Terminal 1-A just can’t take-off

Officials at the airport say if the boycott goes through they’ll have problems. “There are about 4,000 members of the union at the airport that includes staff involved in ground duties, flight movement and those involved making the terminal functional, if they stay away from work, we’ll have problems making the terminal functional,” said an official.

Earlier too the opening of the terminal was delayed following the row between the Airports Authority of India and Indian Airlines. June 16 was fixed as the date for the inauguration, but the Indian Airlines officials were not willing to begin operations till a restaurant was made functional in the terminal. The terminal was gutted in a fire in October, 1996. since then all domestic departures were being handled by terminal 1-B.

The employees union held a demonstration on Friday at the Cargo Terminal of the airport. They have threatened that they will boycott the inauguration and that none of their employees will report for work if their demands are not met by July 2. According to Union General Secretary, Khim Singh, they have been demanding a proficiency allowance at par with the air traffic control officials but the issue has been pending for a while.

“We’ll boycott the function and will have a black-flag demonstration on July 2, even the if our demands are not met, our members all over the country will go on a strike,” said Singh. The association has already written to Ranjan Chatterjee, Chairman, Airport Authority of India, about its demands.

However, Ranjan Chatterjee, Chairman, Airports Authority of India, says, “We haven’t received anything and from our side the date for inauguration is fixed at July 2.”

Airport officials maintain, if the terminal is inaugurated then all the domestic flights of Indian Airlines and Alliance Air will depart from the new terminal, however if the deadlock continues that seems unlikely.