The summer travel season is upon us. We hope your travel will be trouble-free, but there are several strikes to look out for across Europe.
If you’re planning to travel during these dates and need advice, read our guide to insurance policies and strike coverage. Additionally, find out what you may be entitled to in terms of compensation if your flight is delayed or otherwise affected.
Here are the European strikes to look out for.
Related: The best credit cards that offer trip cancellation and interruption insurance
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
When: Aug. 18-21 and 22-28
Ground-handling staff members employed by two companies will go on strike later this month at Gatwick.
The strike will see staff members working for Red Handling go on strike Aug. 18-21 and 25-28, primarily affecting ground-handling resources for Norse Atlantic Airways, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Delta Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal and Saudia.
They will also be joined by staff members working for Wilson James on Aug. 18-20 and 22-24.
According to Unite, the union representing the workers, it’s expected that around 216 flights could be affected by the disruption, affecting around 45,000 passengers.
Birmingham Airport (BHX)
When: From Aug. 15
Refueling workers will commence “indefinite strike action” at Birmingham Airport from Aug. 15 after they rejected a pay offer earlier this month.
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The strike has the potential to affect flights across several carriers that fly from the Midlands hub, including Tui Airways, EasyJet, Wizz Air, Ryanair, Lufthansa and Emirates.
Related: You are entitled to a refund for your canceled flight — even if the airline says you aren’t
Bottom line
One thing worth remembering regarding strikes is that nothing is certain, and it’s always possible that unions and employers will reach a deal.
However, the current economic crisis is making things difficult for everyone. Workers are struggling through the deepening cost-of-living crisis, and travel companies are desperate to appease shareholders following the pandemic. The pressures on both sides of the fence seem unlikely to evaporate anytime soon.
The chances of more strikes this year are high across the travel sector. Keep an eye on these dates and plan accordingly.
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Additional reporting by Matt Blake.
