After making abortive attempts to participate in the modernisation of the Mumbai and Delhi airports, Reliance-Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (R-ADAG) is gearing up to bid for cargo operations and ground-handling services at the upcoming Bangalore international airport. It has teamed up with Texas-based cargo handling company Worldwide Flight Services for the project.
But the Anil Ambani group is facing stiff competition. National flag carrier Air-India, the market leader in cargo-handling and ground-handling services with over 50 per cent share, has joined hands with Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS) for the project.
Jet Airways is also bidding for ground-handling and cargo operations in league with West Asian company Dnata. Other majors in the race are Indian Airlines, the Jet Aviation-KC&IC combine, the Menzies Aviation-Bobba group, Cambata Aviation, Globe Ground India and Swissport International.
The Airports Authority of India-Mysore Sales International combine and Cargo Service Centre India are keen to bid for cargo operations. When contacted, an executive in charge of the infrastructure business of the group declined to comment.
Worldwide Flight Services operates at more than 100 airports around the world, providing services such as loading, unloading, warehouse-handling and other cargo facilities.
Bangalore International Airport Ltd is a special purpose vehicle that will design, build, own and operate the first greenfield private sector-owned and operated airport in Devanahalli, near Bangalore.
BIAL was promoted by Siemens Projects Ventures, Larsen & Toubro, Unique Zurich Airport, Karnataka State Investment and Industrial Development Corporation, and the AAI.
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