Covid meant that they got rid of people When travel picked back up they tried to employ people. They failed because 1) Brexit -- many people who were laid off

Covid meant that they got rid of people When travel picked back up they tried to employ people. They failed because 1) Brexit -- many people who were laid off in the UK returned to their country of origin 2) Security clearance -- there is a massive backlog getting security clearance (for things like airside passes) in the UK BA ground crew were recently on strike because they're being paid less than they were in 2019 for the same job (which was already a low wage), even before inflation. There's better jobs to go to with better hours and better conditions. I suspect BA and co are hoping to get some form of P&O style deal where they can employ people who aren't UK citizens in the airports on a low wage that someone with full access to the labour market wouldn't take.