Bank holiday airport strikes could affect 400,000 passengers
By Darren Cronian on Saturday, August 16th, 2008

The airline industry doesn’t need any more negative press so the news that over 400,000 air passengers could face disruption during the bank holiday is not going to go down well. Swissport provide airport services to Gatwick and Stansted which is a hub for passengers using low cost airlines.

Bank holiday airport strikes could affect 400,000 passengers

Baggage handlers and check-in staff will stage 24 hour strikes on bank holiday Monday 25 and Friday 29 of August. Flights with a number of airlines including Virgin Atlantic, Thomsonfly, Monarch, Ryanair and EasyJet could be delayed or even cancelled.

You might remember the BAA strikes back in January which was cancelled at the last minute, so here’s hoping that the same happens. Unlike the strikes in January, workers for Swissport have rejected a 3% increase and they’re away with the fairies if they think that they will receive a 5% pay rise.

Unfortunately, passengers are once again held to ransom during a bank holiday and probably the busiest time of the year with thousands of passengers returning from their summer holiday or taking a short weekend break.

I would like to hear from anyone who thinks that they may be affected by these strikes. To keep up-to-date with developments of the strike action please visit the comments section as I will updating this post as I have more information.


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15 responses to “Bank holiday airport strikes could affect 400,000 passengers”

Kelsey | 17 August, 2008 at 1:24 am

Well look on the bright side: at least it’s not Christmas time when tons MORE people would be delayed. Not that I’m not sympathetic, but it could be worse. So they’re striking about a pay raise?

Barrie 501 | 17 August, 2008 at 10:43 am

It just annoys me that airline workers always choose public holidays. How would they like it if they were on holiday and their fellow workers decided to go on strike.

lois | 17 August, 2008 at 11:36 am

I think they are so unfair, I am a nurse and we work one of the hardest jobs in the world, and in the UK it’s well underpaid and, when was the last time we had a desent payrise?
I have saved up all year for my rare holiday, and if it’s ruined, that’s it! I can’t just go on strike, leaving patients to die so why should they ruin my chance of a holiday, they are not the only one’s feeling the crunch, I work long hours for no respect, low pay and but we still provide a service!

Darren Cronian | 17 August, 2008 at 11:54 am

@ Kelsey

I think in the UK the bank holiday in August is probably more busy than Christmas. Brits tend to stay home or within the UK, so don’t use as many flights as they would during August because of the summer holidays.

Yes, it’s over a pay rise.

@ Barrie

I know, talk about bad timing. Lets hope this is just threats and nothing happens, but if they’re expecting a 5% increase they have no chance.

@ Lois

I completely agree with you. Nurses do not get paid enough for the job that they do. A few of my friends are nurses in Bradford, and some of the stories they tell me wonder why the hell they do the job for little pay.

Matt | 18 August, 2008 at 8:59 am

I am going to Menorca with my wife & Daughter on 29th, I hope these strikes get called off..
How can I get up to date info on this??

David | 18 August, 2008 at 9:48 am

Ryanair are proposing to ‘beat’ the strike by making their flights hand-luggage only. Where will this leave all the holidaymakers who will not be able to fly without checking in bags? Isn’t this a cynical way of using the strike to Ryanair’s own benefit i.e. to not refund passengers for what would otherwise be cancelled flights?

Kelsey | 18 August, 2008 at 4:41 pm

Darren or any other person in the U.K.-what’s the bank holiday for?

Darren Cronian | 18 August, 2008 at 4:57 pm

@ Matt

Bookmark or subscribe to this post for updates. As I receive more information I will update this article. If you havent’ already click on the tick box near the submit button to subscribe to follow-up comments. This was incredibly useful in the past with other strikes so that consumers can keep in touch with developments.

@ David

Great points. Ryanair want to do away with check-in’s and get people to travel with hand luggage only, so this move would not surprise me at all. They are the sneakiest of sneaky airlines. In other words travel with just your hand luggage or don’t travel at all (and no refund)

@ Kelsey

This is one of a number of bank holidays that we have each year, including Christmas Day and Easter. These days were created to give bank workers a day off, but it’s carried on and everyone has the last Monday of August off. There’s no significance to the day, unlike Good Friday etc.

Kelsey | 18 August, 2008 at 5:10 pm

So it’s a three-day weekend?

Darren Cronian | 18 August, 2008 at 5:17 pm

@ Kelsey

Yep! :)

I am actually off work all week, taken leave, so will be camping in the middle of the Lake District with mud up to my arms if the rain continues. You can read more information about Bank holidays on this wiki page

Kelsey | 18 August, 2008 at 5:34 pm

Haha. No rain here.

David Mellor | 20 August, 2008 at 9:24 am

We are in a party of 30 going to Cyprus for a wedding from Manchester & Newcastle, it is stressfull enough without this, we said we would not be held to ransom by the Airlines, and purchased a camper van in 2002, and have not flown since, nor will we fly again after this, we have no choice but to sit it out in an airport departure lounge, wondering if the rest of the party will actually make it to the ceremony

James | 20 August, 2008 at 10:52 am

They are goping on strick again!!! Thats all they ever do, just aswell i came back from on holiday today. All going on strick does is annpy people.

Darren Cronian | 20 August, 2008 at 11:35 pm

Update: Reports in the media that Manchester is now joining Stansted and Gatwick airports in the two 24 hour strikes during the coming bank holiday week. Last ditch talks are on-going with the unions GMB and Unite.

I’ll keep this post updated as I find more information.

@ David

That’s horrible - hopefully this strike will be called off at the last minute like the airport strikes back in January. Please keep visiting this post or subscribe to the updates by ticking the box near the submit comments button.

Darren Cronian | 22 August, 2008 at 10:40 am

Update:Baggage handlers and check-in staff at Stansted, Gatwick and Manchester airports have called off a series of 24-hour strikes.

Great news! :)

A separate GMB strike involving more than 30 security scanners at Stansted is still due to take place on Monday. The staff, who work for Airfield Services screening baggage for Ryanair and Easyjet, have rejected a 1.5% pay offer.

I am not sure what impact this will have, will find out.

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