The companies which dominate ground handling services at UK airports have warned that they will begin axing 10,000 employees within hours unless ministers extend the government's emergency wage subsidy scheme.

Sky News has learnt that the quartet - Dnata, Menzies Aviation, Swissport and Worldwide Flight Services - have written to Steve Barclay, chief secretary to the Treasury, to say they will instigate a formal programme this weekend to permanently lay off 40% of their combined workforce.

Read more: https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-airport-handlers-warn-ministers-of-10-000-jobs-axe-within-hours-11974737