A worker shortage of baggage handlers and airport ground staff could derail plans for travellers hoping to jet off overseas as Covid lockdown restrictions tumble.
Vaccinated Australians are gearing up for the return of international travel in November as national immunisation rates close in on 80 per cent.
But an exodus of airport staff during the Covid lockdowns could have the airline industry facing a new crisis when flights start to return to normal.
About a third of the nation’s 16,000 airport ground crew have quit their jobs after they were stood down for months on end during the pandemic.
They handle the key jobs behind the scenes at airports, including cleaning, security, driving passenger buses across tarmacs, in-flight catering, and baggage and cargo handling.
A ground crew crisis could threaten the dream holiday plans of thousands of Australians. (Pictured, a woman running through the waves in the sea)
A worker shortage of baggage handlers and airport ground staff (pictured) could derail plans for travellers hoping to jet off overseas as Covid lockdown restrictions tumble
Now the Australian Aviation Ground Handler Industry Alliance has warned hundreds of flights may have to be cancelled as airports struggle to replace the workforce.
Airport staff were not included in the federal government’s airline support package that supported airline crew but not outsourced ground crew.
But the AAGHI warns that without them, the planes simply won’t fly.
When JobKeeper came to an end in March, thousands are said to have quit the aviation industry in search of more secure work elsewhere.
Double-jabbed Australians are gearing up for the return of international travel in November as national vaccination rates close in on 80 per cent. (Pictured, travellers board a Qantas flight)
AAGHIA Chair Glenn Rutherford has warned it will be months before the travel industry recovers and gets back up to full strength to cope with demand.
‘It will take at least six months to recruit more workers when state borders reopen, train them up to government standards and have them accredited,’ he told Aviation Australia
‘That means we are likely to see many flights grounded in November, December, January and February owing to a nationwide shortage of professional aviation ground operations staff.’
The alliance has drawn up a list of 51 Australian airports likely to be hit by the staff shortages after ground work was contracted out by airlines to third-party firms.
They said 80 per cent of all ground crew work is now handled by third parties and subcontractors, with just 20 per cent still employed by airlines themselves.
An exodus of airport staff during the Covid lockdowns could leave the airline industry facing a new crisis when flights start to return to normal. (Pictured, travellers awaiting their baggage at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport)
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Around a third of the nation’s 16,000 airport ground crew are estimated to have quit their jobs after they were stood down for months on end during the pandemic. (Pictured, ground crew at Adelaide Airport)
And even as the airports try to recover, the AAGHIA warned of possible problems caused by newly-recruited, inexperienced staff.
‘The inescapable fact is that as borders reopen, and flights are rescheduled, many will be unable to occur due to a chronic shortage of vital aviation workers on the ground,’ Mr Rutherford said.
‘What will be left is an industry of rookies, with many experienced and skilled staff having left the industry for good.’
Similar situations played out around the world as international travel resumed. In the US, workers are even being offered $1,000 bonuses to attract them.
Key jobs affected include cleaning, security, driving passenger buses across tarmacs, in-flight catering and baggage and cargo handling. (Pictured, travellers at Perth Airport)
The government will scrap the ban on Australians leaving the country on November 1, but only citizens, residents, and the family will be able to come in, for now.
International travellers flying into NSW and Victoria will not have to quarantine after November 1 providing they are vaccinated and tested for Covid after their arrival, and in Victoria, test negative again three days after arriving.
Queensland has stricter conditions depending on what country travellers are arriving from.
The government has yet to finalise the date for international travel to resume for double-vaccinated travellers, but have flagged it will be in November. (Pictured, Qantas planes parked at Sydney Airport)
