Airports and Ground Handlers speak out on operational disruptions and staffing challenges

The Airport Services Association (ASA) joined forces with ACI EUROPE to address current issues faced by their members. Higher traffic peaks and pent-up demand are coinciding with a cross-sector staffing crisis, resulting in increased flight delays and cancellations alongside longer waiting times for key processes such as check-in, security and baggage delivery.

The situation of depleted resources experienced by airports and ground handlers coming out of the COVID crisis is exacerbated by an extremely tight labour market across the whole of Europe, said the organisations. Even where recruits are identified, training and security requirements make it impossible to quickly adapt and deploy additional staff, with lead times of up to 16 weeks between staff recruitment and deployment.

The two bodies stated they were “leaving no stone unturned” in their determination to overcome these challenges, whilst asking for faster staff security clearance from competent authorities and airline best practice in slot returns and schedule adaptation in response to peaks.

The full statement from ACI EUROPE and the ASA can be found here.