Airlines, Airports & Routes Topics about airports, routes and airline business.

Stansted-3

Old 23rd Jun 2018, 05:51
  #921 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
Posts: 9,803
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My son used to work for Swissport at almost minimum wage on compulsory short hour contracts. They always had a staff shortage as people kept leaving so they always had vacancies.
LTNman is offline  
Old 23rd Jun 2018, 06:59
  #922 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: London
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by The96er
Yeah, but did you get a cheap ticket though !! - just accept that if you're flying cheapo airlines, then there's no money to pay for stuff like, errrmmm staff for example.
Oh yep - It was a well cheap ticket.. not complaining

Just thought it was unusual for a Captain to slag off SWISSPORT so much.. he sounded really fed up with them.. and yes.. not suprised their staff turnover is so high.. from what I have heard.. a thankless job for minimum wage and unsocial hours..
flying phil 2007 is offline  
Old 23rd Jun 2018, 07:18
  #923 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Luxembourg
Posts: 791
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by flying phil 2007


Oh yep - It was a well cheap ticket.. not complaining

Just thought it was unusual for a Captain to slag off SWISSPORT so much.. he sounded really fed up with them.. and yes.. not suprised their staff turnover is so high.. from what I have heard.. a thankless job for minimum wage and unsocial hours..
I heard the same critical remarks from the captain at Bergamo when there was a big delay getting a push back, plus he said he never understood why RYR should choose such a terrible airport as one of their bases.
tophat27dt is offline  
Old 23rd Jun 2018, 07:23
  #924 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 8,445
Received 68 Likes on 46 Posts
Originally Posted by tophat27dt
I heard the same critical remarks from the captain at Bergamo when there was a big delay getting a push back, plus he said he never understood why RYR should choose such a terrible airport as one of their bases.
Uses Lamborghini's as "Follow me" cars, so can't be all bad!

On a serious note, just one of the effects of the low cost industry. How do people think low fares are possible?
SWBKCB is online now  
Old 23rd Jun 2018, 07:49
  #925 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Sussex
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Passengers are quite happy to take out their frustrations on the crew where there is nothing the crew can do. Why not tell the passengers the truth?

It’s not all about the price of tickets. Remember there are always two parties that sign a contract. Of course Ryanair are going to try and get a cheap price, but the Swissport management on the other side of the table are agreeing to give Ryanair that price
Gulf Julliet Papa is offline  
Old 23rd Jun 2018, 09:26
  #926 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Outer London
Age: 43
Posts: 600
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by The96er
Yeah, but did you get a cheap ticket though !! - just accept that if you're flying cheapo airlines, then there's no money to pay for stuff like, errrmmm staff for example.
I’d accept that argument if I hadn’t experienced the same on perceived “expensive” airlines
AirportPlanner1 is offline  
Old 23rd Jun 2018, 09:29
  #927 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: London
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I am no fan of Swissport but there are several reasons behind the issues at Stansted at the moment.

Jet 2 went fully self-handling this year and EasyJet changed handling agents to Stobart earlier in the year. I understand that there is an Exclusivity clause in the Stobart contract meaning Stobart cannot handle anyone else for a period of time. The loss of the EasyJet contract caused Menzies to pull out leaving Swissport as sole handler for the remaining business. Swissport don’t want to be sole handler as this leaves them in the position of not being able to refuse handling even if they don’t have the resource. With the Jet2, EasyJet and Ryanair contracts all locked up there is not enough business to reach the critical mass another handling agent would need to start working at Stansted.

The failure of Air Berlin and Monarch has left a gap in the market and as a result everyone has piled in to fill the gap and there is more traffic in the European Skies than ever before leading to ATC delays. Add to this, strikes in France and Spain and Weather in Germany and the ATC delays are the worst in a number of years resulting in a lot of off schedule flights.

The final reason is that even though Ryanair are off schedule and Swissport are struggling they are still filing slots for 25 minute turns and when they miss the slot are being thrown to the back of the queue and picking up a further delay exacerbating the problem for the next rotations. All this comes to a head after midnight when Swissport are supposed to have limited traffic.

So …..
It’s the “fault” of MAG for letting a Sole supplier situation occur at the fourth (or is it third) busiest airport in the UK.
I
t’s the “fault” of French and Spanish for striking
It’s the fault of climate change for increased thunderstorm activity in Europe.
It’s the fault of Ryanair for trying to not managing the slots well on off schedule movements.
It’s the fault of Swissport for not resourcing correctly for the above which is also driven by the wage rates which in turn is driven by their revenue which in turn is driven by the low cost nature of Stansted.

I imagine that it will be resolved in the next year or so because….

The number of flights will decrease as the losers in battle for the AB/MON space exit the market reducing the ATC issues.
Swissport demand higher pricing allowing them to increase pay and the Stobart exclusivity clause will expire.

So the end result is that ticket prices will rise gradually going forward so enjoy the cheap prices whilst you can.
STN Ramp Rat is offline  
Old 23rd Jun 2018, 09:44
  #928 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: U.K
Posts: 782
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I’d accept that argument if I hadn’t experienced the same on perceived “expensive” airlines
Nowadays, most of the 'expensive' airlines are expecting extremely low handling charges, however, Gulf Julliet Papa make a very salient point in that the Handling agents are agreeing to take on contracts a silly low prices and often with extreme penalty clauses. I'm not sure why this is although I suspect that the caliber of people within the Handling agent contract departments is not very high and are lacking in business acumen. All too often they are keen to sign on the line without actually getting out of their office and seeing what the job actually entails leaving the guys on the ground to carry out the contract with woefully inadequate resources.
The96er is online now  
Old 23rd Jun 2018, 10:57
  #929 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Sussex
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by STN Ramp Rat
So …..
It’s the “fault” of MAG for letting a Sole supplier situation occur at the fourth (or is it third) busiest airport in the UK.
I
t’s the “fault” of French and Spanish for striking
It’s the fault of climate change for increased thunderstorm activity in Europe.
It’s the fault of Ryanair for trying to not managing the slots well on off schedule movements.
It’s the fault of Swissport for not resourcing correctly for the above which is also driven by the wage rates which in turn is driven by their revenue which in turn is driven by the low cost nature of Stansted.
Swissport at STN (and most other UK airports bar a few exceptions) have been continually rubbish for at least 12 years. So unless there have been strikes, thunderstorms, slots and MAG ownership for every day of that 12 year period the only people to blame is Swissport management. The lack of competition means that they should be able charge what they want, and not have to bend over.
Gulf Julliet Papa is offline  
Old 23rd Jun 2018, 14:35
  #930 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: STANSTED & MANCHESTER
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I don’t see why Ryanair don’t go self handling at Stansted, I’m sure adding £1 or 1€ onto the ticket price would more than pay for it, I have worked closely with swissport in the past and it was problems after problems in all areas of the operation.
daz211 is offline  
Old 23rd Jun 2018, 15:20
  #931 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: London
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by daz211
I don’t see why Ryanair don’t go self handling at Stansted, I’m sure adding £1 or 1€ onto the ticket price would more than pay for it, I have worked closely with swissport in the past and it was problems after problems in all areas of the operation.
because it more hassle than its worth for Ryanair, they self handle in Dublin and no where else. they are an airline not a handler ..... and self handling is expensive
STN Ramp Rat is offline  
Old 23rd Jun 2018, 15:48
  #932 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Under the flight path
Posts: 2,623
Received 11 Likes on 4 Posts
STN Ramp Rat -

A good explanation of the dynamics affecting handlers at STN. I disagree with one point, however:
The number of flights will decrease as the losers in battle for the AB/MON space exit the market reducing the ATC issues.
...as I can't see the numbers of flights decrease - all airlines are looking for growth. As one falters, others rush in. The only driver of an overall reduction in flights would be a recession, which looks unlikely
LGS6753 is offline  
Old 23rd Jun 2018, 19:11
  #933 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: STANSTED & MANCHESTER
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by STN Ramp Rat
because it more hassle than its worth for Ryanair, they self handle in Dublin and no where else. they are an airline not a handler ..... and self handling is expensive
Well it seems to be working for Jet2. And to an airline like Ryanair I don’t think it would break the bank.
daz211 is offline  
Old 23rd Jun 2018, 19:33
  #934 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: London
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by daz211


Well it seems to be working for Jet2. And to an airline like Ryanair I don’t think it would break the bank.
there is no denying it works operationally .... but it is more expensive than using a handler, Jet 2 have decided that its worth doing for customer service reasons, Ryanair will not see it this way. as an example if a Ryanair flight is delayed they will pay swissport the same handling rate as they would if its on time. If they self handle they will have to pay the overtime bill. I can only think of four airlines that self handle in the UK,

BA at LHR and LGW( through a subsidiary company) full handling.
Jet 2 at the main bases full handling
Virgin front of house at Heathrow
Norwegian at Gatwick (full handling through and agency)

if it was cost effective more airlines would be doing it .
STN Ramp Rat is offline  
Old 23rd Jun 2018, 20:21
  #935 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: STANSTED & MANCHESTER
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Maybe it’s something we might see in the future with Ryanair and their always getting better policy.
customer service will have to come more to the forefront as more people get sick of waiting an hour + for there luggage.

On another note, does anyone know if the National / Primera STN-EWR has taken off tonight, it’s showing as unknown on FR24.
daz211 is offline  
Old 23rd Jun 2018, 21:17
  #936 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: No fixed abode
Posts: 787
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
STN-EWR
Departed just before 10pm- 4 hr delay
Falcon666 is offline  
Old 23rd Jun 2018, 21:34
  #937 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: STANSTED & MANCHESTER
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Falcon666
STN-EWR
Departed just before 10pm- 4 hr delay
Thanks for the the info.
daz211 is offline  
Old 24th Jun 2018, 06:15
  #938 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: The EU
Posts: 636
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
STN Ramp Rat, you must be a manager because you’ve got all the excuses nailed on, more or less except the actual explanation.

Swissport have been a liability for years, across the whole country. And that’s because they hire staff on seasonal zero hour contracts, to work 12+ hour shifts starting and/or finishing in the middle of the night, on mixed roster patterns, whilst earning near enough minimum wage. At the end of the season, or when the handling company lose an airline contract, they are jobless again, if they haven’t left before then by their own accord.

Every weekend in the summer, in every airport in the UK, Swissport are short staffed. That’s as predictable as the rest of the excuses yourself, as well as most UK airline management teams, are reeling off this summer.
Vokes55 is offline  
Old 28th Jun 2018, 15:55
  #939 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: bishops stortford herts
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
New RYR weekly service STN to Dole/France for Winter`18 commencing December...now for 124 RYR routes in STN Winter`18 schedules...
southside bobby is offline  
Old 28th Jun 2018, 19:07
  #940 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Blighty
Posts: 5,675
Likes: 0
Received 22 Likes on 17 Posts
Dole

I think Ryanair flew Stansted-Dole for maybe a year about 7 years ago but dropped it - fares never seemed particularly high...
davidjohnson6 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.