The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Uncertainty persists over air operations at Shamshabad

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Monday, Mar 17, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Uncertainty persists over air operations at Shamshabad

M. Srinivas

Passengers hit hard at Begumpet airport

HYDERABAD: The standoff over beginning of air operations at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport continued on Saturday with no fresh date being indicated by the Centre, even as the passengers arriving at Begumpet airport had to face inconvenience in view of the absence of the ground handling staff.

The services of the staff on contract were terminated in anticipation of the closure of Begumpet airport, but the last minute postponement, had put the airport officials in a piquant situation.

Objection

At Begumpet, incoming passengers had to wait to deplane as there were none to move the step ladders.

Cargo was left on the tarmac after being offloaded from the aircraft due to non-availability of loaders, liftmen and supervisors.

“We are taking necessary steps to shift cargo from the airport,” Indian Airlines Area Marketing Manager K. S. Reddy said.

According to authoritative sources, the low-cost airlines are ‘refusing’ to operate services taking objection to what they call as “excess ground handling charges” to be levied.

Charges

Low-cost airline companies like Jet, SpiceJet, Simplify Deccan, IndiGo etc appointed separate agents for ground handling of aircraft. This requires stepladder operators, tractor and trolley drivers, loaders, toilet and water guards and flight caterers.

Companies are paying Rs.6,500 to Rs.7,500 for every movement of a 40-seat aircraft at Begumpet and the amount also increases according to the seating capacity.

Excess amount

Apart from this, the companies are paying flight landing and parking charges along with rentals for space allotted on the airport premises.

But GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) has entrusted the task of ground handling work to two private companies -- Menzies Bobba and AI-SATS.

The companies, it is learnt, are planning to collect three times excess amount for each aircraft movement from airline operators.

Financial burden

“It’s nothing but an additional financial burden to airline companies which are already suffering losses,” an airlines operator said.

He said negotiations are on with the two such companies in coordination with senior officials of the Civil Aviation Ministry.

“If excess charges are collected, companies have to increase the fares and this will ultimately affect passengers,” he explained.

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