Air India, Air India Express flights hit by AIASL staff strike at Mumbai airport, flyers ‘stuck’ for hours: VIDEO | Today’s news
Air India and Air India Express operations at the Mumbai airport were affected when employees of the government’s ground handling agency AIASL staged a protest demanding wage hike and other demands.
Many took to social media to complain about flight delays at the Mumbai airport. They reported that airmen were “stuck” in the planes for several hours.
Read also | Singapore Airlines says the closure of Pakistan’s airspace has hurt Air India’s performance
One user X claimed: “@AirIndiaXFlight IX1671 from Mangaluru to Mumbai delayed again and again – 14:00, then 15:30, now 16:30. An absolute disgrace to the “national carrier”. If you can’t operate properly, hand it back to the government instead of passengers suffering every hour.”
Air India Express apologized to the customer saying, “We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused by the delay of flight IX1671.”
“Please note that the operational impact varies for each airline depending on their individual ground handling and airport operational measures. In our case, ongoing industrial action by a third-party ground handling agency has affected certain flight operations. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time,” the airline responded.
Read also | Mint Quick Edit | Air India’s cuts are fine, but cost savings can’t go very far
Air Indian Express issued a similar response to Saish, who said on X: “My parents (senior citizens) who are traveling to Mangaluru for a funeral are stuck on Air India Express flight IX 1027 at Mumbai T2. The flight was supposed to depart at 12pm and now they are just waiting inside the flight! Terrible service. Please take some action.” @AirIndiaX.
Another user wrote on X: “@MoCA_GoI pls note passengers stranded on Air India flight AI 2874 which has now landed in Mumbai for almost 90 minutes without any update. @airindia pls note.”
Delay due to protest by AIASL employees at Mumbai airport
Several Air India and Air India Express flights were delayed on Monday as AIASL employees staged a protest at the Mumbai airport for wage hike and other demands, news agency PTI reported.
AIASL reportedly said its workers continued to work after receiving assurances from management that their demands would be reviewed.
Read also | Tata Airlines is betting the turbulence is temporary, protecting jobs to prove it
“A section of the employees kept the Morcha quiet and we asked them to give us (their demands) in writing for discussion. They were kind enough to come back and join the work,” AIASL CEO Rambabu was quoted as saying by PTI.
He said the company will go through all the demands (of the agitating employees).
“They gave us a letter. We told them we will follow the same policy-wise,” Rambabu said.
Read also | Air India gets first upgraded Boeing 787-8 for $400 million
AIASL provides ground handling services to the Air India Group – Air India and Air India Express – as well as international airlines at Mumbai International Airport and other airports in the country.
Apart from domestic carriers, AIASL handles 80 airlines, including foreign ones such as Flydubai, Saudia, Oman Air and Salam Air, at 84 airports in the country and has 20,000 employees.
These 84 airports handle 650 flights a day, with 35 percent international flights and 65 domestic operations, PTI reported.
Read also | Tata Airlines is betting the turbulence is temporary, protecting jobs to prove it
Air India issued a statement
An Air India spokesperson said the industrial action by employees of a third-party ground handling agency at the Mumbai airport is impacting the operations of Air India Express and Air India.
“Our airport teams are working closely with all stakeholders to minimize inconvenience to guests and resume normal operations as soon as possible,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying by PTI.