On Monday, the employees of the government-owned ground handling agency (AI Airport Services Limited, AIASL) at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSM) protested against the wage revision and other outstanding demands, causing a delay in several flights of Air India and Air India Express.
AIASL offers ground handling services to Air India Group airlines and a few international airlines at Mumbai airport and other airports in the country. The temporary disruption reportedly impacted on a range of domestic and international activities during times of peak demand.
At least 15 flights from Mumbai were delayed for 90 minutes to almost two hours, reports said. There was a delay on the terminals for passengers as the airline staff worked to accommodate the boarding and operational timings.Disruptions were experienced at the terminals as airline personnel on duty made the best of the boarding and operational schedules.
Air India has confirmed in a statement that some flights had been affected due to the industrial action by third-party ground handling agency employees. The airline said its airport staff was working with all stakeholders to restore normal operations to an airline and to minimise disruption to passengers.
AIASL officials later claimed that the operations have resumed following talks with protesting staff. The workers had staged a “silent morcha”, the company’s chief executive Rambabu said and they have been asked to formally present their demands for further consideration and discussion.
The agency receives almost 650 flights every day in India and is a key enabler for domestic and international airlines. Police said they are closely watching the situation to avoid further disruption at the country’s busiest airport.