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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Airport operator BAA to cut jobs | Airport operator BAA to cut jobs |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Airport operator BAA has said it is to cut jobs, but has played down reports that 2,000 positions may go. | Airport operator BAA has said it is to cut jobs, but has played down reports that 2,000 positions may go. |
| BAA said some jobs would be lost, but it did not yet have a final number, adding that security and customer service roles would be unaffected. | BAA said some jobs would be lost, but it did not yet have a final number, adding that security and customer service roles would be unaffected. |
| The positions are being removed as part of an efficiency review at the UK's largest airport business. | The positions are being removed as part of an efficiency review at the UK's largest airport business. |
| BAA owns Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports. | BAA owns Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports. |
| The company denied reports that it was also looking at selling one or more of its sites. | The company denied reports that it was also looking at selling one or more of its sites. |
| Unions criticised the planned job cuts as illogical but one leading airline said it would support the move as long as it did not affect security or passenger services. | Unions criticised the planned job cuts as illogical but one leading airline said it would support the move as long as it did not affect security or passenger services. |
| 'More efficient' | 'More efficient' |
| The Times newspaper had reported that the airport operator was to cut 2,000 jobs, but a spokeswoman for the company said BAA did "not recognise" that figure. | The Times newspaper had reported that the airport operator was to cut 2,000 jobs, but a spokeswoman for the company said BAA did "not recognise" that figure. |
| It would turn logic on its head if the company were to seek to resolve its difficulties through slashing jobs Brendan Gold, Unite union | It would turn logic on its head if the company were to seek to resolve its difficulties through slashing jobs Brendan Gold, Unite union |
| "This is a simplification exercise aimed at support staff much more than frontline staff," said BAA. | "This is a simplification exercise aimed at support staff much more than frontline staff," said BAA. |
| "It's not simply about costs. It's about building a much leaner and more efficient business." | "It's not simply about costs. It's about building a much leaner and more efficient business." |
| Standards at Heathrow have come under fire from airlines, ministers and key business figures as well as London mayor Ken Livingstone. | Standards at Heathrow have come under fire from airlines, ministers and key business figures as well as London mayor Ken Livingstone. |
| Unions said the airport's problems were partly due to a lack of trained staff and any future cuts would make conditions even more difficult. | Unions said the airport's problems were partly due to a lack of trained staff and any future cuts would make conditions even more difficult. |
| "It would turn logic on its head if the company were to seek to resolve its difficulties through slashing jobs in a bid to maximise short-term profits," said Brendan Gold, national secretary for Unite. | "It would turn logic on its head if the company were to seek to resolve its difficulties through slashing jobs in a bid to maximise short-term profits," said Brendan Gold, national secretary for Unite. |
| "We would, of course, strongly resist any compulsory redundancies." | "We would, of course, strongly resist any compulsory redundancies." |
| 'Overstaffed' | 'Overstaffed' |
| Virgin Atlantic, one of the BAA's largest customers, said the airports operator had been overstaffed for some time. | Virgin Atlantic, one of the BAA's largest customers, said the airports operator had been overstaffed for some time. |
| But it warned that job cuts must not threaten security procedures or inconvenience passengers. | But it warned that job cuts must not threaten security procedures or inconvenience passengers. |
| These comments were echoed by British Airways which said BAA should become "more efficient" in how it operated but did not want any cuts to affect frontline services. | |
| BAA has a 60% market share of all UK passenger flights, rising to 90% in the south of England. | BAA has a 60% market share of all UK passenger flights, rising to 90% in the south of England. |
| The firm, which was bought by Spanish firm Ferrovial last year, is at the centre of a Competition Commission probe into whether it excessively dominates the market. | The firm, which was bought by Spanish firm Ferrovial last year, is at the centre of a Competition Commission probe into whether it excessively dominates the market. |
| BAA's level of customer service is expected to feature in the commission's investigation. | BAA's level of customer service is expected to feature in the commission's investigation. |
| The firm has previously accepted that "the experience of too many passengers using London airports is unsatisfactory", but blames a lack of capacity in terminals and on runways. | The firm has previously accepted that "the experience of too many passengers using London airports is unsatisfactory", but blames a lack of capacity in terminals and on runways. |