From Italy and Belgium to Portugal and France, airports across Europe have seen thousands of flights delayed and cancelled. Here’s all you need to know.
Here’s a guide to all the strikes happening in travel right now, including the air traffic control strikes over the summer – and how they might affect your holiday
Air traffic controllers have said they will strike this summer, in an ongoing dispute over pay, working hours and staffing issues.
It’s predicted this could cause delays and cancellations across Europe during the summer, with around a third of all air journeys across the continent put in jeopardy every day.
Birmingham Airport strikes
There will be disruptions at Birmingham Airport over the summer, as members of the Unite union have voted to take strike action over pay. The strikes will begin on July 18 and are expected to cause serious delays at Birmingham Airport.
easyJet flight cancellations
A whopping 1,700 easyJet flights have been cancelled over the coming months, impacting over 180,000 passengers. From the flights and airports affected to your rights as a traveller.
Strikes at airports in Portugal
Four unions representing ground-handling workers at Portuguese airports have called for a strike, which is set to take place on July 30–31 and August 5-6. Industrial action over overtime work is also set to take place on July 19 for an indefinite period, as well as on public holidays from August 1, again for an indefinite period.
Strikes at airports in Italy
Air traffic controllers in Italy are going on strike. On July 15, they’ll be walking out for 24 hours, though there aren’t yet details of the extent of the disruption.
What happens if your airline goes on strike?
If the staff on strike cause your flight to be delayed or cancelled, the airline is usually obliged to help you and/or provide compensation.
However, if you book your flight already knowing that a strike is set to take place (ie. it’s already been announced by the union), you are exceptionally unlikely to receive compensation. Before you book, be sure to check for any strike dates not just at your intended airline but also at departure and arrival airports.
In any case, if your journey involves any of the above airlines, destinations and dates, be sure to keep an eye on your flight status and prepare for a more disrupted journey than expected.
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