Commercial Fixed Wing
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Company Policy
After [working] on Aircraft X; returned to shop to research history on item. Upon return to aircraft ramp had removed the crew stairs from Gate X to Gate Y for next inbound flight. After arrival of inbound Flight ABB Gate Y; could not return to Flight CBBD; Gate X; until crew stairs were returned.Need to have 2 crew stairs so AMT is not split between gates. Normal staffing is 2 AMT's for shift; but one AMT was out sick with COVID-19. Operations could have allowed more ground time by tail swapping aircraft.
Technician reported not having enough air stairs and having to wait to accomplish a task.