A number of airline workers anonymously over the last few weeks reveal what is causing chaos at some UK airports. Front-line staff, including pilots, baggage handlers and cabin crew opened up, that most long-haul flights are operating short of crew, which has a knock-on effect on staff tiredness.
A staff said
the company was "recruiting like mad to fill the gaps". This can be a
lengthy process, with delays to processing airside passes slowing things down.
"Whether
it's us, or baggage handlers, we have to go through so much security checking
in advance of employment. The system is way too slow."
He said
team morale was a "mixed bag", with most happy to be flying with
customers again.
However,
he described the negative feeling that sets in for cabin crew, as the plane
descends into Heathrow. "You used to land and think '30 minutes later I'll
be on the way home'. Now, it's 'how long will this go on for?'."
He says
that a shortage of airport workers and cleaners is behind delays in getting
passengers and crew off the plane, including people who use wheelchairs.
"None
of us feel we can walk off the plane and leave people. It's a huge security
risk. I'm sick to death with delays to that sort of thing."
British
Airways told BBC News: "We're grateful for the hard work of our colleagues
whose wellbeing is extremely important to us and we are doing everything we can
to support them during this busy time, while still providing the best service
to our customers."
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