The directorate-general of civil aviation (DGCA) has notified three designated agencies which would be allowed to carry out ground handling functions at six major airports in the country starting January 1, 2009.

The players allowed to conduct ground-handling services at airports in metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore include:

The airport operator itself or its Joint Venture (JV) partner.

Subsidiary companies of the national carrier Air India or its joint ventures, specialised in ground handling services.

Any other ground handling service providers selected through competitive bidding on revenue sharing basis by the airport operator subject to security clearance by the Government and observance of performance standards as may be laid down by the airport operator.

While Delhi and Mumbai airports are already in private hands, two Greenfield airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore are expected to be operational by mid-2008. Similarly, the airports at Kolkata and Chennai are also to be modernised and restructured.

While the policy has come into force with immediate effect, airline operators or any other ground handling service providers not covered under this policy have been given a breather till December 31, 2008, with the DGCA making it clear that they would not be allowed to undertake self-handling or third-party handling past the deadline.

For all other airports in the country, airline operators, in addition to the three designated agencies, would be allowed to undertake self-handling. The Government, however, has not allowed foreign airlines to undertake self-handling.

Currently, all airlines conduct their own ground handling, which involves handling of passengers and baggage at the airport and loading or unloading of aircraft. Through this move, the Government aims to bring in international best practices, including high-tech equipment like online baggage systems. The move is also targeted at tackling security concerns over the multiplicity of agencies at major airports.