Staff protest at Mumbai airport leads to delays in Air India flights

Several flights of Air India and Air India Express were delayed on Monday (May 18) as employees of government-owned ground handling agency AI Airports Servicew Ltd (AIASL) carried out a protest at the Mumbai airport for a wage hike and other demands.

AIASL provides ground handling services to the Air India Group — Air India and Air India Express — as well as international airlines at the Mumbai International Airport, along with other airports in the country.

Air India statement

Air India, in a statement, said that an industrial action by employees of a third-party ground-handling agency at the Mumbai airport is impacting operations.

"Our airport teams are working closely with all stakeholders to minimise inconvenience to guests and normal operations at the earliest," the airline said. Air India, however, did not share the number of its flights that were impacted due to the AIASL employees' protest.

AIASL said its employees resumed work after getting an assurance from the management that their demands would be looked into.

Silent morcha

"There was a silent morcha by a certain section of employees, and we requested them to give us in writing (their demands) for discussion. They have been kind enough to go back and join back the work," said Rambabu Ch, CEO at AIASL. He said the company will go through all requests of the agitated employees.

"They have given us a letter. We have told them that we will go through the same in terms of the policies," Rambabu said. AIASL, which caters to 80 airlines, including foreign airlines such as Flydubai, Saudia, Oman Air and Salam Air, besides domestic carriers, at 84 airports in the country, has 20,000 employees.

It handles 650 flights per day at 84 airports, with 35% of the international flights and 65% of domestic operations.