Operations at IGI airport normal after aerobridge operators' strike

New Delhi, April 13 (IANS) Operations at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport here, hit after a late Thursday night strike by a section of contracted aerobridge operators, returned to normal Friday with the authorities roping in its own work force.

"The situation is normal and no flights have been delayed or cancelled due to the strike called by the employees of a private firm which has been contracted for operating aerobridges on the international side of terminal-3," airport sources told IANS.

According to the sources, airport operator Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has roped in its own officials to manage the aerobridges on the international side of the integrated terminal T3 at IGI airport.

"DIAL has pooled in its own employees for aerobridges operations. Domestic operations were not affected as aerobridges on that side are managed by DIAL employees all the time."

The development came after a section of employees belonging to private firm ICS, which has been contracted by DIAL to manage the aerobridges on the international side of Terminal 3 (T3), went on strike around 10.00 p.m. Thursday night.

However, there was no official comment on the situation or figures of any kind on the number of aerobridges that were affected.

Meanwhile, airline officials said some flights were delayed as passengers were transported to the aircraft on buses in view of the strike by the aerobridge operators.

"A few international flights were delayed as passengers had to be transported to the aircraft in buses rather then directly embarking into the aircraft," an Air India official told IANS.

"But the operations normalised soon. There was no major effect on international operations by the strike."

Terminal T3 at IGI airport here has 78 aerobridges. Airport sources say not all are in use at any one point of time and that the terminal has excess capacity in terms of aerobridges.