Britain set for biggest strike in decades
Britain is set to experience its biggest strike since 1926 today when 2 million public sector workers walkout over pensions.
Airports are expecting major disruption at border controls as immigration staff join the protest.
BAA has warned it could take arriving passengers up to 12 hours to clear immigration, which will have a knock-on effect on arriving and departing flights.
To avoid the disruption, some airlines have cancelled flights into the UK today.
Emirates has cancelled EK029 from Dubai to London Heathrow and EK030 from London Heathrow to Dubai.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad has also cancelled three of its London services due to operate today.
Other carriers, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Cathay Pacific, have been advising passengers due to land in the UK today to re-book for alternative dates to avoid the risk of lengthy queues at immigration.
Meanwhile, easyJet has drafted in more than 350 volunteer staff who have agreed to help arriving passengers.
The volunteers, including pilots, cabin crew and airline management, will help provide passengers with information, assist families and passengers with special needs as well as offloading luggage from the baggage belts to prevent congestion.
The airline said it plans to run a full schedule of flights and continues to work closely with the UK Border Agency and the airports on their contingency plans.
Catherine Lynn, easyJet’s customer and revenue director, said: “Our passengers have asked us to try to keep them flying tomorrow and so we are all pulling together to try and make this happen.”
Britain’s schools, hospitals, ports and government offices are also being effected and more than 1,000 demonstrations are planned across the UK.
by Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers