AAI staff slam closure plan

AAI staff slam closure plan
Bangalore, DHNS:
With just six weeks to go for the formal operational launch of the International Airport, the demands to retain the HAL airport still remained strong.


The Airports Authority Employees Union (AAEU) members on Tuesday staged a hunger strike at the HAL Airport demanding the retention of the airport. “ We are not against the opening of the International Airport which is necessary to de-congest the present airport. However, closing this airport once the new airport starts is uncalled. Besides, allowing only one private airport to function means that the government is encouraging privatisation,” Stanley Sampath Kumar, convener, AAI Joint Employees Forum.

The present HAL Airport earns an annual profit of Rs 270 crore for defence PSU HAL and Rs 250 crore for the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

As per the confessional agreement between the BIAL, the promoters of the airport and the Government of India no new or existing airport will be permitted to operate as a domestic or international airport within 150 kilometres.

However, the strike didn’t affect the flight operations at the HAL Airport.