Thiruvananthapuram Airport Faces Delays Due To Ground Handling Strike

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is experiencing significant disruptions following an indefinite strike by employees of a Ground Handling Agency (GHA). The strike, which began at 10 p.m. on Saturday, has delayed several outgoing and incoming international flights, but airport authorities have reported no cancellations.

The strike involves workers from Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited, with trade unions INTUC, BMS, and CITU collectively leading the protest. The unions are demanding salary revisions and bonus allowances for the employees.

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The strike first impacted the Bengaluru-Thiruvananthapuram Vistara service. The Thiruvananthapuram-Dubai Emirates flight, originally scheduled for 4:40 a.m., was delayed and finally departed at 7:05 a.m. Passengers on the Abu Dhabi-Thiruvananthapuram Air Arabia flight, which landed at 4:40 AM, faced delays of up to two hours to collect their luggage.

The strike has also affected cargo movement, with approximately 20 tonnes of perishable goods currently held up at the airport. In response to the disruption, Air India SATS has deployed additional staff, including trainees, to manage the situation.

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, the second busiest in Kerala after Nedumbassery International Airport in Kochi, handled over 4.4 million passengers and 30,000 aircraft movements in the financial year 2023-24. The airport, which began operations in 1932, is located just 1 km from the Arabian Sea and covers an area of 800 hectares. It is home to the Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology and Air India’s narrow body maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) unit for Air India Express aircraft.

The airport authority continues to work on mitigating the effects of the strike and minimizing inconvenience to travelers.