Aviance closing Gatwick base
15.05.08
More than 300 people will lose their jobs after airport ground handling firm Aviance announced it is closing its Gatwick operation. The company blamed the decision on ‘fundamental changes’ in its business at the airport.
Aviance, one of the UK's leading baggage handling firms, has said it is to make 308 full time posts redundant from August this year, stating that it can no longer operate within the punishing financial regime now governing the UK's airports.
The company employs 5000 people at airports in the UK and Ireland across a variety of services including ground handling, security, cargo and passenger. The Gatwick workers affected by the decision will receive help to find other jobs.
The Unite union, which represents the staff, said the loss of the Gatwick baggage handling jobs must send ‘shock waves’ across the industry and reach right up to Government. Steve Turner, Unite's National Secretary for civil aviation, said: ‘When a leading provider of baggage handling says its operation at the second largest airport in the country is no longer viable, then something has gone seriously wrong.'
‘Government and the aviation industry must take note and act. They have imposed a punishing financial regime on the industry, one that encourages attacks on costs and cuts in service. This race to the bottom has real life consequences - a major employer has been undercut with the result that our members lose their jobs. Passengers and the tens of thousands of aviation workers will not thank Government or the industry for the havoc they are unleashing on the sector.’
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