The Trafford Conservative Group brought a motion to the July 2022 Trafford Council meeting to highlight the passenger experience at Manchester Airport. The motion reported that since the airport started to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, travellers including Trafford residents have experienced delays, large queues and abandoned flights. The situation at Manchester Airport is of concern to Trafford Conservatives, especially as the council is a shareholder in the airport and many Trafford residents work at the airport and rely on it on a regular basis.
Conservatives are also concerned that parents may choose to book holidays in term time to avoid peak season airport delays or may only be offered a re-scheduled holiday in term time. Research has proved that missing school for just a few days a year can damage pupils’ chances of gaining good exam results.
The motion also highlighted that the government has passed legislation as part of its 22-point plan to tackle aviation disruption which means certain new recruit training can be undertaken at the same time as background checks, speeding up the process. Government Ministers have also agreed that HMRC employment history letters can be used as reference checks.
At the Council meeting, the Labour and Liberal Democrat Groups brought amendments to the motion which were accepted by a majority of councillors at the Labour-dominated council after being put to a vote.
Commenting on the debate, Cllr. Mussadak Mirza, Shadow Executive Member at Trafford Council for Economy and Regeneration said “I was pleased to bring a motion to Council to highlight the current poor passenger experience at Manchester Airport. I believe it is important to highlight the frustration that many Trafford residents, including myself have experienced at the airport and to ask that the new airport Managing Director be invited to speak with Trafford councillors to set out the airport’s plan to improve the passenger experience at the airport.
“It was disappointing however that the Labour and Liberal Democrat Groups chose to politicise the motion and the debate at the meeting by adding in attacks on wider government policy rather than focussing on standing up for Trafford residents.
“Finally, I would like to put on record Trafford Conservatives appreciation for the staff who work at the airport who are doing their best in difficult circumstances.”
