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There are no longer long queues at Zurich Airport, as in the summer holidays. They’ve become a regular occurrence and have caused blushing.
The problem is also home made: The Zurich Cantonal Police take over the security control at Zurich Airport. This was contractually agreed years ago. Recently, however, this security check has not been able to provide the necessary consolidation of staff at the airport to ensure a quick person check.
For this reason, airlines are hardly satisfied with the situation at Zurich Airport, which has been valued for its efficient processes for years.
Help thanks to pensioners?
As Blick heard from various sources working with the airport, “Kapo” should now want to recruit retirees from their ranks. It is said that he wants to fill in the gaps in the roster planning for the main season. Nobody wants to stand there by name, everyone at the airport knows each other very well.
Kapo does not wish to comment on Blick, neither by phone nor in writing. He only sent the exact same statement in mid-April regarding the staffing gap: “Training of new employees for the airport control department is in full swing.” In addition, temporary assistants are recruited and trained to prepare for the security check during the summer.
More fees are not a problem
After all, five courses are planned for control persons for 2023. Two have been completed, one is in progress, and there will be two more later this year. The Jobs.ch job portal also has several postings for “airport police security guards” that are paid monthly or hourly.
It’s just: “The job market has completely dried up and the job with working conditions is not very attractive,” says airport employee Stephan M.* (62), who wishes to remain anonymous. Shift work and Sunday work are not very popular and home office options are limited.
The approval of higher-paying third-party companies – currently only the cantonal police are allowed to carry out passenger checks – is also not a solution. “The wages and conditions of employment are the same, because the guarantee must be paid according to the GAV.”
BT scanners won’t arrive until 2025
But Stephan M. complains that the airport has focused too long on commercial issues and not focused enough on aviation infrastructure and passengers: “We’ve invested heavily in Circle, but very little on real aviation issues.”
Unlike other European airports, Zurich Airport is not expected to use a CT scanner until 2025. The procedure speeds up passenger checks. Scanners scan hand luggage so well that liquids or laptops can remain inside.
Other airports lead
German airports such as Frankfurt and Hamburg have introduced separable time windows for security checks in recent months. Passengers can book a fixed time slot online free of charge up to 72 hours before departure for the security check. Checking takes place 6 to 1.5 hours before departure time, time zones have a buffer of plus or minus ten minutes.
The advantages are clear: Travelers can better plan their stay at the airport. In addition, there are fewer traffic jams because rush hours do not create an additional burden with early arrivals from later flights.
However, time slots are currently “no problem” in Zurich, as the media office explained to Blick. Security control at Zurich Airport is carried out on three floors. According to aviation experts, one of them can easily be used for passengers with reserved time zones.
affordable service
Amsterdam took a radical countermeasure to queues: The airport cut some charter flights from the program after passengers missed flights due to traffic jams. But Zurich is still a long way from this scenario.
Some airports also offer priority service for passengers. For example, at Turkish airports, Swiss tour operator Bentour offers fast processing at only CHF 59 per person for check-in, passport and security checks at separate counters. So far there is nothing comparable in Zurich except a VIP service for the well-heeled. The need for reliability can probably still be used to make money.
* Name known to editors
Source :Blick
I’m Tim David and I work as an author for 24 Instant News, covering the Market section. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, my mission is to provide accurate, timely and insightful news coverage that helps our readers stay informed about the latest trends in the market. My writing style is focused on making complex economic topics easy to understand for everyone.
