Huge rush for jobs at airport
THOUSANDS APPLY FOR 800 ROLES AS HUB RECOVERS
MANCHESTER Airport has received more than 8,000 job applications and in the last month hired nearly 800 new recruits to bolster its workforce in a bid to cut queues as passenger numbers surge.
The urgent recruitment drive has taken place amid a chaotic period for the hub, with passengers left feeling the pain of its staff shortages in check-in, security and passport control.
But hub bosses say they are now on the road to recovery ahead of the summer months, with more than 1,600 applicants having applied for jobs at the airport in April alone, 60 recruits already on the floor, and 500 new starters currently going through vetting and security training.
A further 200 workers are expected to join the operation this month, enabling management to open more security lanes in peak periods and ‘improve customer service.’
Overall, there have been 8,000 applicants for jobs, including security officers, car park marshals and hospitality staff. Meanwhile, despite ongoing complaints from passengers, bosses insist security waiting times are improving, with ‘90 per cent’ of passengers getting through in less than 30 minutes over the last fortnight, up from 78pc in the first two weeks of April.
Despite these signs of light, passengers are still being asked to arrive three hours before their flight and are reminded to get to grips with security rules around hand luggage to speed up the process. But it’s a fine balance as the airport is also warning customers not to arrive too early because this can lead to extra queues – and their check-in and security desks may not yet be open.
Hard on the heels of the pandemic, the last few months have been turbulent for the airport as it struggled to cope with passenger numbers following the lifting of restrictions. Last month, it led to an open letter of apology from boss Charlie Cornish.
Passenger numbers are now 79pc of pre-pandemic levels, treble that of January, when travellers were at 40pc of the level they were in the same month of 2019.
Ian Costigan, interim managing director of Manchester Airport, said: “It is encouraging to see staff joining us as a result of our ongoing recruitment drive, and we have seen security waiting times reduce in recent weeks. The last few weeks have been challenging but the team on the ground has done a great job in getting passengers through security more quickly, and I would like to thank all colleagues for their hard work and dedication.
There are still roles to apply for at the airport and there are several recruitment events this month, including open days at the onsite Airport Academy (May 10 and 17). Staff from the airport will also be attending jobs fairs held in Stoke on Trent, Altrincham Job Centre (today), Rusholme Job Centre (May 11) and Bolton council’s jobs fair (May 26).