Heathrow Airport said some passengers may face longer queues to get through security during the Easter holidays after it failed to reach an agreement with security workers’ unions over pay.
More than 1,400 Unite security officers who work for Heathrow Airport begin a 10-day strike on Friday. Talks at the eleventh hour on Thursday collapsed without a solution. At the beginning of the Easter holidays, there is a risk of disruption at Great Britain’s largest airport.
The strike involves security guards at Terminal 5, used only by British Airways, and those who screen cargo. Unite has accused the airport of a real wage cut.
Heathrow said it had offered a 10% pay rise backdated to 1 January plus a lump sum payment (of over £1000).
The airport says contingency plans will keep airport operations going. But these next few days are expected to be very busy as people get away for the Easter holidays. And with overworked staff, it could take longer to get through security.
Before the strike, Heathrow urged airlines to halt ticket sales and allow customers to change travel dates. British Airways canceled 300 flights as a precaution and Virgin Atlantic confirmed it was restricting new ticket sales and introducing a flexible policy.
The strike will reduce the number of security guards available to the airport over what is expected to be a very busy weekend.
The airport has said it has contingency plans in place to keep operations “as usual”, but it’s likely passengers will take longer to get through security.
Heathrow said it would deploy 1,000 additional colleagues and Heathrow’s management team to help passengers.
Heathrow advises travelers to check the status of their flight before traveling to the airport, to arrive at Heathrow at least two hours before short-haul flights and three hours before long-haul flights, and to be ready for security.
It says passengers are only allowed to go through security with two carry-on bags to aid the flow.
The airline industry in general is under pressure from government and industry regulators to avoid a repeat of last year’s Easter queues, delays and cancellations, largely caused by staff shortages.
A leaked letter to companies from the Civil Aviation Authority and Department for Transport, seen by the BBC, says it would be unacceptable for consumers to face the same level of disruption this year.
Airlines and airports have told the BBC they are confident they will have enough staff on site this time, although external factors such as strikes in France affecting air traffic control could cause problems.
Add Comment