If you are planning a Europe trip this summer, brace yourself as multiple airline and airport unions across Europe have planned a series of strikes to protest against unfair wages, leaves and overall working conditions. As per the data from Cirium, the number of cancelled flights within Europe rose 37% in June 2023, as summer travel took off.
EasyJet cabin crew in Portugal will carry out their third strike from July 21 to 25 as the staff rejected a deal on pay and working conditions that the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel said left them no more room for negotiation. easyJet has cancelled 350 easyJet flights to or from Lisbon, Porto, and Faro.
Eurocontrol has threatened action disrupting air traffic control for 30,000+ daily flights throughout the continent. These disruptions, coupled with the ongoing French air traffic control slowdowns would lead to major disruption in Europe’s air traffic movement.
Today marked the 11th day of strikes across France against President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform plan. The protests come amid a deadlock in discussions between unions and the government. This has reduced the French overflight capacity with an annoyed Ryanair petitioned to end the labor action via the European Union.
Over the next two months, London Gatwick Airport will see a hive of strikes as the Unite union issued a statement on July 14 advising Menzies Aviation, GGS, and DHL Services, primarily undertaking ground handling, baggage handling, ramp agent, dispatchers, and check-in agents, to participate in strike action, several times over the next two months.
Nearly 1,000 workers will strike for eight days this summer in a row over pay. Strikes will take place over eight days from Friday July 28 to Tuesday August 1 and then from Friday 4 August to Tuesday 8 August.
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite said: “Airlines at the business end, for now, include British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, TUI, WestJet, and Wizz Air. However, further strike action out of Gatwick is a possibility.
Unite is also balloting its members at DHL Gatwick Direct, Red Handling and Wilson James. All three ballots will close on Monday July 31, so if workers vote for industrial action, the strikes in these companies could begin by the middle of next month.
Around 100 staff at Birmingham Airport in the Midlands are voting to strike over pay.
Security guards and technicians voted in favour of strikes last week. Passengers could face delays from July 18 with industrial action due to continue indefinitely from this date.
Iberia Regional Air Nostrum is having a pilot’s strike every Monday and Friday with no news as to when this strike will end. Apart from this, multiple unions have called a nationwide strike on July 15 for a new contract. Air traffic controllers, baggage handlers, and check-in personnel, along with Italian pilots of Vueling, will walk out between 10:00 and 18:00. local time. Malta Air pilots and flight attendants will join from noon until 4 pm.
This strike action is being taken before the legally required summer pause on such disruptions on July 27 until September 5.
Ryanair’s Belgian subsidiary pilots will stage a strike this weekend affecting 140 flights. Pilots are demanding more rest and pay.
Lufthansa pilots are currently considering a new pay offer from the flag carrier and have agreed to work on a truce that ended on June 30. Unions recently entered into important talks with the airline which will determine whether or not an industrial action will take place.
Europe is the hive of strikes right now; hence if you are travelling to Europe, it is advisable to check flight timings, airport status etc before you leave for the airport.
