In a move to promote domestic airline operators, including helicopter service providers, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has allowed all scheduled domestic operators to do self-handling at all domestic airports.
While reiterating the decision to allow third-party ground handling at all airports, the Ministry said with a minimum of three operators at airports, it will result into catering to at least 10 million passengers per annum. At the same time, all foreign carriers have been allowed to do their own pre-security ground handling at all airports excepting Defence airports. However, the Ministry has mandated that all ground handling staff must be regular employees of the airline and not contractual or provided by manpower service providers.
Generally, all ground-handling agencies, duly approved by the Civil Aviation Ministry as well as Civil Aviation Authorities, work day and night in all airports in India to cater to various services to the passengers who fly down to domestic as well as international locations.
As per the documents available with The Pioneer, Ministry of Civil Aviation Ground Handling Services Regulations, 2017 said that all domestic scheduled airline operators, including helicopter service providers, would be allowed to do self-handling at airports, including the civil enclaves. “Generally, civil enclaves are airports, belonging to the armed forces where civilian aircraft operations are allowed. Ground-handling services include those pertaining to servicing and handling of aircraft as well as loading and unloading,” it said. However, any ground handling providers with over 50 per cent foreign ownership will not be allowed to operate at these facilities even though 100 per cent foreign ownership is allowed in ground handling services. Major Befence airports with civil enclaves are Goa Dabolim and Pune lohegaon.
Foreign airlines may also undertake self-handling in respect of passenger and baggage handling activities excluding security functions at the airport terminals restricted to the passenger check-in at pre security hold area, at all the airports except civil enclaves. The Ministry of Civil Aviation norms further said, “All ground-handling services shall be provided only through the regular employees and hiring of employees through handling contractor or manpower supplier shall not be permitted.”
“At all airports, in order to overcome space and time constraints, the airport operator only shall provide adequate number of common user terminal equipment (CUTE), common user self service (CUSS), baggage reconciliation system (BRS) and self bag drop (SBD),” it noted.
Most ground services are not directly related to the actual flying of the aircraft, and instead involve other tasks. The major categories of ground-handling services are cabin crew, catering, ramp, passenger and field operation services.
When enquired about the development, a senior official in the Civil Aviation Ministry said, “The idea of the Government is commendable and cost effective as well. It has been observed that sometimes the third party agents, mostly foreign entities, charge the authorities heavily with their ground-handling services. Our aim is to bring down the cost to some extent in some way or other. Besides, the Government is keen to promote domestic agents in almost all airports in the country by engaging them with their respective services.”
The regulations further said that airports having annual passenger throughput of 1.5 million passengers per annum or above, the airport operator shall provide adequate number of baggage reconciliation system, where the annual passenger throughput is less than 1.5 million passengers per annum, the airport operator may decide the provisions relating to baggage reconciliation system. “All agencies concerned shall ensure the use of state-of-art equipment and best practices in line with the international air transport association airport handling manual,” the regulation said, adding that all airport operators shall appoint the requisite number of ground-handling agencies within a period of 120 days from the date of publication of these regulations.
In the earlier ground handling policy, airlines were allowed to choose from within three agencies to get the services. Under this, the airport operators have been advised to have maximum number of three ground handling companies including Air India’s subsidiary or joint venture at all major airports as defined in AERA Act 2008.
Many airlines subcontract ground-handling to airports, handling agents or even to another airline. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), conservative estimates indicate airlines outsource more than 50 per cent of the ground- handling that takes place at the world’s airports.
Ground-handling addresses the many service requirements of an airliner between the time it arrives at a terminal gate and the time it departs on its next flight. Speed, efficiency, and accuracy are important in ground handling services in order to minimise the turnaround time (the time during which the aircraft must remain parked at the gate). It has been observed that faster turnarounds for lower ground times are correlated to better profits.
