Windsheer: I think you'll find that it's SOP at any/every airport that an off-schedule flight doesn't get priority ahead of an on-schedule one. It's not a question of the handling agent being "unable to provide ramp staff"; they can't be forced to stay back at work. Anyway, the whole delay thing started when 'AH went tech and the a/c were switched round so that the first departure operated with the first available chariot 'AE and then 'AH went tech down-route in Funchal and came back even later which knocked onto the BOJ (or BJV - can't remember) and subsequently the FUE on top of which BY's CDUO went tech as well and they brought a spare a/c in and BRS ended up with 4 757's in the area at the same time and I've lost the plot....roll on the winter season!
