The British Minister of Transport Grant Shaps is studying the possibility of issuing temporary visas to workers from the European Union in order to alleviate the crisis with airport staff, the Daily Telegraph reported today, quoted by BTA.

Plans are being discussed to issue permits to luggage handlers and temporary visa registration officers, similar to those issued to fruit pickers, musicians and religious figures, the publication said.

Last week, airports across Europe struggled to cope with staff shortages, especially in UK airports, as school holidays coincided with a holiday weekend dedicated to the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

Chaos at British airports over capacity sales

Shaps convened an emergency meeting with senior officials in the air transport sector earlier this month, but rejected requests to be added to the list of professions in short supply, which would make it easier to recruit from abroad.

Since then, however, authorities have been discussing potential alternatives with industry.

One of the leading options is to issue temporary visas to EU workers to work in the aviation industry for up to six months, and leaders in the sector hope that some of them will be able to transfer to a permanent visa at a later date. says in the information.

Britain left the European Union in January 2020.