With Covid-19 restrictions easing in most countries, the wanderlust is back. They would even be stronger than expected, in the first quarter of 2022. “Forecasters did not expect such a strong recovery in air traffic. At certain French airports, such as Beauvais, traffic will even be higher than in 2019”, added indicated Thomas June, president of the Union of French airports to West France, Tuesday, May 10. The trend should therefore continue this summer and the summer holidays. Except that, with the health crisis, airports have lost many employees: “15 to 20% of their staff”, since 2020.
“We observe a problem of understaffing on the ground staff, such as security agents, ground handling assistants but also in the shops”, pointed out Thomas June. Air traffic has resumed faster than airports have recruited, so passengers are taking a little longer than usual to pass through security checks or exit the complex. It is therefore advisable to arrive earlier so as not to miss your plane, especially this summer. “Most airports, and in particular the larger ones, expect the quality of the passenger experience to be inevitably affected by this staff shortage this summer,” June told Ouest-France. Flights could even be canceled.
