British Airways considering Spanish recruitment drive to ease staffing crisis

Pandemic job cuts and Brexit means the airline does not have enough crews for the summer rush, while obtaining security clearance for new staff is also having an impact on recruitment.

To bypass rules on employing non-UK staff following Brexit, BA plans to open a temporary crew base in Spain during June to October. Crews will operate flights from Madrid to Heathrow and then work from the UK on European routes before returning to Madrid after five or six days.

A BA advertisement seen by TTG gives a deadline of Sunday (24 April) for applicants and said the intention “is to gather interest only at this stage”. Roles will be temporary and recruited via employment agency Ranstad.

The ad said: “Subject to the interest that we receive, we will confirm next steps by the latest 29 April 2022.”

In addition, some BA’s services will be operated by Finnair this summer. Finnair, which is BA’s joint venture partner on transatlantic routes, will operate short-haul routes.

Finnair will lease BA four Airbus 321 aircraft and crew, operating from London to Europe.

Finnair told TTG: “Two aircraft will start operating from 3 May and two additional aircraft from June. The agreement has been made for four months per aircraft. Finnair will provide the aircraft, crew and maintenance for British Airways. 

“Finnair is not using all of its aircraft capacity in summer 2022 due to Russian airspace being closed, so this arrangement creates revenue for Finnair and work for Finnair crews.” 

BA is also having issues at Gatwick for its new lower cost Euroflyer subsidiary, which offers less attractive pay and conditions than previously. BA returned to Gatwick on 29 March, but some services are being run by Iberia Express, another IAG brand.

TTG has approach BA for comment.