Union Raises Concerns About Holiday Delays

Oct. 20, 2016

Members of the Unite union say they have concerns about delays during the holiday season if Aviator, a Scandinavian baggage carrier, closes operations at Birmingham, Gatwick, Manchester and Newcastle airports without transferring approximately 1,700 staff members to other handlers.

According to a release from Unite, the group has called for clarity about what Aviator is planning to do to ensure smooth continuity of check-in, refuelling and baggage handling services

In the release, Unite national officer for civil air transport Oliver Richardson said, “Unite will be seeking assurances from the company, airlines, other handlers and ultimately, the airports that there will be no compulsory redundancies.

"It is a matter of serious concern for both our members and the traveling public that so close to Christmas most of the airlines have not announced where their baggage handling and check-in contracts are going.

"The airport owners and the airlines, which require these services for their planes to land and take-off efficiently, need to get their skates on to sort this out, without any detriment to the staff jobs, pay and conditions, otherwise Christmas travel chaos is on the cards.”