Handling and manned check in desks go hand in hand
As an airline manager, I read your notes with interest but feel compelled to tell you a few facts.
Simple facts about passengers and check in at most airports in Europe.
1: Airlines pay handling agents to handle their passengers at the larger airports who don't do their own handling.
2: some pay for more than 2 desks to be manned, some only pay for one per flight. It all depends on costs, potential number of pax, a/c size and fundamentally what the airline is trying to achieve. (normally saving money.)
3: An airport facility should not be held accountable for how many desks are manned for any particular flight. This is the airlines and their appointed agents who make this decision.
4: likewise, deciding on what system is used to manage the lines is normally done in conjunction between an airline, it's handling agent and an airport customer service or terminal duty team.
5: Yes an airport facility should be able to provide desks that can be used to cater for their declared terminal capacity according to health and safety regulations. Did you know an airport slot co-ordinator will not allow airlines to have certain slots if declared terminal capacity is broken at any time. The airline will be told to change they slot. This is all done months in advance. (We had to apply for our winter slots two weeks ago.)
Bearing all the above in mind, do you all still feel the airport management are soley to blame for badly manned check in desks and lines or do you now see that it is more apparent that actually it is a combination of cost management by ourselves (airlines,) and handling agents who jointly decide on how best to handle check-in.