Cargo backlog plagues Air India

A FAULTY cargo scanner at Air India’s Chennai warehouse brought the clearance of airfreight to a standstill last week.

However, a clearing agent claims it is an ongoing problem due to insufficient staffing levels.

“Air India’s security personnel who are authorised to conduct the scanning on the four scanners come for work only in the evenings. So, there is hardly any movement of cargo in the mornings and afternoons. The cargo that piles up for scanning often prevents unloading of fresh consignments,” he said.

A V Vijayakumar, secretary of the Chennai Custom House Agents Association, speaking at a meeting between the Air Cargo Agents Association (ACAAI) and Air India in May said “things have not improved [since] last year.”

An Air India official denied there was any backlog of cargo.