Gatwick staff asked to reapply for jobs

15.03.10

The new proprietor of Gatwick has advised 120 staff that they could lose their jobs as the airport looks to carry on its shake-up of executives and change management practices of the previous owner BAA, the Times reports. Members of the airports' planning and commercial departments have effectively been asked to reapply for their jobs as a part of an extensive restructuring. It has entered a period of consultation with the employees over job cuts and changes.

Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) bought Gatwick from BAA last December for £1.5 billion. It has a lawful obligation to specify the maximum number of job losses, but Stewart Wingate, the airport’s new chief executive, said that the actual number of redundancies could be much lower and the restructuring was geared toward improving the running of the airport. He told the newspaper: ‘We announced this restructuring so people have an opportunity to tell us what might improve in their jobs and also to provide us the chance to bring in new and fresh people. We need to ensure that we now have people who agree with us and want to go forward with us.’

In addition to Mr Wingate, who replaced Andy Flower, the airport's former managing director, a new chief operating officer and planning officer have also been appointed. The shake-up comes as a part of a wider revamp of Gatwick after years of reported under-investment by BAA.

GIP has set out plans to overhaul Gatwick so that it can compete with BAA’s Heathrow and Stansted airports. It is spending £100 million to expand its North Terminal to increase capacity from sixteen million to 20 million passengers. There are additionally plans to revitalize the South Terminal check-in areas by creating skylights, overhaul the railway station and create a forecourt so that passengers arriving by train and car enter a relaxed central space rather than the current concrete confusion.

Mr Wingate said: ‘BAA had a long-term £1 billion investment programme here and do you know how much was directed to security? Zero. I hope by winter we will have a single security area and are able to say to passengers that they get a good service. If passengers wait too long in check in and security they become irritated. That means when they get to the retail areas where we want them to spend some money, they're less likely to do so. A smooth transition through check-in and security is essential from an income and a service point of view.’

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