AIRPORT staff are facing unacceptable levels of abuse, Unite said as it launched its new Abuse Doesn’t Fly safety campaign today.

A survey at Scotland’s major airports revealed more than nine in 10 experienced verbal abuse on a regular basis in the last year.

More than three in four experienced intimidation or aggression and 29 per cent some form of physical assault, the poll of more than 300 workers found.

This has led to 34 per cent of airport workers having considered leaving the industry with 77 per cent stating that regular levels of abuse has affected their mental health.

The union urged airport employers and police authorities to immediately enact a number of safety measures to protect workers ahead of the Easter holiday period.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham described the survey results as “shocking.” 

“Airport workers regularly and repeatedly face staggering and unacceptable levels of abuse, aggression and assaults,” she said.

“Unite will not stand by and allow our members to be treated in this way which is why we are demanding safety measures to be immediately adopted in airports.” 

Unite industrial officer Carrie Donoghue said: “It is clear from Unite’s survey that employers and policing authorities need to be doing far more to support airport workers by enacting safety measures such as an increased police presence at peak times including Easter.

“We are also asking the travelling public to think about and change their behaviour because this wave of abuse can’t go on. 

“It is having a seriously detrimental impact on airport workers leading to psychological and physical trauma with many workers having to take time off due to illness or considering leaving the industry.”