Flights To The FIFA World Cup May Be Impacted By A Strike At London Heathrow

 

The strike will begin in the early hours of Friday, November 18, and will end in the early hours of Monday, November 21. Heathrow terminals 2, 3, and 4 will see disruption, cancellations, and delays as a result. The strike will notably hurt Qatar Airways, which has added 10 flights each week during the World Cup.

Dnata and Menzies employees are participating in the strike. The workforce performs a wide range of functions, including ground handling, airside transport, and cargo. The employees of Dnata and Menzies are demanding increased wages.

“Strike action will inevitably cause disruption, delays, and cancellations to flights throughout Heathrow, with travelers to the World Cup, particularly affected,” Unite regional officer Kevin Hall warned.

The World Cup is slated to begin in Qatar on November 20th, and the union predicted that Qatar Airways, which has added extra flights for football fans, will be “heavily impacted” by the strike action.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members at Dnata and Menzies undertake highly challenging roles and are simply seeking a decent pay rise. Both companies are highly profitable and can fully afford to make a fair pay increase. The owners and directors are simply lining their own pockets rather than paying their workers fairly”.

“The workers at Heathrow will have Unite’s complete support during this dispute.”

Other carriers, according to the union, would be affected, including Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Emirates.

“We are aware of anticipated industrial action from Dnata and Menzies employees at Heathrow, and we are in conversations with our airline partners on what contingency measures they may adopt to assist their ground operations should the strike go through,” a Heathrow spokeswoman said. The airport’s goal, according to the spokeswoman, is to guarantee that customers are not inconvenienced by any shortages of airline ground handlers.

Dnata UK’s managing director, Alex Doisneau, termed the strike “disappointing” and “expensive.” She said its staff have been offered a pay award that is “in line with inflation and among the best in the industry”.

“We would like to reassure our customers, partners, and passengers that we are implementing contingency plans to minimize disruption to our operations.”

Menzies stated that the strike “would benefit no one.” Menzies Aviation senior vice president of Europe Miguel Gomez Sjunnesson declared that the company was “ready and eager to resume salary negotiations” and invited Unite to participate in the negotiations.

He added: “I also want to reassure our airline customers and their passengers that we have robust contingency plans in place should Unite elect to continue with unnecessary industrial action.”

Earlier this year, hundreds of tourists were irritated by long lines, delays, and cancellations. Staff shortages in the aviation sector were a major contributor. Airports and airlines, which laid off workers during the epidemic, have struggled to fill positions as demand for international travel has increased. Heathrow Airport responded by ordering airlines to cease selling summer tickets and imposing a passenger limit during peak periods.

Strikes have also contributed to the inconvenience. Several organizations, including refueling workers, postal employees, and check-in staff at Heathrow, went on strike. Prices are presently growing at the quickest rate in 40 years, forcing many unions and workers in the United Kingdom to demand salary raises.