Perfect Storm

[atuk]

With all the news in the media of horrendous queues for check in, security, staff shortages, staff absence impacted by the latest Covid variant and pent up travel demand fully unleashed aviation is not a happy industry to be part of right now.

Yes too many folks were paid off, lots haven’t returned after finding alternative employment, companies with little or no financial resource to retain existing staff or enhance renumeration are finding out exactly how the “race to the bottom” has impacted service delivery.

All the industry players - airports, airlines, handling agents called for government support many, many months ago to ensure that when demand returned they would be able to meet it and deliver business as usual. That didn’t happen and now we see the results. Why is it that politicians of all parties and colours cannot understand that aviation is a lead time business? It takes time to recruit, fulfil all legislative requirements to gain an airport pass ( necessary to operate landiside and much more importantly airside).

So what we see and hear are horror stories of security meltdown, insufficient ramp staff for baggage, tugs and steps, minimum gate staff, flights going off schedule due to delays and so on.
I can only hope as Parliaments head into their Easter recess their members themselves face the results of their inaction and ineptitude.

[Allen McL]

I've heard accounts of staff let go during lockdown at DUB, being offered their old jobs back but on much reduced salary and conditions. Basically voting with their feet and saying "Thanks, but no thanks". It's lift and shift with a different mask on really, so no surprises it's happening at airports everywhere.

Ultimately it's about exploitative employers and opportunists who know demand is rising again but are looking at restoring their profits and bonuses first.

[atuk]

It would have been better, more sensible and much more rewarding in the long term for governments in the UK to have offered a business loan repayable from profits earned taking priority over bonuses and dividends. Unfortunately everything today is all short termist and “just in time”! That’s one business model which Covid has blown apart and revealed how totally ineffective it is being dependent on no stoppage or blockage with no reserve supplies held.

A business loan could have funded earlier recruitment which could have been planned and implemented with any operational slack being used for cross training and illness cover.

God knows how stretched we all shall be learning new products at a moments notice - I know of three right now one which I have access for but not yet worked on and another where training is in the pipeline.

Currently off work due to Covid - I tested positive on Friday morning before getting ready for work. I’m not alone, just another unfilled line in the whole operation!

[hads]

whatever is wrong with your industry, get it sorted. I was 5 hours, yup 5 hours, waiting outside geneva two weeks ago. 5 hours to get through to passport control.Jet 2 . Fine. Swiss. Fine. Tui. Fine. Easy jet-Total shambles. They take the money from us and from airlines. Then dont adjust for the very basic. The Captian announced it was nothing to do with Easy Jet. Never heard 170 people laugh loudly at the one time. The world has suffered Covid. We are all getting back to full tilt. Time aviation did the same instead of taking customers for schmuks..

[egpffqtv]

whatever is wrong with your industry, get it sorted. I was 5 hours, yup 5 hours, waiting outside geneva two weeks ago. 5 hours to get through to passport control.Jet 2 . Fine. Swiss. Fine. Tui. Fine. Easy jet-Total shambles. They take the money from us and from airlines. Then dont adjust for the very basic. The Captian announced it was nothing to do with Easy Jet. Never heard 170 people laugh loudly at the one time. The world has suffered Covid. We are all getting back to full tilt. Time aviation did the same instead of taking customers for schmuks..

Rude. Just rude. He’s already explained why it’s in a mess.

[GKirk]

People want low fares, that means airlines having to cut costs, then handling agents have to offer cheaper services and thus the vicious cycle goes on.

Low fares, but people want the same level of service. The airlines cannot win.

[hads]

whatever is wrong with your industry, get it sorted. I was 5 hours, yup 5 hours, waiting outside geneva two weeks ago. 5 hours to get through to passport control.Jet 2 . Fine. Swiss. Fine. Tui. Fine. Easy jet-Total shambles. They take the money from us and from airlines. Then dont adjust for the very basic. The Captian announced it was nothing to do with Easy Jet. Never heard 170 people laugh loudly at the one time. The world has suffered Covid. We are all getting back to full tilt. Time aviation did the same instead of taking customers for schmuks..

Rude. Just rude. He’s already explained why it’s in a mess.
am I not allowed to vent anger with a long time conributer? Am I not allowed to provide personal experience? Aviation is no different from any other business. Decisions are made and implemented. Consequences of same experienced by customers. No one , in any business, is unaffected by the last 2 years. Accepting the current circumstances as somehow "Normal" is unacceptable. Excuses do not reduce the chaos.

[hads]

People want low fares, that means airlines having to cut costs, then handling agents have to offer cheaper services and thus the vicious cycle goes on.

Low fares, but people want the same level of service. The airlines cannot win.

Pre Covid, Planes were full. Airports were increasing volume. More people were flying on cheap fares. Airports and Airlines enjoyed the benefits of critical mass. Then the plague arrived. Its over now and we need to get back to what it was or people will not bother to travel.Manchester at the weekend was a shitshow. Geneva 2 weeks ago for us was a shitshow. Heathrow at the weekend , same.

[egpffqtv]

People want low fares, that means airlines having to cut costs, then handling agents have to offer cheaper services and thus the vicious cycle goes on.

Low fares, but people want the same level of service. The airlines cannot win.

Pre Covid, Planes were full. Airports were increasing volume. More people were flying on cheap fares. Airports and Airlines enjoyed the benefits of critical mass. Then the plague arrived. Its over now and we need to get back to what it was or people will not bother to travel.Manchester at the weekend was a shitshow. Geneva 2 weeks ago for us was a shitshow. Heathrow at the weekend , same.

Has every other business had restrictions put on it like travel & aviation? Each countries entry requirements differ, constantly change and it takes forever to check the rules. Maybe that’s why there’s such a shitshow at the airports? Heavy fines apply when rules are broken. Have a think about that coupled with an industry that was brought to its knees and now unable to bring staff back quickly enough. You’re the first to have a go when something happens to your beloved printing industry. Show a bit of empathy for our beloved industry FFS man.

[Clive]

People want low fares, that means airlines having to cut costs, then handling agents have to offer cheaper services and thus the vicious cycle goes on.

Low fares, but people want the same level of service. The airlines cannot win.

Pre Covid, Planes were full. Airports were increasing volume. More people were flying on cheap fares. Airports and Airlines enjoyed the benefits of critical mass. Then the plague arrived. Its over now and we need to get back to what it was or people will not bother to travel.Manchester at the weekend was a shitshow. Geneva 2 weeks ago for us was a shitshow. Heathrow at the weekend , same.

Has every other business had restrictions put on it like travel & aviation? Each countries entry requirements differ, constantly change and it takes forever to check the rules. Maybe that’s why there’s such a shitshow at the airports? Heavy fines apply when rules are broken. Have a think about that coupled with an industry that was brought to its knees and now unable to bring staff back quickly enough. You’re the first to have a go when something happens to your beloved printing industry. Show a bit of empathy for our beloved industry FFS man.

Add Brexit to the mix. I know that at Malaga Airport the other day our departure gate number was to be shown at a certain time. That duly happened but upon reaching the pier handling UK flights of course there was border control and a huge queue. With our restricted entry our passports had to be stamped again and a check made that we hadn’t overstayed our welcome. Fluck Brexit. With the gate number only appearing as the gate was soon closing there was no time to waste in that massive queue.

And on arrival in Spain there is a Covid vaccine status check after border control where they scan the QR code that you’ve had to get from the Spanish authorities before departure. That’s, ok. It’s their Government’s right and duty right to protect their country just as in Scotland it’s ours.

But I gotta say, it’s no fun travelling by air or by public transport. The whole thing is a complete drag to me.