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☆ A coffin was accidentally left on a plane at Dublin Airport and flown back to Greece
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

One man's remains were accidentally left on a plane at Dublin Airport and flown back to Greece. An Irishman who passed away in Greece was transported by plane to Dublin Airport but an unloading mistake resulted in his coffin being flown all the way back to Greece, Irish newspaper the Sunday Independent reported. On May 22, the man's remains were transported in a coffin on an Aegean Airline plane from Athens International Airport to Dublin Airport where his family had been waiting for him with a hearse, per the Sunday Independent. However, due to a "misload," the coffin wasn't spotted by grounds service and thus never unloaded from the plane, the newspaper wrote. Swissport, the company responsible for ground handling at Dublin Airport, reportedly resolved the situation by arranging for the man's body to be returned on another flight the next day, the newspaper wrote.

Persons: Swissport Organizations: Dublin Airport, Morning, Irish, Sunday Independent, Athens International, Swissport, Aegean Airlines, Twitter, Skytrax Locations: Greece, Athens, Aegean, Europe

While travel demand is roaring back, many hotels, airlines, cruise operators and airports are still racing to hire and train workers. That means the level of customer service will likely take a hit, industry experts say. One potential bright spot can be found at sea: During the summer, several cruise lines had to cancel voyages due to staffing shortages, but major disruptions have been largely resolved. “It’s highly unlikely your holiday cruise will be canceled due to lack of staffing,” said Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, a Tripadvisor-run travel site. “This year, I moved my annual holiday travel to earlier in December,” said Abby Rhinehart, an educational researcher in Tucson, Arizona.

Airport workers across the country are rallying and walking off the job Thursday to draw attention to their current working conditions and legislation that could improve them. Workers at 15 U.S. airports, including ones in Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City and Phoenix, plan to participate in on-site rallies. Formal strikes — which could disrupt operations — are planned at Boston's Logan International Airport, Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and the Newark Liberty International Airport. The rallies are in support of the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act, introduced in June by Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass. It would set a minimum wage of $15 for airport service workers, as well as ensure the workers have paid time off, holidays, adequate health care and other benefits.

☆ Swissport baggage handlers are under 'urgent investigation' after viral TikTok shows them slamming and throwing passenger luggage
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Friday video of baggage handlers roughly moving luggage went viral on TikTok. Workers in the video can be seen slamming, throwing, and kicking passengers' bags. In a video shared to TikTok Friday, three handlers can be seen slamming and throwing passengers' bags onto a conveyor belt while laughing. "The behavior in this video is clearly not acceptable, and our contracted ground handler is conducting an urgent investigation," a Qantas spokesperson told the Guardian. He added: "Disrespectful behavior to our customer luggage and personal effects will not be tolerated and will result in serious disciplinary action."

☆ Swiss seek mandatory reporting of cyberattacks on key infrastructure
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ZURICH, Dec 2 (Reuters) - The Swiss government proposed on Friday making it mandatory to report cyberattacks on critical infrastructure as a way to help shed light on hackers and sound the alarm more widely. "Successful cyberattacks can have far-reaching consequences for the availability and security of the Swiss economy. The general public, authorities and companies are exposed to the risk of cyberattacks on a daily basis. Swiss stock exchange operator SIX, for example, saw an increase in hacker attacks around the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February. European states have raced to protect energy infrastructure ranging from Norwegian energy installations to German power lines after blaming the Nord Stream pipeline leaks in September on sabotage.

☆ Singapore air cargo deal elevates its hub status
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, Sept 29 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Singapore is boosting its hub status as global recession fears loom. Aviation services group SATS (SATS.SI) is acquiring the world’s largest air cargo logistics provider for $2.2 billion from U.S. buyout firm Cerberus. The deal could ultimately lift trade flows through Singapore where aviation contributes more than 5% of GDP. SATS is part of the city-state’s industry trinity that includes its former parent Singapore Airlines (SIAL.SI) and Changi Airport. As global cargo activity nears pre-pandemic levels, Singapore is providing a strategic home to an asset that’s passed through multiple financial owners.

☆ Singapore's SATS in $1.1 bln deal to become biggest air cargo handler
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Yantoultra Ngui | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SINGAPORE, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Singapore-based ground handling and catering provider SATS Ltd (SATS.SI) is acquiring Paris-based Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) for 1.19 billion euros ($1.14 billion) cash in its largest ever deal, to create the world's biggest global air cargo handler. SATS' CEO Kerry Mok called the deal "a transformational opportunity for SATS", saying it would create a global leader. Last week, Bloomberg News reported that SATS had sounded out financing for a possible deal that could be worth about $3 billion. WFS reported 1.722 billion euros in revenue and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of 232 million euros for the year ended March 2022. Founded in 1984, WFS is the world's largest air cargo logistics provider and a major provider of ground handling and technical services.

☆ An airport truck driver says she has to fill in as cabin cleaner and gets 7 minutes to clean a plane. It shows how a crippling staff shortage is taking its toll on US airport workers.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-25 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Some airport workers told Insider they felt the pressure this summer amid the travel chaos. A cleaner at Logan airport said airlines sometimes ask his team to clean a plane in 10 minutes. It's also taken a toll on airport workers across the US. She joined the Airport Workers United union, which represents 35,000 airport workers at 22 US airports, to demand pay raises. A Delta spokesperson told Insider the airline has a "strong track record" of offering compensation and benefits to staff.

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