The deal which averted strikes by thousands of Airport workers includes a 2 per cent pay rise and a lump sum of £500, according to the union Unite.

Unite said the offer by BAA was double the original deal proposed by the airport operator, which was rejected last week, raising the threat of travel chaos for hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers.

Firefighters, airport security staff and other workers at Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports will now be urged to accept the new deal in a ballot over the next three weeks.

Unite said the new offer, tabled by BAA during lengthy talks at the conciliation service Acas on Monday, would now set the standard for pay deals in the aviation industry.

The offer includes a 2 per cent increase on basic pay and allowances from January 2010, arrangements for payment of shift pay during periods of sickness to remain unchanged, and a lump sum of £500, with £200 paid next month and the remainder next March.

Unite said the lump sum could reach £900 if performance targets are met

National officers Brian Boyd and Brendan Gold said: “This offer is double what BAA had originally offered with no strings attached. Plus it comes with a guaranteed lump sum of £500. The negotiations were tough but Unite has delivered a fair offer for BAA staff.

“The game is up for employers in the aviation industry. With the recession receding in the industry, Unite now expects BAA’s pay offer to set the standard.”

Source : ITN

Customer service is one of the most important areas of airport jobs as there will be hundreds of passengers a day that require assistance or have complaints and requests. This sort of airport job can be stressful but is excellent for those that are interested in helping people and ensuring that the airport runs smoothly. To find out more about customer service airport jobs, read on.

Customer Service Airport Job Information

• When a flight is cancelled or suffers delays, it is the responsibility of people with customer service airport jobs to deal with the passengers and to organise a place to stay or to find space on another flight. The ability to work under intense pressure is essential for a customer service airport job.

• Dealing with complaints is not the only part of customer service jobs in airport however. You will also be expected to deal with customer requests and any special requirements; this could include arranging for disabled passenger access or ensuring that a child travelling alone is correctly looked after. Those with customer service airport jobs could also be expected to deal with groups of passengers or VIPs.

• There are no specific qualifications required for these airport jobs but a good GCSE education is essential and A-levels or a degree will be highly advantageous. Previous work experience in a customer services environment is very helpful in these airport jobs.

• Some physical strength will be required to work in these customer service airport jobs because you may be required to help people with their baggage. A second language will be very helpful in airport jobs and knowledge of the day to day workings of an airport will be very helpful. Good communicative and interpersonal skills will be essential in these airport jobs as you will be dealing not only with customers but also with other companies such as car rental, hotels and transport companies.

• Those with airport customer service jobs in airport can expect to earn between £13k and £16k per year depending on the airline and the amount of experience held. There are opportunities to progress in these airport jobs to supervisor and managerial positions. You can search for a customer services airport job here on Airport Jobs.

Choosing Airport Jobs

• One of the most common but still most important jobs in an airport is that of a baggage handler as these airport jobs ensure the smooth running of entire airport and allow passengers to get through the airport as quickly as possible. These airport jobs are also quite demanding and stressful as bags need to be placed on the correct flight, safely and at the other end they need to be either taken to baggage collection or be placed on another flight.

• Some of the other very important airport jobs are those of customer services. In these airports jobs you may work for a specific airline or the airport itself and this involves ensuring that all customers are happy and that any problems get resolved instantly. You will need to have plenty of patience and excellent communicative skills in this airport job as you will often be dealing with people who are tired and/or agitated.

• Retail and catering makes up large numbers of jobs in the airport and these ensure that the passengers in the airport are kept well fed and have everything they may need for the flight such as magazines, music or anything else they may require. These airport jobs will again require good customer service and interpersonal skills as well as flexibility. Airports run 24/7 and staff are constantly required for these jobs in the airport.

• In the modern era, airport security is essential and although there is a huge police and customs in airports, security staff are still required to make sure that all passengers and airport job holders are kept safe. Jobs such as aviation technicians require years of training and undertake the essential maintenance of aircraft at the airport and ensures a quick turnaround.

This is just a taster of some of the airport jobs available as there are hundreds of different jobs in airport. You can search for a wide range of airport jobs here on Airport Jobs.

A multi-million pound expansion of Edinburgh Airport has been officially opened.

The £40m departure lounge and security hall will support up to 150 retail airport jobs and is part of a 10-year revamp plan.

It will also allow the airport to expand from handling nine million passengers every year to an expected 13 million by 2013.

Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney, who performed the opening, said: “Edinburgh Airport is a key economic asset for Scotland’s capital and beyond.

Full expansion
The airport’s revamp is aimed at developing it into “one of the most modern gateways in Europe”.

Operators BAA said Edinburgh was the only UK airport to grow in passenger numbers last year and the expansion in facilities would help it meet forecasted growth.

The full expansion is due for completion in spring next year but it will open in phases during 2009 and 2010.

Airport Security Job Info

• Those with airport security jobs could have a varied job role in terms of their day to day activities. For instance, some airport security staff are in charge of protecting the runway and airfield areas from intruders while some will be stationed at the entrances and exits to provide airport security. Some airport security jobs require working at passport control and searching people using metal detectors or by physical search to prevent security threats.

• Airport security jobs will involve working closely with other airport security staff including the police and customs to prevent security threats as well as potential smuggling. Every airport security job will require the individual to keep a log of the day and also to file reports should an incident happen.

• All airport security staff will have to undergo criminal record and security checks to ensure your eligibility for the airport security job. Applicants for airport security jobs need to have a good GCSE education and previous security experience would be advantageous but training is provided.

• Physical fitness and a keen eye are required for airport security jobs and the ability to communicate with people is essential. Airport security jobs will require you to be able to report to you superiors at the end of every shift.

• The ability to react quickly and professionally to situations is essential in airport security jobs and you should expect some antisocial working hours. Generally, airport security jobs come with salaries in the region of £15k per year depending on experience. Supervisor airport security jobs will come with larger salaries. You can search for a wide range of airport security jobs here on Airport Jobs.

Types of Airport Security Jobs

• Airport security jobs are hugely important and can be extremely varied but all of them are concerned with making sure that staff and passengers remain safe in an airport. The most common security job is probably that of an airport security guard.

• An airport security will guard all entrances and exits to the terminal buildings as well as guarding the airfield itself. The security guard is in charge of making sure no unauthorised people enter restricted areas of the airport. These airport security jobs will often require working in conjunction with the police.

• Other airport security jobs will be based at border control and will be responsible for checking that people and bags are safe and there is nothing that shouldn’t be there. Airport security staff will man the metal detectors that people and hand luggage has to go through and confiscate any items if necessary.

• These airport security jobs will involve working with the police, customs or both in case a search of a person or baggage turns up illegal objects such as weapons, drugs or other smuggled items.

• Airport security jobs will often involve much more than this however and could include things such as keeping a daily log, writing reports on the shifts and on any incidents that may have occurred. Each airport security job will involve reporting a superior airport security manager.

• To work in airport security jobs you will need to have a good GCSE education and any other qualifications will help your application. Like all airport jobs, airport security jobs will require you to undergo a thorough criminal records and security check and it may be the case that you need to pass a medical as well.

• Due to the nature of airport security jobs, you will need to be physically fit and able to react quickly to situations should the need arise. Airport security jobs come with all the necessary training but previous security experience will help. Generally, those with airport security jobs will earn between £14k and £18k per year depending on experience and the position held. You can search for airport security jobs here on Airport Jobs.

Airport Customer Service
In an airport there are a whole range of issues that passengers will face and need assistance with, ranging from simple directions enquiries to more complex complaints. For this reason, this type of work can be varied and high pressured at times. The main aim is to ensure that all passengers obtain the information that they are after and generally helped with a number of different questions. Airport customer service jobs could include:
•    Directing passengers to their airline desk area
•    Providing information about transport links
•    Showing passengers where to find all types of airport service and facilities such as food, cash points, toilets, foreign exchange etc.
•    Giving details about safety policies regarding luggage and security checks

Airport Jobs in Customer Service – Skills Required
This type of position can be extremely varied and so requires a range of different skills including:
•    Customer service experience. This is essential when applying to such jobs. You will need to know how to deal with people in a friendly and helpful manner. This often means having to speak to irate passengers and keeping calm no matter how frustrated you may get.
•    Computer skills will be needed as a lot of information will be found online or from an internally used program
•    Second languages are advantageous due to the obvious fact that the airport is full of people from other countries. By speaking another language you can assist those who have limited or no English. However, knowing another language is not a must in airport customer service work.
•    Great organisational skills
•    Communication
•    Good phone manner
•    Team work skills

Airport Vacancies – Check-In Responsibilities
Check in jobs require booking passengers and their luggage in to their flight. Other duties include:
•    Politely greeting customers
•    Dealing with enquiries regarding flights and the airport
•    Checking tickets and passports
•    Allocating seats
•    Weighing luggage and charging for excess
•    Issuing boarding cards
•    Asking security questions
•    Directing passengers to their gates for boarding
•    Dealing with latecomers

Extra responsibilities are often required when working these types of airport jobs. These include:
•    Working on the boarding gate to announce flights and admit passengers onto the plane
•    Escorting people in wheelchairs or other disable people onto the flight
•    Looking after children flying without an adult
•    Liaising with many other departments such as security staff, ground escorts and airline operators

Check In Jobs Working Environment
•    Be prepared to work with computers, phones and radios.
•    Shifts can include early mornings and evenings and nights
•    This airport job involves sitting, standing, walking, lifting and pushing
•    Smart uniforms will be worn
•    Salaries can range between £11,300 and £13,600 per year
•    Staff normally have free parking or concessionary travel.

Anybody looking for customer service airport jobs will need to demonstrate excellent communication skills and the ability to stay calm under pressure – this job can involve plenty of stress, particularly when it comes to handling passengers frustrated by flight delays or a lack of flight information.

Learn more about a role in airport customer service in the guide below.

Customer Service Airport Jobs – Work Profile

An airport customer service agent is more commonly known by the title ‘Passenger Service Agent’. In most cases, Passenger Service Agent jobs will be offered on a contract basis by the airport rather than individual airlines.

A PSA will have a range of roles including greeting passengers, assisting passengers with special needs, managing concourse areas, assisting with translation (so a second language will enhance your chances of finding a job), as well as managing and handling complaints as and when they arrive.

You’ll need impeccable customer service skills to succeed in this job, as tensions can sometimes run high at an airport, especially during peak times such as school holidays and the Christmas break.

In terms of qualifications and training, few specialist qualifications are needed to apply for a passenger service agent job, although some level of training will be required – airport contractor companies may offer individual schemes. It’s best to carry out some research into airports in your local area to find out more about entry requirements.

Find customer service airport jobs on our website.

If you use airports each year to go on your holidays then you will have come across people who work in airport customer service. It is the job of airport customer service to make sure that holiday makers are kept happy with the service that the airport provides them. If there are any problems with flight delays, cancellations or luggage going missing then it is down to airport customer service to sort it out as best as they can.

The main job responsibility of customer service jobs in the airport is to solve people’s problems. In busy airports you will always find they have lots of jobs in customer service. You will have to deal with some awkward and stressful situations on the job but you will be trained on how to handle these issues.

Where to Find Airport Customer Service Jobs

Local Airport – You should try walking into your local airport and finding an information desk. You might find that at one of these kiosks they will be able to give you an employment pack or some more information on airport customer service jobs.

Online – The internet is the largest resource available to you for looking for jobs in customer service. If you look at websites such as Aviation Job Search and Airport Jobs then you will find adverts for many different airport jobs. Another benefit to these niche aviation sites is they have blogs which give you additional tips and advice on aviation jobs.

Airport Customer Service – Skills Needed

• Experience in customer service which acts as evidence that you can interact well with people.
• Any experience in dealing with and solving problems is a bonus.
• Speaking a second language is also very useful due to the number of international people that will be using the airport.
• Being able to stay calm when things get stressful is important.
• Working in airport customer service means that you have to deal with some angry people. You need to be calm and come up with a rational solution and sometimes a reasonable form of compensation.

Browse customer service airport jobs on Airport Jobs.