DAMMAM, 14 June — Punitive action has been taken against three employees of one of the aircraft-handling agents at Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport, for their alleged involvement in fraudulent activities in baggage handling, according to airline sources.
There are three companies, which handle ground and ramp operations of various airlines, including Saudi Arabian Airlines, at the airport. Reports about fraud and other irregularities in baggage handling emerged recently.
According to reliable sources, the airport manager of an Asian airline caught three employees of a particular agent violating baggage rules and reported the matter to the higher officials at that company. After a preliminary inquiry, the officials decided to take penal action against the three suspects, two of them expatriates.
The incident was reported about 10 days ago and the penal action followed after proper investigation.
The airport manager of the agent company was not available for comment as he is reported to be out of station. The general manager of the company, which is headquartered in Jeddah, also could not be reached.
A company official stationed at KFIA, however, refused to confirm or deny the report, but airline sources confirmed that the three employees were summarily dismissed.
In a similar incident earlier, one of the handling companies fired a staff member after he was found guilty of involvement in the baggage fraud, they said.
The aircraft-handling agents have increaesed vigilance over loaders as well as staff members at the check-in counters in their bid to curb fraudulent practices following the report.
Arab News reported yesterday that loading workers in connivance with check-in staff were accepting bribes from passengers in return for helping them to dodge payment of excess baggage charges.
Many airlines flying the Asian sector were concerned about an unprecedented drop in revenue in their excess baggage accounts.
The airline companies in general welcomed the strict action by the aircraft-handling agent. Officials say that they are concerned not only about the revenue loss but about the aircraft safety as well because the irregularities in baggage handling would lead to providing incorrect information to the cockpit crew regarding the aircraft’s load.
