JOBS are under threat after Servisair announced plans to shed 162 workers at Gatwick.
The company, which supplies ground services at the airport, blamed the staff cuts on 'seasonal factors' coupled with the government's Open Skies deregulation policy.
This allows for any number of ground handling agencies to operate and replaces
previous strict number of firms.
The news of the redundancies comes just weeks after another ground handling firm Aviance announced plans to scrap its Gatwick operation with the loss of 300 jobs.
A spokesman for Servisair said: "Every year Servisair staffing levels are adjusted to match seasonal peaks and changing operational patterns.
"At Gatwick the company makes such adjustments each October after the peak holiday season and this year the high number of redundancies is due to some contract changes and airline volume reductions this winter."
Phil Silkstone, Unite Regional Industrial Officer, said they would be fighting to save jobs at the firm. He said: "There is a statutory 90 day consultation period and the union will be negotiating to substantially reduce the number of redundancies.
"Further meetings with the company have been arranged."
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