According to Telegraph, there could be chaos at airports this Christmas. A Swedish baggage handling firm have vowed out of Britain and subsequently left four UK airports short by 1,700 staff.
The move has been reserved until November, but the change could hugely impact Gatwick, Birmingham, Newcastle and Manchester. The departure of this company leaves the aforementioned airports scattering for new staff and new protocols. With the leave happening just before December, many are predicting chaos during the Christmas period.
A New Service?
Thus far, the airlines that heavily relied on these baggage handlers haven’t announced any new check-in contracts. It is completely unknown whether there’s a replacement scheduled and how these airlines will tackle the vacancies. There will need to be new employment for baggage handlers and check-in staff. Until urgency is applied and this situation is tackled, many professionals have revealed their worry on the situation. It’s looking likely for a busy Christmas in airports for the remainder of this year.
Impact for Gatwick
All in all, this Swedish contractor is involved in bag handling for over 22 airports, four of which are British. Although there will no doubt be a knock-on effect for Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle, it seems to be Gatwick Airport that will receive the biggest hit. Out of the 1700 staff, it’s 1200 that work for Gatwick and not only will they lose some of their bag handling and check-in staff, but they could also lose more of their vital workers. There are talks of a Christmas time strike as many dispute pension agreements, which will only add to the already-predicted delays.
Stay Stress-Free
Preparing to travel can stressful enough as it is, without all more hassle to add-on to you. So we provide you with some easy tips to make your trip a little more bearable.
Arrive on Time
It’s no good leaving everything until the last minute and thinking it makes no difference just because you know you’ll have to queue. Check your ticket to find out how early you need to arrive, the average time is usually three hours before departure. Have all of your things packed and be ready to leave and give yourself time. You don’t want to be rushing around and panicking before your getaway.
Organisation
It’s likely that you won’t have to rush around or panic, if you just get organised beforehand. Get your case packed and also plan what you’ll need on you. You will need to make certain documents, tickets and your passports accessible. So place them strategically to ensure you can secure them, but still put your hand on them when needed. We constantly take our passports out during airport procedures, and they can easy to lose or put deep into your bag. Get everything organised and place everything you need in your zip pocket.
Holiday Extras
Have all of your holiday extras beforehand. You will want to get your hands on extras such as insurance, transfers and parking. If you plan your parking beforehand, you’ll be able to get up to 72% off your booking. Book in advance for your Gatwick Airport parking and avoid mayhem this Christmas. Not only will you save money but you will also have transport to and from the airport.
The situation at Gatwick Airport is currently out of our hands, and it looks like there will be some delays during December. We should all keep our fingers crossed and hope that something is sorted out before then. But either way, you should use the above tips to ensure that you make your journey as stress-free as possible.