Staff shortage hits security checks at Trichy airport

Trichy: Flight operators at the Trichy International Airport have demanded the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to provide necessary security services to ensure smooth operation of flight as the shortage in manpower is causing delay in overall operations.

To ensure passengers’ travel safe and secure, the airport security services (ASS) follows certain regulations before loading the baggages of passenger into the aircraft. Security personnel check and scan the luggage and cargo and provide tags before loading them.

Jet Airways had been providing the security services to carriers operated from Trichy with 40 staff along with Air India. Since Jet Airways withdrew all its services from Trichy, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) cancelled its licence to Jet Airways to continue its service. So, Air India has been continuing the process.

Due to this, the number of security staff has come down to half, and the burden of the Air India Security Services has doubled, sources said.
“Trichy airport is registering 13 international departures per day. So, it is impossible to handle all the baggage of the passengers and cargo of exporters promptly on time. It may bring lapses in security. So, the civil aviation ministry should take steps to assign any other service provider to ease the work burden,” a senior official from the airport said.
When contacted, an official from Air Asia said that since Jet Airways withdrew its service there was a staff crunch in security service. However, as per the contract with Air India, the process was going on smoothly as far as Air Asia was concerned.
A senior official from Air India told TOI that the Air India Airport Services is the only authorized agency that can provide security services at all airports in India.
“With our sanctioned strength, we are providing the required service to all the carriers without any lapse and delay,” he said.

Due to winding up of services by Jet Airways, they became ineligible to continue as a security provider. This led to staff crunch, airport director K Gunasekaran said.
“However, Air India is trying to bring the required number of staff. Soon, the issue would be settled amicably,” he expressed hope.