An airline boss has blamed the recent airport chaos on "lazy Brits who live off benefits and sit on their arses", The Mirror reports. The comment has allegedly come from the chief executive of Jet2, Steve Heapy, after talks commenced this week to try and reduce staff shortages.
The comment comes as travellers have faced weeks of chaos at airports across the country, including Leeds Bradford Airport. The chaos has continued into the Jubilee weekend with many flights delayed and cancelled.
British Airways and easyJet called for more powers when it comes to hiring visa-free workers from Europe. Looking at unemployed cabin crew in Spain as a possible source of labour.
But their plea for European workers was rejected by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps during the meeting on Thursday.
Mr Heapy was rumoured to have criticised Brits for not showing up at job interviews or taking the application process seriously, reports The Sun.
Jet2 said he aired his frustration with the employment market concerning Brexit but “other reports being circulated are categorically not the views of him or our company."
A Jet2 spokesperson said: “During a meeting with government and industry on Friday, Mr Heapy expressed his frustrations with the current employment market as Brexit has taken hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people out of the job market and that is having an impact on many industries, including ours."
They added: "As a UK airline and tour operator that has, unlike others, not made any cancellations thanks to our proactive recruitment strategy, we are extremely proud of our hardworking British colleagues who continue to deliver award-winning customer service for UK customers every day."
Last month LBA chief executive Vincent Hodder asked people to come to Leeds Bradford "no earlier than three hours" before their scheduled departure time. Mr Hodder has said that people arriving early for their flights is leading to a "blow-out of queues".
The airport has repeatedly said that the root cause of the issues at the airport is a shortage of staff and that "these current challenges are an industry wide problem, caused by the speed of withdrawal of travel restrictions and testing which has led to the rapid recovery of international travel".
How have you found Leeds Bradford Airport recently? Let our reporter Jaimie Kay know by sending an email to jaimie.kay@reachplc.com.
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