It’s business as usual at the island’s airport despite a delay in transferring the baggage handling operation to a private company.

Staff have been told that handling agent Menzies will not now be in a position to take over the baggage handling contract until June 23.

It had been hoped that the transfer could take place by the end of May.

The government announced in March that it was to end its baggage handling and cargo loading service at the airport.

Some 22 staff have been offered either redeployment elsewhere in the Department of Infrastructure or redundancy.

The move, which could save £1m, follows a review of operations and a series of meetings with employees and representatives from Prospect and Unite the Union.

Airport director Ann Reynolds told staff in a letter: ’Menzies will not be in a position to take over the full service as early as expected.’

Staff who had expressed an interest in taking voluntary redundancy have been told it might still be possible to accommodate an earlier release date - but this will depend on the number of staff remaining to run the service.

A spokesman for the Department of Infrastructure said: ’Staff from the DoI will continue to support baggage handling and passengers with reduced mobility services at the Isle of Man Airport during the transition to a private service provider.

’Resources will be in place to meet demand during the busy TT period.

’The department is committed to ensuring a smooth transition of the service, so that it remains business as usual for users of the airport.

’It is expected that the handling agent will take over responsibility for the service towards the end of June.’

Baggage loading is not a statutory function of the DoI and is provided by private sector companies at the vast majority of airports throughout the British Isles.

The baggage handling service at Ronaldsway was restructured in 2015 with the introduction of team-based self rostering and a five-year guarantee of employment for staff.

The DoI said it would honour that commitment by offering alterative positions within the department.

In 2012 it was revealed in Tynwald that the salary bill for the airport baggage handlers was £1,172,218, of which £323,275 was overtime. The total salary bill included £60,000 awarded in November 2011 as a pay settlement.

At that time there were 34 apron-loading full-time staff, 33 of which were shiftworkers.