Travel chaos expected tomorrow as Heathrow Airport strikes start – here’s how Easter break will be affected | The Sun

FAMILIES heading abroad during the Easter holidays are being warned of travel chaos due to strike action.

More than 1,400 security staff at Heathrow Airport will be walking out tomorrow in a dispute over pay.

The proposed action will affect holidaymakers travelling from Heathrow Airport between March 31 to April 9 (Easter Sunday).

The call to strike follows the rejection of a 10 per cent pay rise and claims some staff earn as little as £24k.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: "Workers can’t be expected to accept real-term pay cuts as shareholders and bosses get richer and richer.

"If the strike is to be averted, there needs to be more real money put on the table to make a decent pay rise."

Read More on Airports

Little-known UK airport to relaunch passenger flights to Europe this summer

The mistakes you make at airports that could cause big delays

Staff involved in the walkout include guards who are employed at Terminal Five, used by British Airways, and those checking cargo entering the airport as well as firefighters and engineers.

British Airways has had to "make a small number of adjustments to our schedule" as a result of the walkouts.

While long-haul services have not been impacted, around 300 flights will be affected including 16 short-haul flights daily.

The airline will be contacting customers who are affected by the strike action and passengers will either be rebooked onto another flight or offered a full refund.

Most read in News Travel

HIGH FLYER

Passengers stunned by A-Lister in economy on BA flight – who even served drinks

ISLE GO

Mediterranean island with best-value holidays this year, according to travel expert

ISLE GO

British island that looks like the Caribbean has day trips from £19

PASSED OVER

Woman banned from Spain flight due to passport ‘error’ – despite it being valid

As well as British Airways passengers, the walkout is expected to cause disruption to other holidaymakers traveling from Heathrow.

Contingency plans to keep the airport open and operational are in place.

A Heathrow spokesperson said: "We will not let these unnecessary strikes impact the hard-earned holidays of our passengers.

"Our contingency plans will keep the airport operating as normal throughout.

"We are deploying 1,000 additional colleagues, and the entire management team, who will be in the terminals assisting passengers over the busy Easter getaway."

While the airport warned that it may take longer to get through security, they've assured passengers that queues will be "well managed and kept flowing".

Holidaymakers who are travelling through Heathrow airport have been asked to check in their hand luggage for free in a bid to cut security queues.


Source: Read Full Article

Previous post I'm a Twin Peaks waitress – people are shocked when they see my POV when I walk through the restaurant in my uniform | The Sun
Next post Flavor Flav Declares Hes Taylor Swifts Fan: My Girl