Germany to fast-track foreign airport workers to ease travel chaos

The German government will fast-track work permits and visas for several thousand foreign airport workers, mainly from Turkey, to help to ease summer travel chaos that has frustrated holidaymakers, German ministers said on Wednesday. Travellers across Europe are facing especially long queues at airports this summer partly because there are not enough staff to handle the rebound in demand after COVID-19 lockdowns. The support is valuable for companies in the sector, said Stefan Schulte, CE at Germany's largest airport operator Fraport. "We've been looking abroad for staff for a long time, we're also hiring staff, but the market is extremely tight," the CEO told RTL as he apologized to passengers for the flight delays and long waiting times at airports. Germany's aviation sector now aims to bring workers with airport experience to Germany, mainly from Turkey, to work with grounds crews, including in baggage handling, interior minister Nancy Faeser said Wednesday. They will have to undergo the same security checks as domestic airport workers before being allowed to work at airports, she said. Airlines, some of which had hoped to hire foreign staff through temporary work agencies, will have to employ workers directly and at standard wages, labour minister Heil said.<br/>