Gatwick baggage handler admits staff shortages caused delays
A baggage handling company has admitted that staff shortages led to long delays in customers getting their luggage at Gatwick last weekend, but the firm says it is "doing its very best" to ensure that things run smoothly during the summer peak.
Swissport said it had recruited extra staff over the past few days and a spokesman said it was now a question of integrating them into the operation.
"We have taken on a considerable number to get us over his period," he said. "Although it is quite often not a question of recruiting more people but making sure the right people are in the right place."
He apologised for the staff shortage that caused a 90-minute delay in passengers getting their bags at Gatwick last weekend. "With such a busy airport, you only need a very small number of people down to cause problems," he said.
"We were aware we may have a problem at Gatwick this summer and we have done the best we can to sort it out. We are as confident as we can be that we have enough staff."
Swissport provides baggage handling for a number of UK airports. At Gatwick, it is used by several airlines including British Airways, Monarch, Thomas Cook and Thomson.
Gatwick said it would be supporting Swissport with its own resources over the summer. A spokeswoman said: "This could be as simple as having our terminal staff in the baggage halls to help answer passengers questions and information or it could mean our airfield teams supporting with meeting arriving aircraft on stand, something usually managed by ground handlers," she said.
"Although we do not have the direct commercial contract with our ground handlers (this is between the airline and handler), we are very keen to provide the best passenger experience at all times – hence the support from our end."
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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