Baggage
handling job loss fears
31.01.08
Talks were
ongoing this week between two baggage handling firms at Durham
Tees Valley Airport to reach
a deal to secure the future of 43 staff. The news comes
in the same week that it was announced 327
baggage handlers would lose their jobs at Manchester Airport.
Keith Nicholls,
commercial director for Aviance UK, said bmi’s withdrawal
of services from the airport last year and slow growth since
then means that, in his view, Durham Tees valley can no longer
sustain two handling companies. (Servisair also operate at
the airport, and are the other party to the talks).
Aviance
handles baggage for FlyGlobespan, British Midland and Eastern
at Durham Tees Valley. It began operating at the airport -
one of 17 UK airports where
it has a presence - in 2001 after it acquired British Midland’s
handling business. Mr Nicholls said: 'They were operating larger
aircraft at higher frequency to Heathrow and that underpinned
the business.'
'bmi pulled
out last year and that was really the catalyst [for the talks].
We have not been able to secure new contracts to grow the business.
I suspect there is only enough work for one handling company.
Our projections for 2008 showed that we will make
considerable
losses.'
He
said the industry was increasingly competitive, and noted Serviceair’s
recent withdrawal from Glasgow, London city and Aberdeen airports,
and that: 'Rationalisation is going on in the UK baggage handling
market. It’s very competitive. People are paying less
to fly and airlines are cost cutting.'
Mr Nicholls
said
the company’s priority was to secure a transfer for staff,
adding: 'Talks are ongoing with Serviceair, and we are optimistic
that we will secure a transfer of business.' The talks
should be concluded on Friday and he hopes to make an announcement
to employees on Monday.
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