Ten percent of bags not being loaded on Qantas’ Sydney flights
Up to 10% of all checked luggage are not making it on Qantas domestic flights at Sydney airport each day,
Chronic understaffing and teething problems at outsourced baggage handling services are severely impacting services.
An outsourced baggage handler told the Guardian one in 10 pieces of luggage on average is being misplaced or not loaded in time on Qantas flights.
Qantas has suffered acute shortages of baggage handlers since the fire and rehire of about 1,700 jobs in 2020.
That move was found to be unlawful.
The baggage handler cited an overworked, poorly paid workforce unable to cope with the volume.
Even with help from office staff, ‘there’s still not enough of us to get to all the bags.’
Outsource contractor Swissport has even had to subcontract two other firms to help with staffing.
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