Families warned of long delays at Gatwick in summer peak
Gatwick baggage handlers are warning holidaymakers they could face long delays at luggage carousels this summer due to staff shortages.
Passengers landing at the airport last weekend were forced to wait up to 90 minutes to reclaim bags and delays are expected to get longer from Friday after the majority of schools in the UK break for summer and families head off for their annual summer break.
Departing passenger numbers from the UK’s busiest holiday airport will top 200,000 this weekend, rising to over 500,000 from Friday July 25 to 28.
Gatwick Airport told the Telegraph the delays last weekend was due to staff shortages at Swissport, one of the airport’s three baggage handling companies. The airport said it had urged Swissport to improve its services.
Swissport, which handles bags for several airlines including British Airways, Monarch, Thomson and Thomas Cook, claims it is taking on more staff to prevent further problems.
A spokesperson for Thomas Cook said: "We are working with Swissport to ensure our customers do not experience baggage delays at Gatwick, and we are aware that they have recently reviewed staffing levels at the airport."
But union leaders warned that there will be further delays as the school summer holiday rush begins if Swissport does not do more to retain its staff.
Peter Raven, Gatwick branch secretary for GMB, which represents a number of Swissport workers, told the Telegraph: "Swissport has been experiencing staff shortages for a while.
"Our members were all saying they have been struggling with the workload and working through their breaks, which isn’t acceptable when they are working long shifts of 12 hours or so.
"This problem is going to re-occur, especially if it gets busier, which it will do in the next few weeks with the school holidays. I don’t think the company is doing enough to address this issue.
"They seem to have a high turnover and need to address the terms and conditions they are offering to keep experienced professional staff in place.
"They need staff who know their way around the airport; for new staff and agency workers this can be very difficult. People should prepare themselves for more delays."
Swissport also handles bags at other airports including Heathrow, Luton, Manchester and Edinburgh
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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