Contingency plans in place at Heathrow for Christmas strike threat
Airports threatened by strike action a few days before Christmas have promised passengers there will be little or no disruption as a result.
Ground handling and cargo staff working for dnata at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester airports are planning a two-day strike from December 23 unless their bosses agree to talks over a pay dispute.
Heathrow played down the impact of any strike action, saying only a small number of dnata staff have announced their intention to strike at the airport.
Dnata staff provide ground handling and check-in services to some airlines at Heathrow Terminals 2, 3 and 4.
"Dnata has contingency plans in place to minimise disruption for passengers," said a spokesman.
"Heathrow will have extra staff on duty to support passengers with their journey."
But it still warned passengers to allow plenty of time for travelling through the airport and speak to their airline if they have any concerns.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Gatwick said dnata only has a ‘tiny’ number of cargo handlers employed at the airport, working for Emirates and Virgin.
"If the strike does go ahead, it will have no impact on passenger flights," he said.
And a spokesman for Manchester Airport said the proposed strikes will have no impact on its passengers either.
"Any strike action at the airport will only affect the cargo operations of a small number of airlines flying from here," he explained.
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.
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