Indian strike cripples operations at Chennai airport

Chennai, June 13: Operations of both international and domestic flights of national carrier Indian were badly affected at the Chennai airport today as ground staff of the airline observed a strike as part of their nationwide stir, demanding fulfilment of their long pending demands.

The airline announced indefinite delay of the arrival of Chennai-Singapore (IC 555) flight, scheduled to leave Singapore at 0050 hrs last night, official sources said.

The executive and other officials of Indian, handling the situation, were tring to operate the flight services with a delay ranging from 30 minutes to 90 minutes in both international and domestic sector, the sources added.

The aieline staff demand equal pay at par with Air India employees and immediate wage revision pending since 1997, among other things.

A report from Tiruchirapalli said flight operations were affected at the International Airport there. Of the 22 ground staff of the Indian, 17 employees affiliated to the Air Corporation Employees' Union (ACEU) went on a flash strike since last night. The ground staff belonging to ACEU, led by A Khaja Mohideen, station representative of the Union, staged a noisy demonstration in front of the airport complex, urging the Indian management to implement their long pending demands.

UNI