NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted safety clearance to Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt Ltd (AISATS) for the first time. Since ground handling is vital to aviation safety, and with increasing traffic, larger aircraft, faster turnarounds, and multiple service providers, DGCA has mandated safety clearance for all operators. India has become the second country after Malaysia in Asia Pacific region to implement a comprehensive framework in alignment with ICAO guidance.“AISATS received this clearance after a rigorous evaluation of its Safety Management System, risk controls, reporting mechanisms, training, and infrastructure, confirming full compliance with (rules for) ground handling and SMS implementation,” DGCA said in a statement.The regulator says this move “reinforces its commitment to strengthening safety management systems (SMS) and enhancing regulatory oversight in ground handling operations across India.” With this, India has become the second country after Malaysia in Asia Pacific region to implement such a comprehensive framework in alignment with ICAO guidance.The safety clearance was handed over to AISATS at DGCA HQ in New Delhi, “marking a key milestone that underscores DGCA’s proactive role in embedding Safety Management Systems (SMS) as the foundation of aviation safety and strengthening India’s aviation ecosystem to meet global standards,” the regulator said.