Mumbai Airport Flight Delays Due to AIASL Ground Staff Protest

Flight operations for Air India and Air India Express at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport were significantly disrupted on Monday due to industrial action by ground handling staff. The protest, staged by employees of the government-owned ground handling agency AI Airport Services Limited (AIASL), caused delays in baggage handling, aircraft turnaround, and passenger boarding, affecting numerous departures and arrivals.

The industrial action was initiated by AIASL employees demanding a wage hike, job regularization, and improvements in working conditions. The disruption began in the morning, impacting critical airport functions. Passengers on several flights reported being stranded inside aircraft for extended periods after landing, with some citing waits of 30 to 90 minutes before being allowed to disembark. Social media was flooded with complaints from frustrated travelers describing long delays and a lack of communication from airline staff.

An Air India spokesperson confirmed the disruption was due to industrial action by a third-party ground handling agency. The airline stated its airport teams were working with all stakeholders to minimize...