Regional Executive Director of National Airports Authority, V K Kalra, said the ATCs had agreed to accept the red passes being issued to them at present. The validity of the cards has been extended till September 30.Terming the ATCs' demand for orange passes as `strange', Kalra said, ``The ATC strike was baseless, as a decision on the passes is taken by the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Commissioner of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security. ATCs all over the country have accepted the red passes, and those at Mumbai should not have any problems about it.''

However, regional secretary of the ATC Guild, P N Bahuguna, justified the agitation, saying the ATCs were up against practical problems. ``In fact, the issue has been hanging fire for a year, and it's time the management realised theimportance of the issue,'' he said.

``The strike has been withdrawn with immediate effect, but complete normalcy of flight schedules will be resumed in the next 36 hours,'' Bahuguna added.

Flights remained affected till 1.30 pm, with both IA and private airlines recording delays by 10 to 20 minutes. The AAI had roped in the services of executive ATCs in charge of training and other services from Allahabad, Calicut and Delhi to ensure minimum disruption of services. Both domestic and international terminals of the Mumbai airport today registered 44 departures and 34 arrivals, and there was movement of aircraft every two to four minutes till 12.30 pm.

The agitation has resulted in huge losses for all airlines, as a large quantity of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) was wasted due to aircraft being held up on the runway for want of ATC clearance.

According to senior airline officials, the ATCs are misusing their power and holding passengers to ransom. ``We can understand if any organisation resorts toagitating on broad-based issues like salary and other administrative policies. But this time, the ATCs have crossed all limits,'' said an airline official.

...but more ahead

The Indian Airlines may be up against more turbulence: not on account of flight delays due to the ATC stir, but from its own employees.

The Air Corporations Employees' Union, the largest employees' union in IA, will stage a one hour `walk out' on Friday to oppose the central government's decision to disinvest in the national carrier by 51 per cent.

IA has about eight scheduled flights from Mumbai airport during 10.30 and 11.30 am. The ACEU members, including ground support, and airport staff have decided to stop working during this period.

According to C D Soman, ACEU general secretary, union members will leave their desks between 10.30 am and 11.30 am and hold public meetings in front of airport and airlines offices all over the country.