Chaotic scenes at UK airports have prompted the boss of a major airline to speak out about frustrations over the UK employment market and Brexit. Jet2 boss Steve Heapy is reported to have spoken out during talks this week as the industry tries to replace employees lost during the pandemic.
Holidaymakers faced a week of chaotic scenes at some UK airports this week with queues, delays and cancelled flights. The situation at East Midlands Airport has not mirrored that at some other UK airports, with bosses assuring passengers of a smoother travel experience.
Huge lines were seen snaking around the outside of Leeds Bradford Airport and Manchester Airport, while passengers also told of delays at Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick, Bristol and Birmingham.
It comes as British Airways and easyJet called for more powers when it comes to hiring visa-free workers from Europe, with unemployed cabin crew in Spain a possible source of labour, the Mirror reports. But their plea for European workers was rejected by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps during the meeting on Thursday.
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Mr Heapy was rumoured to have criticised Brits for not showing up at job interviews or taking the application process seriously, reports The Sun.. However, Jet2 said he aired his frustration with the employment market concerning Brexit but “other reports being circulated are categorically not the views of him or our company."
A Jet2 spokesperson said: “During a meeting with government and industry on Friday, Mr Heapy expressed his frustrations with the current employment market as Brexit has taken hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people out of the job market and that is having an impact on many industries, including ours."
They added: "As a UK airline and tour operator that has, unlike others, not made any cancellations thanks to our proactive recruitment strategy, we are extremely proud of our hardworking British colleagues who continue to deliver award-winning customer service for UK customers every day."
It comes as further reports claim that easyJet is finding it difficult to employ key staff as workers are looking for more than the £17,000 to £24,000 salary available. Swissport echoed this sentiment, revealing that baggage handlers want higher salaries due to high demand for the role.
Some airports said they have seen a sharp rise in disabled passengers and others needing help to get through queues, which has cost them thousands in having to provide more mobility vehicles.
Passengers on Wednesday were told to "carry only hand luggage" and no check-in bags to help reduce queues and delays.
The advice came from GMB Union boss Andy Prendergast on how to "scale back the prospect of there being issues."
Meanwhile Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary called for the army to be brought in to fill in the gaps left by some of the more than 30,000 staff laid off since the pandemic.
“Bringing in the army, which they do at many other European airports, would, at a stroke, relieve the pressure on airport security and would mean that people have a much better experience," he told ITV News.
"Not just this weekend, but for each weekend over the next three, four months.”
