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Training and security clearance requirements that make it impossible to quickly adapt and deploy additional staff – as they result in lead times of up to 16 weeks between staff recruitment and actual deployment. If low wages and compromised service quality were already a concern pre-pandemic, they are now coming to the fore – impacting the aviation system.

The fact that security and ground handling jobs have for many years stood at the lower end of pay scales and also involve working in shifts 7-days a week is a clear handicap in attracting people in the current inflationary environment.Īs regards ground handling in particular, years of liberalisation triggered by the EU Ground Handling Directive have resulted in a downward spiral that has now become both socially and operationally unsustainable. Handlers received far less financial aid than airlines2 and that such aid came rather late was a significant contributing factor to their weakened operational capabilities.Īn extremely tight labour market across Europe. The fact that airports and groundġ Between February and March, passenger volumes at EU+ airports jumped by +36%, with March volumes being nearly 6 times higher (+485%) compared to the same period last year.

In the wake of European States easing travel restrictions in March, the recovery of passenger traffic has accelerated sharply and suddenly.1 While still remaining below pre-pandemic (2019) levels, passenger traffic has also become much more concentrated over peak periods. The figures speak for themselves in terms of the level of pent-up demand. RECOVERY SURGES FORWARD WITH HIGHER TRAFFIC PEAKS In a joint statement, Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE (Airports Council International) and Fabio Gamba, Managing Director of ASA (Airport Services Association), began by welcoming the resumption of air travel after the devastating effects of the pandemic on their respective industries – for staff and passengers alike. Statement from Europe’s airports and ground handlers on current operational disruptions & staffing challengesīrussels, : Airports and ground handlers have today spoken out about the complex operational challenges they face as we enter the summer travel season.
