UP to 1000 baggage handlers and other airport workers are at risk of losing their jobs following the collapse of airline Flybe, unions are warning.
The GMB said ground crew jobs were under threat at Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Birmingham, East Midlands, Cardiff, Liverpool and Manchester airports, while Unite said Southampton airport could close without Government intervention.
GMB national officer Nadine Houghton said: "Up to 1000 Swissport jobs are now at risk from Flybe's collapse, on top of thousands more directly employed and in the wider supply chain.
"Many of these can be saved if airlines who've shown interest in taking on regional routes put their money where their mouth is, get on and do it.
"The Government needs to do everything in its power to make the transfer of routes and the saving of jobs as easy and painless as possible."
Unite regional officer Chris Gray said Southampton airport workers were facing a "very uncertain and rapidly changing period", adding: "When Flybe went under so did most of Southampton Airport's work.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: Second-worst day in history for FTSE 100
"This, combined with the spread of coronavirus, has left the airport in imminent danger."
Unite has warned that more than 200 airport workers in Scotland, employed by Swissport, face losing their jobs.
Today, the FTSE 100 saw the second-worst fall in history, with major airlines hit particularly badly. Airline IAG fell more than 10% and Tui fell 20%.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here