Airport bosses said the biggest problem was a shortage of ground handlers, who could only provide 70 percent of the capacity they had in 2019, before the pandemic. Internal estimates show they will need 80 percent this summer.
An industry source said: “Ground handling staff are the real, real problem. This summer is going to be really, really challenging. The entire aviation industry needs to wake up and see that there are significant problems.
Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy PC Agency, warned: “The summer of stress for consumers as well as aviation workers will continue through the peak period in July and August.
“Airlines and consumers are rightly annoyed that Heathrow is only now outlining these plans after they have known for weeks that the staff shortage is impossible to fill.” Many more holidays will be ruined by these seat covers.’
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