HEATHROW Airport staff have called OFF the planned strike that was due to take place today.
Refuelling staff at London’s biggest airport were set to walk out for three days over a pay dispute.
2
However, it has been called off at the eleventh hour, the Unite union confirmed.
The suspension of the strike is a welcome holiday boost for passengers travelling from the airport ahead of the summer holidays.
The move had threatened to disrupt flights from Thursday to Sunday at the UK’s largest airport, right at the start of the school summer holidays.
The strike by Aviation Fuel Services (AFS) employees would have affected Virgin Atlantic, United, Singapore, KLM, American, Emirates, Air France and Delta flights, which use the company’s services.
In a statement, Unite said that following negotiations held on Wednesday, “a sustainably improved offer was made and as a consequence Unite suspended the strike action to allow its members to ballot on the new offer”.
Unite regional officer Kevin Hall said: “Unite has consistently said that AFS was capable of making an offer more likely to meet members’ expectations.
“Members will now be given the time to consider and vote on the new offer.”
It may not be the end of strike action at the airport this summer however, with hundreds of British Airways staff voting in a pay ballot that closes today.
Aviation workers were set to walk out, also due to a pay dispute, but suspended the action after BA made an improved offer.
Meanwhile, Ryanair cabin crew are on strike in Spain for four days this week.
The strikes will affect ten Spanish airports, including Madrid, Malaga, Barcelona, Alicante, Sevilla, Palma, Valencia, Girona, Santiago de Compostela and Ibiza.
A third wave of strikes is also planned from Monday to Thursday next week, as part of an ongoing argument over pay.
A Ryanair spokesperson said they expected “minimal disruptions” during the walkouts.
EasyJet staff are also planning a strike next week, from July 29 to July 31 with airports affected including Barcelona, Malaga and Majorca.
EasyJet are planning to run all their flights despite the strike, but did warn that some of them will be affected.
A spokesperson from the airline said: “There could be some disruption to out flying programme to and from Malaga, Palma and Barcelona during the strike period but at this stage, easyJet plans to operate its full schedule and we would like to reassure customers that we will do everything possible to minimise any disruption.”
As well as strikes, a passenger cap has affected passengers at Heathrow, with the number of people flying from the airport limited until October.
The airport has even ordered airlines to consider booting holidaymakers off flights to bring an end to the travel mayhem plaguing Britain this summer.
2
Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our Twitter, & Facebook
We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.
For all the latest Travel News Click Here
