Thousands of employees of the Airport Authority of India are on an indefinite strike. The employees are demanding that the existing Bangalore and Hyderabad airports should continue operations. Under the contract with the builders of the new airports in the two cities, the existing airports have to be closed once the new airports become operational. With this indefinite strike in place, one can expect no X-ray machine operators, no baggage handlers or cleaning staff, no one to man the aerobridges and no housekeeping staff.
Despite the presences of some Air Force personnel, who have been brought in to help, the situation is set to be pretty bad. So far the strike doesn't seem to have had any major effect on flights out of the four major metros. Reports from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata indicate that there was no disruption of either domestic or international flights by the agitation. However, ground baggage handling at Hyderabad airport and air-conditioning system at the terminals were affected. Meanwhile, the Delhi Government has invoked ESMA- or Essential Services Maintenance Act at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Brewing trouble
Despite the protests by the airport employees in Hyderabad against the closure of the Begumpet airport, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a notification asking the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad to begin operations from March 16. The notification also confirms the closure of commercial operations at the existing Begumpet airport, from the same day.
I was happy to hear that the strike did not affect the passengers. I know how difficult it is when flights are delayed and I thought that this strike is going to affect all the passengers, the metros went untouched. I received this news from NDTV 24x7 through my DirecTV connection.
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