Commercial Fixed Wing
Dispatch Dispatcher
Workload; Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness; Distraction; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Staffing; Environment - Non Weather Related; Company Policy; Human Factors
PM Dispatcher received turnover from AM Dispatcher. Nice quiet day. At approximately XA:00 local time Dispatcher on desk X received phone call from Captain on Aircraft X; ZZZ-ZZZ1; looking for his release. Dispatcher desk X advised Captain that his flight was assigned to desk Y and that desk was closed. Dispatch desk Y overheard this and advised desk X that desk Z has desk Y. Desk X stated to desk Y that there were live flights still on desk Y. Dispatcher desk Z went to close desk Y and reviewed screen printer looking for any messages regarding the only in the air-not at destination gate live Aircraft Y ZZZ1-ZZZ; which now was on the ground ZZZ taxiing to gate; with negative results. Dispatcher desk Z reviewed flight history and saw only a minor SID reroute  from ATC before the out time. Aircraft Y arrived at gate ZZZ without further incident. Dispatcher desk Y wrote the remaining two flights (X; Z; both ZZZ-ZZZ1).Three flights were not on the above send move lists-Y ZZZ1-ZZZ X ZZZ-ZZZ1Z ZZZ-ZZZ1Sector managers are closing dispatcher desks and then assigning/moving Dispatcher workload; but have no context of the magnitude of this powerful send move entry. They omit flights from the send move list. They have no situational awareness of the context of the dispatcher workload.Dispatchers do have the situational awareness and the proper and correct context of this powerful send move entry and will replace the sector managers.
Dispatcher reported confusion over a Dispatcher desk being closed and who was responsible for certain flights.