IA to hire people for better security

Earlier, both Indian Airlines and Air India split the responsibility of handling passenger baggage for international airlines, but a recent order has gave the Indian Airlines exclusive charge of Delhi, while Mumbai went to Air India.

However, given the criticism over its inflated wage bill, it has decided that the recruitment will be done by a subsidiary called Indian Airlines Air Transport Services Ltd. Unlike Indian Airlines, this company can recruit personnel on a contractual basis.

This crop of security staff, sources say, will be later incorporated into the joint venture being planned separately by the airline to provide ground handling services. A similar venture is on the anvil for engineering services too.

Some of the other areas where the national carrier finds itself short of staff include crew transport, loading and unloading of flights, catering, specialised cleaning of aircraft and cargo. Here, however, the airline has decided to outsource the work.