The business
has been down for Airport Authority. Blame it on the world wide trend.
New induction of a few thousand of employees by transmigration in the
jobs which is not for them has just made a larger hole in the sinking
ship. The Airline operators refuse to pay or even threaten Citing
Patronage they enjoy. Airports Authority has decided to go to market to
raise Rs 5000 corers from the market.
At this
juncture what should be done? Just to ponder few points let’s begin.
WE certainly
need to add more businesses for Airport Authority if the sailing has to
be smooth. A very Clear demarcation needs to be drawn what is exactly
required to be done.
Some of the
potential Neo businesses for Airports Authority are:
I. Manage
Aircraft Ground Handling Contracts: Airport Authority is the largest
Airport operator. In most of the Airports Ground handling functions are
already being carried out by AAI. It is high time that we price it and
tap the potential market worth of Rs 1000 corers P.A. Legal sanction is
already in place we just have to partner with somebody and start
rolling. A start can always be with lower type of aircraft where just a
smile is needed.
KOCHI: After
becoming the first airport in the country to come up with majority
private participation, Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL) has
scored yet another first.
It is setting
up an aviation academy offering courses in aviation management and
technology in association with Indira Gandhi National Open
University
(IGNOU). CIAL MD Dr C G Krishnadas Nair said this is the first time an
airport is starting an aviation academy offering specialized programmes
that are not provided by any university in the country now.
CIAL, the fourth busiest airport in India in terms of international
traffic has entered into an agreement with IGNOU. The certificates,
diploma and degree programmes offered by CIAL Academy under the
patronage of IGNOU will be recognized all over the world as the latter
has a global reach, Mr. Nair said
The academy will offer various certificate and advanced diploma
programmes in diverse fields like airport ramp handling, rescue and fire
fighting, airport operations management,
air cargo 
Management,
security management, retail management etc. In addition, there will be
under graduate courses like B.Tech in airport infrastructure engineering
and aircraft manufacture and maintenance engineering and PG programmes
like MBA in
aviation
business management and M.Tech in airport infrastructure engineering.
"We have started the courses in areas where there is a huge demand both
in India and abroad. Since the courses will be affiliated to an
institution like IGNOU, the candidates will have good prospects for
placement,’’ Mr. A.C.K.Nair CIAL director told ET. The practice now is
to take candidates with general qualification for specialized jobs in
the aviation field. ``For instance security management in an airport
requires specialized
training,’’
he said.
CIAL hopes to start the courses from July this year by finalizing the
syllabi in consultation with IGNOU. The fee structure is also yet to be
determined. The academy will be spread over 35,000 sq ft. in two floors.
This will accommodate 25 to 30 classrooms. There is provision to go for
more floors when the situation demands.
III. BUYING
AIRPORTS: Let’s admit. We are into business of selling Airports. What
stops us buying new Airports? A large number of Airstrips are lying in a
dilapidated state all over the country (526 of them). A massive
initiative is needed to bring them under some legal framework. To this
endless number of helipads are dotting all over the country. Just the
land value would swell the balance sheet of AAI. These Airstrips are
being encroached upon by miscreants and the massive investment once done
by state is going down the drain. Kishangarh, Aligarh, Thanagazi, Sikar,
Sirohi and Mt Abu to name a few are available off the rack. These
airstrips once acquired will fuel the complete growth area of aviation
Industry.
