The time it takes to screen new employees has grown as one of the reasons for airport staff shortages, contributing to thousands of flight cancellations, delays and baggage shortages. Airports across the UK and Europe have been affected in recent months as the aviation industry struggles to cope with peak season demand after two years of disruption related to the coronavirus pandemic. The Department for Transport said counter-terrorism checks for aviation workers were now being processed in less than 10 days on average – half the time seen in March. Accreditation reviews are also moving faster, taking five days on average, the department said. In other developments:• Flights were delayed at Heathrow Airport on Saturday after a technical failure in the airport’s fueling system• A technical fault left at least 1,500 bags stranded at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport• Ryanair chief Michael O told the Financial Times Leary that flights have become “very cheap” and fares will increase over the next five years Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “While this is a difficult time for the industry, it is unacceptable that the current disruption continues as we head into the summer peak. “The public deserve to know now whether or not their flight will be operating in the summer, so I am again calling on the industry to commit to delivering their scheduled flights or canceling them well in advance so that people can to make other arrangements. “Building on our 22-point plan to help the industry minimize disruption, we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure this summer is a huge success for British audiences.”
Government announces 22-point plan to deal with aviation disruption
The government has unveiled a 22-point plan to support the airline industry ahead of the busy summer holiday season. Some measures include: helping to recruit and train staff, ensuring a realistic schedule is delivered and supporting passengers when cancellations are “unavoidable”. Transport Minister Grant Shapps said it would “never” be possible to “avoid every delay or cancellation” but the government was “working closely” with the industry to ensure it met “realistic timetables”. “It is now up to airports and airlines to commit to running the flights they have promised or cancel them with plenty of time to avoid the scenes we saw at Easter and half-time,” he said. “As it has been 100 days since we announced that restrictions would be eased, there is simply no justification for widespread disruption.” Some of the other measures envisaged in the plan are: • Actions taken to reduce the time required to recruit new personnel on board. • Change the law for more flexibility regarding background checks. • Allowing employers to use a letter from HM Revenue and Customs to verify five years of employment checks. But Labor accused the government of a “lack of action”. Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Hay said: “The part-time Transport Secretary has not held a single meeting to deal with the chaos between Easter and the Jubilee weekend and is now desperate to catch up. Follow The Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker “These re-announced half-measures will do little to clear up the massive backlogs in security checks and address chronically low pay that is holding back the industry.” But the Department for Transport said Mr Shapps held a meeting with airports, airlines and ground handling companies on June 1. Read more: What are my rights if strikes hit the summer holidays at Heathrow? Airlines and airports cannot say when the threat to the summer holidays will end Meanwhile, passengers face more cancellations this week, along with 12 days of strike action this month by Ryanair workers in Spain and industrial unrest in France. Britain’s busiest airport Heathrow must inform officials of any further flight cancellations by Friday under an amnesty announced last month that will allow airlines to cancel flights while retaining take-off and landing slots next year. Image: Many passengers have delayed their luggage Airlines buy slots to operate their routes, but can lose them to competitors if they default on their obligations to the airport and passengers by failing to fly. It is hoped that the freedom to adjust schedules will allow airlines to operate only the flights they can fully staff, ending reports of passengers arriving at the airport to find their flights have been canceled at the last minute.
