AISATS becomes first Indian ground handler to secure DGCA safety clearance

Air India SATS Airport Services (AISATS) has become the first ground handling company in India to receive the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) newly mandated Safety Clearance. The certification, issued under Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), aligns India’s ground handling standards with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) norms, making India only the second country to formally regulate this segment.

The DGCA’s new rules require ground handlers to demonstrate Safety Management Systems, appoint accountable and safety managers, conduct recurrent staff training, and ensure infrastructure readiness. AISATS was awarded Safety Clearance Certificate No. GHSP/001 after detailed documentation reviews and inspections across its stations. The regulator noted AISATS’ operations and training manuals as setting new benchmarks for the industry.

Ramanathan Rajamani, CEO of AISATS, said: “We are honoured to be the first ground handler in India to secure DGCA’s Safety Clearance. Safety and quality have always been the cornerstone of AISATS’ operations. This recognition reflects our strong culture of accountability, continuous training, and operational excellence.”

AISATS operates at six airports — Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mangalore, Ranchi and Trivandrum — and runs the BLR Logistics Park in Bengaluru. It is also developing the 87-acre Multi-Modal Cargo Hub at Noida International Airport.