Latest news with #AviAlliance
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Glasgow Airport 48-hour strike called off
A 48-hour strike due to go ahead at Glasgow Airport next week has been called off, a spokesman has 100 workers had been set to take part in the industrial action next Thursday in a dispute over of the Unite union due to walk out had included airside support officers, engineers and Glasgow Airport spokesman said: "We have been informed by Unite that the planned industrial action for 24 to 26 July has been suspended to allow for further dialogue regarding our pay offer of 4%." The industrial action would have fallen during the traditional Glasgow Fair fortnight and the airport's busy summer are the first summer holidays since the airport was bought over by company completed a deal to buy AGS - the owners of Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports - in January for £ has been contacted for comment.
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Glasgow Airport strikes to go ahead at end of July
About 100 workers at Glasgow Airport are set to go on strike for 48 hours in a dispute over the union said its members, which include airside support officers, engineers and managers, plan to walk out between 06:00 on 24 July and 05:59 on 26 industrial action comes during the traditional Glasgow Fair fortnight and the airport's busy summer Airport said it was disappointed by the move and will now proceed with contingency plans to minimise any disruption for passengers. These are the first summer holidays since the airport was bought over by company completed a deal to buy AGS - the owners of Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports - in January for £1.53bn. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Summer strike action is now inevitable unless Glasgow Airport's owners come to their senses. "We will support our members every step of the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions."A further 350 security and ground handling staff, who are not directly employed by the airport, have also been involved in separate pay said that 250 of these workers - who deal with passengers in the security search area and are employed by a firm called ICTS - have now accepted a 5% pay offer.A further 100 ground handling workers, employed by Swissport, are considering a new pay deal. A spokesperson for AGS Airports, which owns and manages Glasgow Airport, said: "We are extremely disappointed with Unite's decision to serve notice of industrial action. "We have been in talks with Unite since March during which time we have made several improved and fair offers against a backdrop of a challenging operating environment."We will now proceed with our contingency plans to ensure we minimise any disruption for our airlines and passengers."The spokesperson said its latest 4% pay offer was rejected by 75 members of staff at the airport.
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Airport unions to cause chaos with strikes at the height of Scotland's summer getaway
Glasgow Airport workers will stage a 48-hour walkout this month as they ratchet up the pressure on bosses to hand them above inflation pay rises. In a move which looks set to affect tens of thousands of travellers, around 100 staff at the busy airport will strike between July 24 and 26. Workers intending to walk out include airport ambassadors, airside support officers, engineers and managers. They have all been involved in an increasingly bitter row with Glasgow Airport and its owner new owner AviAlliance amid their demands for better pay. Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, said: 'Summer strike action is now inevitable unless Glasgow Airport's new owners come to their senses.' During the busy summer holiday period around 30,000 passengers travel through Glasgow Airport daily, and bosses are now set to activate contingency plans to minimise disruption to holidaymakers. Workers directly employed by Glasgow Airport have backed strike action after overwhelmingly rejecting a 4 per cent pay offer. Unite said its members will walk out at 6am on July 24 for 48 hours until 5.59am on July 26 as part of their pay campaign. Pat McIlvogue, Unite industrial officer, said: 'Glasgow Airport Limited is making the lowest pay offer despite being the most profitable company at the airport. 'It is the only company escalating a dispute and they seem to be spooling for a fight rather than trying to resolve the dispute.' As part of a separate dispute the union has settled with ICTS Central Search, meaning the 250 workers it represents in the security area of the airport employed by the firm will not strike after winning a five per cent pay rise. The union is also balloting around 100 Swissport workers at the airport in a row over rotas, work-life balance, and health and safety concerns. These workers provide ground services to major airlines, including baggage handling, and if the latest offer from Swissport is rejected these workers will be asked if they want to strike. Glasgow Airport is part of the AGS Group which earlier this year was bought by AviAlliance in a £1.53billion deal. Unite said that it had tried to restart negotiations with Glasgow Airport in an attempt to resolve the pay dispute, but it has been informed that no new pay offer will be made to workers. An AGS Airports spokesman said the company was 'extremely disappointed' at the strike announcment. He added: 'We have been in talks with Unite since March during which time we have made several improved and fair offers against a backdrop of a challenging operating environment. 'We have tabled an offer of four per cent, which represents an above-inflation pay increase. 'Despite reaching agreement with 80 per cent of our staff across AGS Airports over pay, our offer has been rejected by 75 members of staff at Glasgow Airport who, through Unite, have informed us they wish to embark on strike action. 'We will now proceed with our contingency plans to ensure we minimise any disruption for our airlines and passengers.' In the 12 months to May 2025 inflation, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index, was 3.4 per cent.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Business Voice: Investing in a brighter future for our region at airport
We are already beyond the halfway point of 2025 but it is great to see so many passengers coming through their local airport for a much-needed getaway. Whether it's a family holiday, a city break, or reconnecting with loved ones, Southampton Airport is proud to be the starting point for these important journeys. The summer marks the start of a busy travel season but 2025 has seen a lot of fantastic news coming from our airport. We are entering a new era, defined by strategic investment, innovation, and a renewed commitment to delivering an exceptional experience for every traveller. A transformational investment The recent acquisition of AGS Airports by AviAlliance, with Blackstone Infrastructure Partners joining as a minority investor, represents a significant milestone. This partnership brings with it more than £300m million investment plan across the AGS group, which includes Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Southampton airports. It is the single largest investment into our airport's since they came into existence, however this is not just a financial commitment—it's a clear endorsement of our long-term potential. The investment will support infrastructure upgrades, sustainability initiatives, and enhanced passenger services, ensuring we continue to meet the evolving needs of travellers and the region we serve. Enhancing the passenger experience One of the most immediate benefits passengers will notice is the rollout of Next Generation Security Screening (NGSS). This cutting-edge technology allows travellers to keep liquids and electronics in their hand luggage, significantly reducing wait times and streamlining the security process. Early feedback has been positive but the hard work doesn't stop there, we will continue to look for improvements so passengers can enjoy an efficient, comfortable and secure journey. Strengthening regional connectivity We're also delighted to announce that Loganair will establish a new base at Southampton Airport this October. This expansion will introduce new routes and increase connectivity across the UK and beyond, creating local jobs and supporting the regional economy. In addition, we've recently welcomed new services from easyJet to Paris and the airline has committed to starting a Barcelona route from our airport in October operating on a Monday and Fridays. There is always a buzz when a new service takes its first flight and the recent return of TUI after 15 years is a great example of this. It was a pleasure to see everyone excited about their trip to Palma. These developments reflect growing demand and our commitment to offering more choice to our passengers. Embracing innovation Our digital transformation continues with the launch of 'Hello SOU,' an AI-powered assistant designed to provide real-time information and support to passengers. Whether it's flight updates or navigating airport services, this tool is part of our broader effort to enhance the travel experience through smart, user-friendly technology. Supporting our community Beyond the terminal, we remain deeply committed to our community. The newly launched Spitfire Wellbeing Fund has awarded its first grants to local organisations supporting mental health and wellbeing. This initiative honours the legacy of the Spitfire—born here in Southampton—and reflects our dedication to making a positive impact locally. We were also proud to host the return of our popular 5K Runway Run on 20th of July, raising funds for the Air Ambulance and bringing together runners of all ages for a unique experience on the tarmac. A focus on accessibility and quality Just a few weeks ago, we received word that we were ranked 'Good' in the Civil Aviation Authority's annual Passenger Accessibility Report. The team work incredibly hard to ensure that air travel is for everyone and we remain committed to improving this facility so everyone – regardless of ability – feels welcome and supported at our airport. Meanwhile, our new partnership with SSP will transform our food and beverage offerings, bringing fresh, locally inspired options to our terminal and further enhancing the passenger experience. We'll have more on this soon but are looking forward to what our terminal will have to offer passengers. Looking ahead It was great to see our hard work be recognised by the National Transport Award judges as we received our first ever shortlisting in the Airport of the Year Category and we look forward to the evening in October. We are proud to serve as a gateway to the South Coast and beyond. This column s brought to you by Business South.
The Herald Scotland
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Glasgow Airport chief reveals major flights update
The transformation of the main terminal building at Glasgow Airport would deliver 'best-in-class operational and retail facilities for passengers'. AviAlliance's plans for Glasgow Airport also include direct investment into airfield infrastructure and energy-efficiency initiatives. And AviAlliance revealed Aberdeen Airport, Europe's largest heliport, would see 'similar investment in its airfield infrastructure'. I was able to catch a word with Kam Jandu, who was installed by AviAlliance as the new chief executive of AGS Airports immediately after completion of the AGS acquisition, as the huge investment by the new owner was unveiled at Glasgow Airport. And it was interesting to hear his priorities for new routes and building passenger numbers generally, as well as his views on the rise of Edinburgh Airport. Mr Jandu revealed the airport is in talks with Emirates about the airline increasing its daily service to Dubai to double-daily. He voiced hopes this could happen in the next two to three years, with Emirates operating a daily narrow-body aeroplane flight on the Glasgow to Dubai route in addition to the existing daily service on the Airbus A380, which is the world's largest passenger aircraft. Mr Jandu declared Emirates' current daily Glasgow to Dubai service on the A380 was 'a huge deal' for the airport and a 'feather in our cap'. He told me: 'We are talking about them expanding that to a double-daily.' Asked if this was likely to happen, he quipped he was not a betting man but added: 'The double-daily – with the A380 and a narrow body [plane] – yes, I can see that happening in the next two to three years. And to have the second daily as a wide body – probably in five to six years.' Mr Jandu named Copenhagen, Madrid, Berlin and Milan as four examples of priorities for new direct flights from Glasgow and highlighted his view there was a need for 'more connectivity' with three key European hubs with which Glasgow already has connections: Amsterdam, Paris and Frankfurt. Mr Jandu meanwhile described the prospects of winning direct flights to North America as 'good' and highlighted talks with US airlines. My column in The Herald on the interview with Glasgow Airport's new chief observed: 'The priorities laid out by Mr Jandu on building connectivity and increasing passenger numbers generally were eminently sensible. 'The proof of the pudding will be in the execution of the plans, but it was good to see he was in confident form and that much effort is being made on various key fronts.' Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes attended Glasgow Airport for the unveiling of the major investment plans by AviAlliance, a wholly owned subsidiary of PSP Investments which has stakes in Athens, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) airports. Read more This provided the opportunity to ask a couple of questions about the future of Prestwick Airport. Ms Forbes highlighted the Scottish Government's 'very clear lines' that it wants Prestwick Airport to continue to operate as an airport after any sale. The Deputy First Minister said the Scottish Government continued to 'make progress' in terms of its aspirations to return Prestwick Airport, which it rescued in 2013 by buying the airport from Infratil of New Zealand for £1, to the private sector. However, Ms Forbes said she was unable to provide an update on an 'active bid' for Prestwick Airport, which was confirmed in late March by First Minister John Swinney, declaring the matter was 'so commercially sensitive' Asked in late March by Scottish Parliament economy and fair work committee convener and South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth if he was aware of an active bid for Prestwick Airport, Mr Swinney replied: 'I am. That's a matter that's currently under very active consideration.' Ms Forbes, who highlighted Prestwick Airport's cargo operations, said: 'We have set out very clear lines that we want Prestwick to continue to operate as an airport. 'My view is Scotland is small enough to be able to support multiple airports but for those airports to be complementary to one another.' Prestwick Airport forecast in February its direct workforce would rise from 354 to around 400 with its expansion plans for its cargo operations. The airport puts the number of jobs that it supports in the aerospace cluster in and around it at about 4,000. In a column for The Herald on Sunday, I observed: 'Prestwick Airport is certainly of great strategic importance. 'So it is reassuring to hear Ms Forbes emphasise the Scottish Government's 'very clear lines' about wanting it to continue as an airport after any sale.' Donald Trump's trade tariff war has, not surprisingly, never been far from the spotlight in the past month and has provided much about which to write. The US President's 'Liberation Day' announcement of the US's tariffs on imports from various countries around the world, on April 2, sent stock markets gyrating wildly. It always looked like this was going to be the first rather than last chapter of the manoeuvrings, notably by Mr Trump but also by other world leaders, and so it has proved, with the greatest friction perhaps predictably coming in the US-China relationship. The only thing that seems certain is that this soap opera has a long way to run. Senior Scottish economist Jeremy Peat told The Herald on April 7: 'The dramatic response of global stock markets to Donald Trump's mad cap scheme to raise tariffs across the board was simply inevitable and wholly predictable. 'The immediate impact across all economies and all companies in the traded goods sectors was clearly going to be adverse. 'To me this implies a much weaker global economy for at least a year or two.' As I observed on the Trump tariff moves in a column for The Herald on Sunday: 'While the plot twists might be fascinating to watch, we must hope we move from all this drama and financial market turbulence to a calmer situation as quickly as possible. However, to say that remains to be seen would certainly be an understatement. 'We must also hope that, when the dust settles, what we are left with in terms of the global trade position and the broader fall-out from all of this does not do too much damage to the real economy, in the UK, the US and globally. 'From a UK perspective, the last thing businesses and households need is even tougher times than those they have been enduring.' This article was first published in Business HQ Monthly
