Mumbai airport protest: Air India ground staff starts strike

Mumbai airport, which is one of India's busiest ones has seen many passengers suffer due to a strike called by Air India ground staff. Around 400 Air India ground staff went on a strike at the Mumbai airport on Wednesday night over the non-payment of Diwali bonus. This strike of the ground staff affected the schedule of some flights. Air India passengers who booked tickets on Air India likely faced delays, reports Times of India.

According to the report, functions like checking-in of passengers, loading/unloading bags, cargo, cleaning aircraft, etc, are carried out by the Ground staff of Air India Air Transport Services Ltd (AIATSL). They also handle contracts of some foreign airlines.

"All Air India flights are being hit. Some like the Mumbai-Bangkok flight AI 330 are still on ground," a source told TOI. AI 330 was scheduled for a 1.45 am departure.

After a delay of almost seven hours, the Mumbai-Bangkok flight left 08.18 am, which takes about four and a half hours to travel the distance between Mumbai and Bangkok. Instead of 01.30am, Mumbai- Newark departed at 04.08am, it was reported.