THE COMPANY blamed for the chaotic scenes at the island’s airports over the last month yesterday agreed to employ an additional 70 workers to help alleviate the situation.
SWISSPORT – GAP Vassilopoulos yesterday announced that they had employed 35 new staff and would bring on another 35 over the weekend as well as calling on the expertise of a number of highly qualified personnel from their international branch.
The company announced these measures after Communications Minister Nicos Nicolaides had earlier in the week issued them with an ultimatum stating that if the problems, were not set right by Monday then airport operator Hermes would be instructed to break their contract for the ground handling services at both Larnaca and Paphos airports.
On Thursday, Head of the Cypriot Air-Accident Investigation Committee, Costas Orfanos warned that the situation at both Larnaca and Paphos airports could affect flight security.
In the first statement released by Swissport since the story broke, while claiming that many of the problems experienced could not have been avoided, they offered their apologies to the public affected.
“Swissport Cyprus Ltd is trying its utmost to tackle the problems that have surfaced at the Larnaca Airport in the last few days in the ground handling services. Despite the careful and professional commencement of our operations at Larnaca Airport – within a relative short transition period after receiving the necessary licenses – it was made clear that some of the operation problems could not be avoided,” the statement said.
“We apologise for any discomfort that may have been caused and we commit that very shortly the company’s management and staff, who are already undertaking a superhuman effort, will offer the high degree of service that passengers deserve.”
Hermes airports spokesman Adamos Aspris said that the airport operator would be waiting until Monday to judge if the necessary improvements had been made by the ground handling companies.
Ground handling at the island’s airports was taken over in May by a joint venture between Cyprus Airways (CY) and Swissport – GAP Vassilopoulos (Cyprus) Ltd, and a second joint venture; LGS (Louis, Gold Air and Service Air) Handling.
While both companies had claimed to be experiencing teething problems after taking over ground handling services, the situation hit crisis point this week after officials had suggested that the problems at the airport could pose a threat to flight safety after a number of incidents showing up the extent of the problems that ranged from a lack of communication and expertise, to a serious shortage of staff.
On Tuesday a group of passengers were boarded onto the wrong flight at Larnaca airport, while passengers had reported long delays in the area of baggage claims and baggage handling in general.
Yesterday, the Civil Aviation authority defended the selection process for the two companies, saying that it was airport operator Hermes that made chose the two winning ventures after examining four tenders for the job after a Cabinet decree in October 2007.
Hermes had been responsible for operating ground handling itself, other than for CY flights, but under EU regulations was obliged to open the sector to competition this year so that airlines could have a competitive choice.
