AIASL worker’s protest disrupts flight operations at Mumbai Airport

Flight operations at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport faced major disruptions on Monday after employees of government-owned ground handling agency AI Airport Services Limited (AIASL) staged a protest demanding a wage hike and other employee-related benefits, as per reports.

The sudden industrial action affected the schedules of several domestic and international airlines, including Air India, Air India Express, Flydubai, Saudia, Oman Air, and SalamAir.

AIASL, which reportedly handles crucial airport operations such as baggage handling, ramp services and ground support, manages services for around 80 airlines across 84 airports in India. The agency oversees nearly 650 flights daily, including a large share of domestic and international operations.

The protest, reportedly carried out without prior notice, led to delays in both arrivals and departures as ground operations slowed down significantly. Passengers were left stranded for hours while airlines and airport authorities worked to manage the backlog and restore normal flight movement.

As per reports, Air India acknowledged that the disruption in operations was caused by the industrial action involving employees of a third-party ground handling agency at Mumbai airport. The airline reportedly said its airport teams were coordinating with stakeholders to minimise inconvenience for passengers and resume normal services at the earliest.

According to reports citing sources, AIASL CEO Rambabu said that, a section of employees had organised a silent protest over their demands. He said the management had asked employees to submit their concerns formally and assured that the company would review the requests in line with existing policies. Following discussions, the protesting workers resumed duties.