Qantas baggage handlers stood down as investigation into Swissport contractors begins
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Qantas reveals the fate of its baggage handlers after they were caught on camera hitting passengers’ luggage on a conveyor belt
- Three baggage handlers withdrew for ‘unacceptable’ conduct on video
- The trio were filmed slamming luggage against a conveyor belt at Melbourne airport.
- Swissport Australia said immediate action had been taken against the workers.
Three baggage handlers who were caught carelessly dumping passengers’ luggage onto a conveyor belt have been recalled.
The trio were sacked when Qantas and ground handling service Swissport Australia launched an investigation into their captured conduct at Melbourne airport.
Swissport workers had been hired by Qantas to handle baggage when they were filmed throwing bags and laughing.
Qantas said the behavior was “not acceptable”, while a Swissport spokesman added that immediate action had been taken against the men.
Three baggage handlers who were caught carelessly tossing a passenger’s luggage onto a conveyor belt have been recalled.
The trio were sacked when Qantas and ground handling service Swissport Australia launched an investigation into their captured conduct at Melbourne airport.
“Swissport trains and manages all staff to handle customer possessions with care and diligence,” they said.
“The actions of the staff in the video appear to have contravened those service level standards.
“As a result, the personnel in question have been removed pending an urgent investigation.”
In the footage, a handler is seen lifting a bag over his head before hitting it with such force that it bounces, much to the amusement of his co-worker.
The same handler then tosses a small suitcase several feet into the air and over the belt, as if shooting a basketball.
At least two bags were thrown off the conveyor belt, disappearing from view, with no worker seeming to care.
The video was uploaded to TikTok on Friday, where it racked up more than 590,000 views, with many appalled by the lack of attention to travelers’ luggage.
One TikTokker asked “is this like a competition for who can destroy luggage the fastest?”, while another stated that the workers “should be fired on the spot.”
One TikTokker asked “is this like a competition over who can destroy luggage the fastest?”, while another stated that the workers “should be fired on the spot.”
‘You got to be kidding! I bet they would kick a scandal if someone treated their stuff this way,” said another.
“Actually, it would take more effort to pick it up and forcefully throw it, rather than just put it on the carrier. If you don’t like it, find another job,’ wrote one.
‘When are they going to be fired?’ commented another.
“So wrong on so many levels, these men must be held accountable.”
Another said that cameras should be permanently installed to film the actions of baggage handlers.
Swissport employs more than 68,000 workers at 315 airports in 50 countries.
An internal memo from Swissport was also provided to Daily Mail Australia, in which the company’s chief executive, Brad Moore, said: “The behaviors in the video let us all down.”
Swissport says its team members work “together to ensure our customers’ expectations are met or exceeded” on its website (file image)
Moore reiterated that the workers ‘in question’ had been fired and that the company would not tolerate ‘disrespectful behaviour’ towards customers’ belongings.
“Disrespectful behavior with our customers’ luggage and personal effects will not be tolerated and will result in severe disciplinary action.”
He added that the behavior depicted in the video was limited to “a small group of people.”
Please be assured that this matter will be urgently investigated with appropriate follow-up measures.
“The unacceptable behavior of a few individuals will not go unnoticed or be allowed to tarnish the quality of work of our entire team.”