To end the “disaster movie” scene witnessed at the airport, new employee accuracy tests have been expedited and processed at a record pace.
Transport Minister Grant Shapps is trying to mitigate the flight turmoil this summer to avoid the mayhem seen during Easter and Jubilee vacations.
The shortage of baggage handlers and security staff has fueled long queues and delays at UK airports.
The government has ordered the review center to prioritize airport checks so that new employees can help fill the gap faster.
The Department of Transport (DfT) said that counter-terrorism checks for air workers are now being processed on average within 10 days. This is half the time in March.
According to the department, certification checks have been speeded up to complete within an average of five days, but in the short term, staff shortages appear to be hitting Heathrow Airport.
Passenger Adam Kent, 59, said baggage collection “looked like a disaster movie scene” after arriving at Terminal 3 from Orlando, Florida.
“(There) luggage was everywhere, stacked between luggage belts, everyone stepped over it, and no one did anything about it,” Kent of Worcestershire told PA news agency. ..
“Cruel and honest, it looks like a serious health and safety issue.
“No one is visible on the ground to explain the genocide or sort out the turmoil. It seems that a lot of luggage did not arrive with the passengers and was just thrown away.”
Kent said there was “horrifying customer service” at the airport, adding:
“Left and discarded luggage is not secure and can be easily stolen … There is no duty of care for passengers’ belongings.”
Chaps, who devised a 22-point plan to limit the turmoil, welcomed the latest statistics.
“People are making huge sacrifices during the pandemic and deserve to fly on time, without complications and without being canceled shortly before,” he said.
“This is a difficult time for the sector, but it is unacceptable for the current turmoil to continue towards the peak of summer.
“People now deserve to know if their flights will be carried out in the summer, so I promise the industry to deliver the flights they have scheduled, or people can make other arrangements. Repeat as promised to cancel them long ago.
“We will continue to do our best to make this summer a great success for the British people, based on a 22-point plan to minimize industry turmoil.”
However, Labor has accused the government of “lacking action.”
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh said:
“These half of these re-announced measures do little to eliminate significant delays in security checks and tackle chronic low wages that impede the industry.”
On Saturday, it was reported that the airlines using Heathrow were rescheduling their flights following the announcement of the amnesty by DfT.
The amnesty allowed the airline to return the flight slot if it had already purchased the time but was not sure that the flight slot could be used.