Baggage Handler Says UK Airports Could Be Chaos For Two Years

The disruption across the country caused by Covid-related staff shortages is resulting in all types of issues for our airports, with delayed flights, huge queues, and lost luggage being just some of the problems UK airports have been facing.

And now, a baggage handler who works at East Midlands Airport has told LADbible that he 'can't see it getting any better for at least two years'.

Opening up on the daily difficulties he faces, the baggage handler said: "The day-to-day operation at the airport is, pretty much, hectic to be honest.

"Like you will constantly be on your feet, it gets tiring mentality and physically. It’s harder to think when you have been running around trying to get these flights out on time as well.

"Keeping the customers in and out through the airport is the best option for now."

The airport worker, whose identity has been kept anonymous, has also undergone more overtime hours than ever before.

He added: "It’s always nice working at the airport but when things go sideways it does go horribly wrong and things do take time.

"But there’s nothing we can do because we are only human and we do what we can really."

He's also called on the government to help get them out of this difficult situation.

"Things will not change until the government gives us appreciation to us to get the aviation industry back up and running as normal and telling the company to pay us a bit more as the cost of living is getting higher and higher, especially fuel prices which is costing us to get to and from work," he said.

Prospect Union, who represents thousands of staff across air traffic control in airports and aviation engineering, have also responded to the disruption.

Garry Graham, Deputy General Secretary of Prospect union told LADbible: "Unions warned the government and aviation employers repeatedly that slashing staff through the crisis would lead to problems with the ramp up post-pandemic.

"The government point to the furlough scheme but ignore that it ended well before the majority of international restrictions on travel came to an end.

"Now we see staff shortages across the industry, with huge reliance on overtime to get by day-to-day.

"In many areas, like air traffic control, overtime is only a temporary sticking plaster. So, things could get worse this summer before they get better."

Andy Prendergast, GMB National Secretary, also told LADbible: “Airport workers need training, and they need security clearance. They cannot be recruited overnight.

“With better wages and better use of furlough, the industry would not be struggling for staff. But cutting skilled workers jobs – a practice we saw repeatedly across the sector during COVID - that cannot be replaced overnight was short-sighted.

“To solve the problem airports and operators need to offer fair wages and plan for peaks in demand.”