Strike will cripple UK airports and strand 1m travellers

Published on Friday 21 December 2007 21:22

MORE than a million air passengers face disruption from an unprecedented strike threat which could close Britain's biggest airports for four days next month.

Firefighters, security officers and other airport staff will walk out at Edinburgh, Glasgow and the three main London airports in a dispute over pensions.

The stoppage, involving 5,000 workers, could also close Aberdeen and Southampton airports along with Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.

Unite, their union, yesterday announced 24-hour strikes from 6am on Monday 7 and Monday 14 January, and a 48-hour walkout from 6am on Thursday 17 to 6am on Saturday 19 January.

Experts said the move was the first ever threat to paralyse British airports on such a scale. The seven BAA airports handled 10.3 million passengers last January – 332,000 a day.

The impact of the threatened strikes – even if they are later called off – is expected to be far greater than that from a threatened rail strike.

This is because most air travellers book flights in advance – and many will have bought their tickets for the strike dates by now to get the cheapest fares.

Passenger watchdogs said airlines would be required to refund passengers or book them on other flights if the strikes go ahead. However, they would be prevented from claiming compensation because strikes are termed as "extraordinary" circumstances.

EasyJet, which claims to be Scotland's largest airline in passenger terms, said it was too early to issue advice to passengers.

Some 30,000 of its passengers travel daily through BAA airports.

The dispute involves half of the BAA workforce and includes maintenance and office staff.

They are angry at the firm closing its final-salary pension scheme to new entrants from the beginning of this month.

Brendan Gold, a national officer for Unite, said the airport workers had sent a "strong message" to BAA by voting by 1,946 to 1,108 in favour of action.

He admitted the strikes would cause a "huge amount of disruption" to travellers, but laid the blame on BAA.

He said: "I am astonished and amazed at the way BAA has refused to tackle this issue. It has just posted profits of over 500 million."

BAA described the strike threat as "unnecessary".

However, a spokesman added: "We recognise there are important concerns and these will continue to be addressed through discussions with unions and staff. We would ask for the understanding of passengers as we work hard to resolve this."

Laurie Price, the director of aviation strategy at analysts Mott McDonald, predicted airlines would lose millions of pounds in advance bookings, but said BAA staff would get little public support because similar pension schemes for almost all other aviation workers had already closed to new staff.

The dispute does not involve Scotland's other airports, such as Prestwick, Inverness and Dundee, or others in England such as Manchester and Luton.

18m CARS HIT THE ROAD

SOME 18 million cars took to Britain's roads yesterday on what was expected to be the busiest day for festive travel.

The pre-Christmas getaway will be accompanied by freezing fog and icy conditions in Scotland and northern England today. However, no snow is expected on Christmas Day.

The number of Britons flying abroad before Christmas will hit a new record, 3.5 million, with the Canary Islands the most popular destination. Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen airports will handle 170,000 passengers in the four days up to Christmas Eve.

Drivers in Edinburgh will not have to pay for street parking on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day. Normal restrictions will apply on other days.