India defers new ground handling policy by 12 months

India's Ministry of Civil Aviation reportedly decided to allow private airlines to conduct their own ground handling at Indian airports for a further 12 months (until 31-Dec-2010) (DNA, 30-Dec-2009). The new ground handling policy, which permits only airport operators, Air India and specialised service providers selected through a bidding process to conduct ground handling, was passed by Cabinet on 29-Dec-2009, but its implementation deferred by 12 months, to allow the private airlines to transition from current arrangements. The implementation of the policy, first announced in 2007, has previously been deferred twice, from 01-Jan-2009 to 01-Jul-2009.