20 July 2010

More chaos looms for air travellers in Europe

Summer in Europe can only mean one thing: chaos for travellers as workers threaten strike action at the busiest time of year for leisure travel.

With the British Airways dispute with its cabin staff still unresolved, air travellers face a new threat after union chiefs announced that more than 6000 airport workers are to be balloted over UK-wide strike action.

Millions of people who have already endured weeks of disruption caused by British Airways walkouts and volcanic ash clouds would be caught up in the dispute, which could begin on August 19, after the union, Unite, said members will be balloted from Friday over a pay dispute with airport operator BAA.

Any strike would halt operations at all six of its UK airports - Heathrow, Stansted, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Southampton - as it would involve security staff, firefighters, engineers and support staff.

In what looms as another day of misery for many travelers, a strike by French air traffic controllers planned for Wednesday is expected to disrupt flights in and out of France.

France's civil aviation authority says it is asking airlines to cancel 20 per cent of flights at Charles de Gaulle airport and 50 per cent at the smaller Orly airport.

Long haul flights may be spared serious disruption.

Unions of air traffic controllers are striking over a plan to unify European airspace.

The Single European Sky concept is meant to ensure greater efficiency and deal with a projected increase in traffic, but French air traffic controllers are worried about how it will affect them.