Up to 180 jobs to go at airport

Servisair blames the expected downturn in flights for this winter

Up to 180 baggage handlers, check-in staff and ground workers are set to lose their jobs at Manchester Airport.

Ground services company Servisair said the compulsory redundancies were a result of the expected downturn in flights for this winter.

It also said the collapse of low-cost airline Zoom, which operated flights from Manchester, added to its woes.

A spokesman said: "We have commenced consultation with unions to try to minimise the number of redundancies."

He added: "Redundancies at Servisair Manchester have been declared due to the expected downturn in flights for winter 2008-2009.

"Airline consolidation and integrations have also impacted on our business and Zoom has ceased operations."

Unions are expected to fight the redundancies, which are expected to be made by mid-November.