‘Exhausted’ airport crews struggle after numbers ‘cut in half’

AIRLINE ground crews at one of the UK’s busiest airports were cut by up to half during the pandemic, a whistleblower warned last night.

- Robert Kellaway

As the industry struggles to cope with acute staff shortages, a surge in passenger numbers at Gatwick means under-staffed ground crews are “exhausted” – causing mistakes and risking injury.

Standard loading crews were six strong before the pandemic, the whistleblower said.

Now three do the same job – and in some cases only two are expected to turn around a flight.

The warning was given by an aircraft dispatcher at Gatwick who oversees the loading, refuelling, servicing and boarding of aircraft before signing them off as safe to fly.

The worker said ground crew staff were under “massive pressure” to prevent delays – which can lead to flight cancellations.

He said: “Before the pandemic it was completely standard to have a loading crew of six. Three would offload the incoming baggage and get it to the carousel.

“At the same time, the other three would bring the outbound baggage to the aircraft and load it.

Pressure