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Chennai airport applies for Regulated Agent status to clear EU cargo

THE Airports Authority of India (AAI) plans to apply to the Civil Aviation Ministry to be appointed as a Regulated Agent (RA) at Chennai airport to handle security controls, including the screening of cargo.

At the Air Cargo Logistics Promotion Board meeting in Delhi chaired by Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Lavasa, it was suggested airport operators apply for RA3 guideline procedures to meet security standards validations for compliance with European Union rules.

Chennai airport does not have an RA at present. Instead, three agencies handle the cargo, namely AAI, airline and Bhadra International, the groundhandling agent.

Chennai airport so far has not been not ready for RA3 compliance, reported Chennai's Hindu daily.

According to its chairman, AAI will apply for the RA-3 status and all formalities will be completed at the earliest. According to sources, Mr Lavasa told AAI to update on its progress after 15 days.

Interestingly, Chennai airport authorities have been asking the Ministry to grant RA status to Bhadra International. This will boost investment in equipment such as scanners, said Chennai airport director HS Suresh.

"We have been asking for RA status to Bhadra for the last two years and taken up this issue in every forum," Mr Suresh was quoted as saying.

He pointed out that private terminal operators in Delhi and Bangalore have been awarded RA status. It also means that there will be a single agent to handle all work.

At present, with three agencies involved in cargo handling, there is a lot of delay, he said.