There could be fireworks at Gatwick next Friday. Norwegian are handled by Aviator. Word on the street is that Aviator have gone bust and none of their staff are going to get paid next Friday. And all the staff will simply walk out. So if you intend to fly with British Airways, Virgin, Norwegian, Thomson and a few others, you could be in for a shock.
I know 3 of the blokes that work there. In July they each did 60-80hrs overtime which would normally get paid in their August pay packet. They didn't get it. Aviator haven't paid TCR (ground handling equipment) for 2 months or the on-site re-fuellers (for ground handling equipment) for 6 weeks. A "meeting" was held during which the staff asked "are we going to get paid in September?"
The answer was "We cannot guarantee that".
Contingencies have been put in place - we will look after British Airways using Aviator staff getting paid by Gatwick Airport Ltd. (GAL) whilst a permanent resolution is sought. The other 2 handlers will look after the other airlines. GAL has bundles of money and the reputational risk of everything grinding to a halt next Friday cannot be contemplated - they want another runway, after all.
The main reason that Aviator is bust is the fines imposed on them by the airlines if a plane departs late - even if the problem is outside the handler's control; weather ATC strikes in Europe etc. Aviator have been PAYING BA over £200,000 per month in fines because of this. Very messy.
