Over 300 jobs lost as Manchester Airport baggage handling company closed
29.01.08
Over 300 baggage handlers at Manchester Airport are to lose their jobs after the airport announced that it will close its in house baggage handling company that serves a number of airlines and handling agents.
The airport had announced that it planned to reduce the size of its baggage handling operation last November, blaming fierce competition after losing a number of airline contacts. It said before Christmas that 188 jobs at Ringway Handling Services would because it was making a loss in a 'fiercely competitive' market. But now the airport is to axe another 139 jobs and close the business because 'circumstances have deteriorated' during the consultation period.
Officials have said it is not possible to salvage any part of the business, meaning all of the jobs at Ringway Handling Services will go. The 327 staff will be made redundant by the end of March, a spokesman said. The news comes just weeks after it emerged that about 30 engineers at the airport face redundancy in a separate round of cuts.
A spokesman for the airport said the baggage handling market was very competitive, adding: 'Many airlines have multi-site deals across the world with global handling agents, making it difficult for smaller companies like Ringway's baggage handling business to compete. We will also endeavour to redeploy the affected people into other areas of the business and assist them to get work with other employers on site.'
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