Even with COVID-19′s Delta variant surging, people are still traveling to and from Florida in huge numbers. And Tampa International Airport is racing to meet demand.
That’s why the airport this week will hold its largest career fair ever, with nearly 1,000 jobs up for grabs.
The fair, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday between airsides E and F in the main terminal, will feature about 950 openings at shops, restaurants and rental car companies; as well as airport services like maintenance, baggage handling and customer service.
The fair has about twice the number of openings of two other big airport job fairs this year. Events in February and May sought to hire about 480 workers, but filled only a portion of those.
Most of the jobs are with companies other than the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority. American Airlines, Budget Group and FedEx Express are hiring. So are companies that conduct work for other airlines, like Eulen America (Delta, American, Sun Country, Spirit), Global Aviation Services (Frontier, Air Canada) and UnifiService (United, Spirit, Breeze).
Some of the companies looking for workers had to lay off or furlough employees as air travel plummeted during the pandemic.
Aviation company Prospect of Tampa laid off 156 workers; they’re now hiring a number of passenger service workers. Hertz and Avis laid off a combined 277 workers; they’re now looking for rental car sales agents and workers to prepare cars for rental.
Now, though, 1.7 million passengers traveled through Tampa International Airport in July, up from 594,415 in July 2020. Already this year, two new low-cost carriers, Breeze and Avelo, have launched service from Tampa International Airport. And in their working draft budget for next year, airport officials are expecting record revenues.
“We’re excited to see most of our passengers fly again, and we want to make sure we provide them with the service they deserve and have come to expect of the team at TPA,” John Tiliacos, Tampa International Airport’s executive vice president of operations and customer service, said in a statement.
Job applicants are asked to bring multiple copies of their resumes and two forms of identification. For more details, see tampaairport.com/hiringday.
