Air India to spin off engineering and ground-handling units: reports

Air India reportedly plans to spin off its engineering and ground-handling units pending government approval and as part of its turnaround plan (Live Mint, 01-Jul-2011). Meanwhile, the carrier will reportedly shortly commence the process of shifting more than a third of its employees to a ground-handling JV with Singapore Airport Terminal Services on 01-Jul-2011 to reduce its staff size to comply with conditions for a turnaround plan amid opposition from two different unions (Economic Times, 01-Jul-2011). Some 12,000 people will become part of the ground-handling joint venture, Air India Singapore Airport Terminal Services (AISATS), if the carrier successfully conducts the transfer.