The aviation industry must focus on 10 areas to ensure airport ground operations return to full capacity and passengers avoid a repeat of last summer’s travel disruption, according to the government.
A review of the ground handling market has been concluded, which ministers committed to as part of a wider 22-point plan for tackling aviation disruption last June.
The report found that staffing shortages were a major factor in last summer’s disruption, with ground handlers struggling to recruit enough staff in time for the peak travel season after Covid restrictions were lifted and facing issues with onboarding processes.
Aviation minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton, who met industry representatives to discuss Easter preparedness last week, said: “The misery passengers faced last year when their flights were severely delayed or cancelled at the last minute was simply unacceptable.
“We’ve made it clear that improvements can and must be made, so the CAA are working closely with the industry to build a resilient ground handler market for years to come.”
The Department for Transport said: “Ground handlers undertake several activities including baggage handling, check in, catering and refuelling. But last year, as the industry began its recovery, companies were unable to meet demand.
“Shortages of staff at airports, including drops in ground handler performance, had a domino effect on the rest of airport operations, causing delays and last-minute cancellations for passengers around the country.”
Since then, the aviation industry has made “significant progress” to improve its resilience, the DfT added.
The government has proposed:
- Further exploration of how to improve how ground handlers’ performance is measured and monitored,
- Better engagement between ground handlers and the government, including through the new Aviation Services UK trade association,
- Continued support from the government and industry’s flagship generation aviation programme for recruitment, retention, up-skilling and outreach,
- Establishing a series of working groups involving airports, airlines and ground handlers to address areas including airport ID processes and performance standards.
The DfT added: “While the aviation industry operates in the private sector, and is responsible for managing demand and resourcing, passengers should have confidence the government is doing everything it can to help ahead of this summer season.”
It added that it is important that both the private sector and the government “move in lockstep”.
By focusing on these areas, the aviation industry, the government and Civil Aviation Authority can build a sector that provides a world-leading service for passengers long into the future, the DfT concluded.