The Airports Authority Employees Union, which comprises all employees of the International Airport Division and National Airport Division of the airport, has threatened to boycott the inauguration.

Officials at the airport say if the boycott goes through they'll have problems. ``There are about 4,000 members of the union at the airport that includes staff involved in ground duties, flight movement and those involved making the terminal functional, if they stay away from work, we'll have problems making the terminal functional,'' said an official.

Earlier too the opening of the terminal was delayed following the row between the Airports Authority of India and Indian Airlines. June 16 was fixed as the date for the inauguration, but the Indian Airlines officials were not willing tobegin operations till a restaurant was made functional in the terminal. The terminal was gutted in a fire in October, 1996. Since then all domestic departures were being handled by terminal 1-B.

The employees union held a demonstration today at the Cargo Terminal of the airport. They have threatened that they will boycott the inauguration and that none of their employees will report for work if their demands are not met by July 2.

According to Union General Secretary, Khim Singh, they have been demanding a proficiency allowance at par with the air traffic control officials but the issue has pending for a while. ``We'll boycott the function and will have a black-flag demonstration on July 2, and if our demands are not met, our members all over the country will go on a strike,'' said Singh.