FIVE staff have been made redundant by an airline ground handling company at the Airport as a result of a reduction in flight numbers this winter.

The global rise in oil prices and the credit crunch have caused airlines to cut their schedules and the job losses are said to be a direct knock-on effect of the change in airline industry circumstances.

Airline Services CI, which handles British Airways, Bmi, Bmibaby, VLM, Manx.com and Air Southwest flights, has written to the workers saying that the change in economic circumstances means it can no longer afford to employ them this winter.

Airline Services commercial director Bob Wickings said that the company took the action with great regret. ‘It is the last thing we wanted to do,’ he said. ‘We looked at every other possible option before deciding that we had no alternative but to reduce staff numbers for the winter.’

The notice periods start on Monday and the length of notice that will be paid will depend on the length of service.  Mr Wickings said that no particularly long-serving staff were among those made redundant.