Date:12/06/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/06/12/stories/2004061202670600.htm

Back AI Charters to hire more contractual staff at 6 airports

Our Bureau

New Delhi , June 11

AIR India Charters Ltd (AICL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India (AI), plans to hire close to 300 employees, including customer agents, junior executives (technical), traffic and ramp supervisors, ramp service agents and security agents, on contractual basis for current and future duties at various airports around the country.

While AICL plans to hire 48 customer agents, eight traffic and ramp supervisors and 14 security supervisors for the Kozhikode airport, it is also looking at taking in 40 customer agents, 10 security supervisors and 14 security agents at Hyderabad.

The personnel are to be taken on a three-year contract, which could be extended depending on the performance.

AICL has sought applications for various positions at six airports, including Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Lucknow and Kolkata.

The move assumes importance as the AI board at a meeting in Mumbai on May 29 this year had approved a proposal for the launch of a low-cost airline, tentatively named Air India Express. It is to be operated by AICL.

AI issued tenders recently inviting bids for dry leasing of up to six Boeing 737-800 aircraft for a period of three or five years for Air India Express.

The airline hopes to have a fleet of 14 aircraft and operate more than 120 flights a week within the year.

The new airline plans to take the skies in April next year operating about 60 flights a week, including offering services on the Delhi-Dubai-Delhi, Chennai-Kuala-Lumpur-Chennai and Chennai-Singapore-Chennai sectors, among others.