Palma Airport phone attack leaves worker signed off

A Palma Airport airline supervisor is off sick after a passenger allegedly hit her with a mobile phone. UGT Baleares said the attack happened last Friday after the passenger failed to properly prove her resident discount.

The supervisor was helping the passenger when she raised the problem with the discount, the union said. The passenger then struck her on the head, around the ear and on the shoulder.

Ten airport attacks in a year

UGT Baleares says this is the tenth attack recorded at Balearic airports over the past year. It called the rise in assaults on airport staff “intolerable”.

The union said rows over baggage charges or boarding are no longer the only flashpoints. Any incident, rule or passenger frustration can become an excuse for insults, threats or assault, it warned.

Union demands stronger protection

UGT Baleares has called for real preventive measures and effective protocols that trigger a firm response to every attack and protect airport-facing staff.

It said companies, airport operator Aena and the relevant authorities must stop treating such cases as isolated incidents. Staff, it added, are not responsible for fares, ticket terms, resident discounts or the rules passengers must follow.

Topics: Jobs & labour · Politics · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com