Will the main travel season in the summer finally be a success for the industry again? There are growing voices that staff shortages could lead to flight delays and cancellations.
Finally flying again. After two lean years, it’s finally starting. “We are currently at a passenger volume of 65 percent compared to the time before the crisis,” explains Peter Kleemann, spokesman for Vienna Airport. A further increase is expected for the summer. So is there any reason to celebrate?
Hassle-free holiday or flight cancellations
No, if the union vida has its way. Because across Europe, airports and air traffic control would warn that there could be serious delays in the summer as they could find far too few staff to handle air traffic during peak seasons. “In Austria, the personnel situation is just as drastic. Here we will get through the summer, or not at all, only with a lot of pain,” says Daniel Liebhart, chairman of the Aviation Department.
“The concern is unfounded,” Kleemann argues. “We’ll get through the summer.” Only recently have about 100 new employees been hired. In addition, 80 percent of staff are stuck with far fewer passengers compared to 2019.
“Already insulted or pelted with a bottle”
“We are currently short of 300 employees and are already overloaded,” said Walter Burianek, Works Council member at Vienna International Airport Security Services. An employee confirms the situation: “Passengers already have to wait an hour at check-in, then another hour at security.” That makes people aggressive. “I’ve already been insulted or screwed over with a bottle,” says Maria M. The schedule is only divided into days, because the staff is missing.
There are also bottlenecks in the air. “During the pandemic, 400 people left the company,” said an Austrian Airlines flight attendant. You now have to do the same work with fewer people. “We’re already flying at the stop,” she says. Everything half as wild, the company says. The summer travel plan is fixed, there are enough employees. We’ll see who’s right in the summer.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
