Private airlines Jet Airways, SpiceJet, IndiGo and GoAir have have managed to get the new ground handling policy implementation deferred yet again.
The civil aviation ministry had threatened to withhold the airport entry passes of airlines? staff in case they did not show sincerity in executing the new policy.
The airlines have given a specific time-line to the government for signing commercial agreements with airport operator-appointed ground handling companies.
?The ice has been broken. The airlines have assured us of entering into commercial agreement with ground-handling companies in the next 3-4 weeks. Some airlines including Jet and SpiceJet have given the commitment in writing,? a senior aviation ministry official told FE.
The official said that the new policy should be put in place in the next two months. This, however looks unlikely as private airlines have simultaneously appealed in the Supreme Court against the policy and are seeking a stay. The case is expected to come for hearing in the apex court on April 4.
The new policy bars private carriers from undertaking nearly 50 ground-handling activities including baggage handling, taxing, refueling and cleaning of the aircraft among others.
It allows only three agencies ? the state-owned Air India, the airport operators (such as Airports Authority of India, GMR and GVK), and one private firm selected through competitive bidding to provide ground handling services at the country?s six metro airports namely Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
