BOSSES at a baggage handling firm are being urged to rethink their plans to axe 160 staff at Glasgow Airport.

Menzies Aviation has started a 45-day redundancy consultation period after announcing proposals to make more than half of its 300-strong workforce at the Paisley-based terminal redundant.

However, Councillor John McIntyre, who represents the airport as part of his Paisley Northwest ward, said the decision has been “taken in haste.”

He has written to Menzies Aviation in the hope the company will reconsider its plans.

The Tory councillor has also contacted Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop to ask her to outline the economic support being made available to Renfrewshire.

“It is hugely concerning to see that Menzies Aviation are planning to axe over 150 jobs at Glasgow Airport,” said Councillor McIntyre. “It is the latest blow to the Renfrewshire economy, coming off the back of the horrendous job losses announced by Rolls-Royce.

“I have written to Menzies Aviation, urging them to rethink their decision and take full advantage of the UK Government’s furlough scheme until October, as we get our air travel industry up and running again.”

However, the firm has defended its decision to cut jobs.

Giles Wilson, chief executive officer, said: “This has been the most challenging period the UK aviation sector has ever seen and, whilst a small number of flights have started operating again, we do not expect volumes to return to pre-Covid 19 levels in the near future.

“We’re left with no choice therefore but to take action to match our workforce to the volumes we anticipate through the winter and well into 2021, to ensure Menzies is sustainable now and fit for the future.

“We recognise the significant impact this will have on our colleagues who will be leaving us and we’ll do everything we can to minimise the number of job losses across the network.”

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond

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