hence without these people we cannot operate our daily flights,” the airline official added.
Airport director H.S. Suresh said the AAI had conveyed its stand to the airline companies on increased royalty.
He added that Bhadra International India, which has been appointed by AAI, is paying 32.5 per cent royalty and so all agencies should pay the same royalty amount.