Manchester Airport has received more than 8,000 job applications and hired more than a thousand new recruits to bolster its workforce in a bid to cut queues as passenger numbers surge. The urgent recruitment drive has taken place amid a chaotic period for the hub, with passengers left feeling the pain of its staff shortages in check-in, security and passport control.
But hub bosses say they are now on the road to recovery ahead of the summer months, with more than 1,600 applicants having applied for jobs at the airport in April alone, 550 recruits on the floor since January, and 500 new starters currently going through vetting and security training. A further 200 workers are expected to join the operation in May, enabling management to open more security lanes in peak periods, and 'improve customer service'.
Overall, there have been 8,000 applicants for jobs, including security officers, car park marshals and hospitality staff. Meanwhile, despite ongoing complaints from passengers, bosses insist security waiting times are improving, with '90 per cent' of passengers getting through in less than 30 minutes over the last fortnight, up from 78pc in the first two weeks of April.
