Holidaymakers look set to face flight disruptions and delays this summer as workers at London’s Gatwick Airport are preparing to take industrial action during the peak getaway period just after the schools break up. They will stage eight days of strikes which are likely to affect flights to and from destinations across Europe, including the Canary Islands.
According to reports almost 1,000 staff including ground handling and baggage handling operatives as well as check-in representatives, are walking out over a dispute about wages, from the end of July through to early August.
The union behind the strike action has admitted that significant disruption, cancellations, and delays are ‘inevitable’ in a statement that spells bad news for airline passengers.
All travellers are being advised to keep checking their flight status before they set out to the airport, even though airlines have the job of notifying their customers of any problems.
The eight dates of the strikes so far are:
Friday 28th July 2023.
Saturday 29th July 2023.
Sunday 30th July 2023.
Monday 31st July 2023.
Followed by:
Friday 4th August 2023.
Saturday 5th August 2023.
Sunday 6th August 2023.
Monday 7th August 2023.
The industrial action is likely to affect major airlines including Aer Lingus, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, TUI, and Wizz Air, as well Spanish airlines Air Europa, Ibero Express, and Vueling, among others.
The strikes appear to have been timed to coincide with some of the busiest travel periods as many UK families take advantage of the school holidays. Even if scheduled flights are going ahead, passengers are advised to prepare for queues and delays.
Gatwick workers are not employed by the airlines, which means that airlines are not obliged to offer customers compensation, they should, however, offer an alternative option in the event of a cancelled flight.
A spokesperson for Which? Rocio Concha offered further clarification and said that when potential disruption is known in advance, airlines should give their customers a chance of a refund or an alternative route, and, depending on the length of the delay they may offer refreshments or accommodation.
