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A decision of the civil aviation ministry could lead to a feud between the private airport cargo operators and the government. The ministry recently allowed SpiceJet to self-handle cargo operation from “off-airport facilities” leaving other private operators peeved.
Though the orders issued are in compliance with the ground handling regulations 2018 of the union government but the loss of revenue has led to disappointment among the private operators.
The MoCA in its order stated that SpiceJet would handle their cargo subject to required clearance from the aviation security agency, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security. The private cargo operators have upfront raised security issue demanding all cargo to be moved through designated handlers at the airport.
“The matter has been examined in this Ministry in the light of GHA regulations and permission of BCAS to SpiceJet Pvt Ltd to self-handle its own cargo and it has been decided that necessary instructions be issued to airport operators to comply with above directions and facilitates all domestic airlines for self-handling of their own cargo from off-airport facilities seamlessly and ensure that no hurdle is faced by the domestic airlines by the airport operators in the matter,” the Aviation Ministry wrote to BCAS.
SpiceJet runs a dedicated air cargo service under the brand name SpiceXpress with a fleet of B737 aircraft. Taking benefit of the government’s amendments for a leased plane the SpiceJet had benefitted the most by swiftly taking over the grounded aircraft of Jet Airways.
