After hundreds of employees were laid off due to the epidemic, managers at Manchester Airport have launched a big recruitment drive.
Hours of lineups, hundreds of aircraft cancellations, and a large number of staff absences characterized the half-term travel mayhem, and travelers believe the problems are still present.
The airport in Manchester was one of the worst hit, with things getting so bad that a TUI pilot assisted in loading baggage onto the plane when no ground crew was available.
Charlie Cornish, the CEO of Manchester Airport Group, was paid £2.5 million last year, a rise of £500,000 from 2020.
The 62-year-old is said to have earned additional benefits such as a hefty bonus and lives in a £2 million home in Cheshire.
‘The only thing that seems to be taking off with this company lately is to be the chief executive’s benefits,’ said travel and consumer campaigner Martyn James to The Sun.
‘It’s an insult to the tens of thousands of people who are queuing around the block.’
During the epidemic, the company, which controls Manchester, Stansted, and East Midlands airports, ordered 900 layoffs and forced all employees to take a 10% salary cut.
External agency employees were also laid off in total, totaling 1,500 employment across the three airports.
As a result, the difficulties have gotten worse thus far this year, with fears that summer vacations may be wrecked if the commotion continues.
However, to address the problems, Manchester Airport is employing 500 people on the spot to try to fill the vacancies.
The majority of the positions are promoted as being available immediately, with anyone who can provide references receiving £250 in cash.
The airport reported in April that it had hired roughly 200 new employees, with another 250 undergoing security screening, although it is still believed that hundreds of people are needed.
Travel demand has been quickly increasing since the beginning of the year, jumping from 37% of pre-coronavirus demand in January to 80% in April.
Ray Ellis, 54, claimed he resigned from the airport because of the ‘chaotic’ activities at his old employment.
‘Experienced employees quit during Covid,’ the former luggage handler told the Sun. The new employees haven’t had enough time on the job to cope with issues.’