Am I right in assuming that most of these jobs are at or near minimum wage? And have been filled in the past by East European migrants? If BHX is like here, fewer are coming because the fall in the value of the £ after the referendum, and the more rapid growth of the eurozone economies v the UK, has meant that they can earn better money elsewhere.

My experience, which is now a few years old is that the jobs are at or near the minimum wage at most airports as the airlines screw the handling costs down so everyone can enjoy cheap flights. The shift patterns are rubbish as well; very early starts, late finishes and split shifts during the day when people have an unpaid break of a few hours during the day, but often it's not worth going home.

You can earn just about as much working at any big retail operation and the shift patterns are better, so there often is a big turn over of staff at the airport and often little incentive to do more than the minimum. In amongst this of course, there are people who try their best.

The race to the bottom continues and what is happening today will be seen as the norm tomorrow. Flying used to be a generally pleasant experience for older generations who are now becoming increasingly fed up with the hassle. Younger generations don't know any better and see these delays and hassle as part and parcel of travelling by air today.

^ ^ ^....elegant.....

Never a truer word spoken, well said.

Swissport suffer from high staff turnover rates. Much of it is down to poor wage rates but also the wear and tear of baggage handlers bodies so it is not a long term career option for many members of staff.

Strikes me as an outsider that the whole industry and it's attitudes towards staffing, customer service and payment of reasonable fees to provide same is in need of a total overhaul, as unless something is done the race to the bottom will continue unchecked, to a point where the issue will stop being inconvenience and irritation and become one of health safety, in it's broadest sense, and ultimately people will give up flying.

If HM Government could do one thing, post Brexit, it would be to permit airport operators to set up their own in house handling operations, to ensure monopoly situations such as those at Swissport BHX cannot be repeated here, or elsewhere.

They would also outsource their own operation to cut costs so they would be no better than any other company.

I just don't get why an airport the size of BHX isn't an attractive station for Menzies or Dnata to set up operations (again)

Dont be fooled in to thinking it is just a BHX issue...many other airports in similar position, as said above the airlines screw down the costs on contracts to pennies yet expect so much, ground handling, cleaning, PRM all getting walloped this year.

I see that the four BA destinations; Florence, Palma, Malaga and Ibiza are on sale again for Summer 18. Similar timing and prices as this year.

Parma is in Italy, with out confusing anyone I think you mean Palma as in Majorca, Spain.

And La Palma is in Canarias

That's silly. I did. Corrected, thanks.

There's no reason why that can't happen today under the EU Directive. MAN had its own in-house ground handler Ringway Handling Ltd until 2008-ish, running in competition with mainstream providers. MAG closed down the operation when their attempts to keep out of the race to the bottom could not be sustained at the prices the airlines would pay. Monopolies needn't always be bad if they are kept accountable and with a transparent charging structure.

The fault lines of outsourcing and cut backs and changes in management (and others) have appeared in the NHS. That system is broken and only limps along because enough human beings make it happen every day.

In my view, some airports and airlines are approaching the same point.

The Fly One service is ending on 2nd September 2017 and is probably not returning for now

This is a shame as the loads have been good, maybe one for Wizz Air to look at...

I'd like to say I'm surprised at this news; but I can't. Always thought it was a strange one.

There seems to be a security staff shortage in the Elmdon building over the past few days with private jets having to taxy across to the terminal to clear security, the crews don't seem to be too impressed with the situation.

FC

Looks like Hainan are opening new services to Dublin and Edinburgh. What has happened to the Chinese interest in BHX, after two years of charters following the opening of the runway extension? It seems to be going anywhere but at the moment.

Scuppered by George Osborne! Remember?