If you’ve planned a trip to Europe this time, it’s a good idea to check what’s happening at the countries’ airports. Here’s a guide to all the travel strikes right now – and how they could affect your holiday
It’s tough being in the airline industry. Faced with staff shortages and massive levels of unrest, many airline and airport workers face long, stressful hours and poor working conditions. And thanks to the cost-of-living crisis and wage cuts in the pandemic era, many of them are doing it all for lower wages, too.
Needless to say, it is no wonder that such a large number of airport and airline workers are on strike. From Italy and Belgium to Greece and France, airports across Europe are witnessing thousands of delayed and canceled flights.
It seems strikes can have a serious impact on your holiday, so it’s best to be as informed as possible about them. Read our guide to who is on strike in Europe right now, where and when these strikes will happen – and whether you should be worried about them.
Security staff strike at Gatwick Airport
In a bid to secure “fair pay”, security workers are planning strikes on July 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21. This is likely to mean significant delays for passengers, but no canceled flights are expected. If you’re flying to/from this airport, read our full guide to Gatwick strikes.
Air traffic controllers strike in Turkey
Air traffic controllers are on strike at Turkey’s Antalya airport, causing major flight delays. About 50 percent of departures and landings were affected. The strikes are expected to last until Sunday, July 14.
Strikes by airport workers in Italy
Airports in Bologna, Crotone, Lamezia Terme, Milan, Reggio Calabria, Rome and Venice will face disruption as unionized airport staff across Italy go on strike on July 5.
Pilot strike in Ireland
Aer Lingus pilots have called an indefinite “work by rule” strike, meaning they will not work outside scheduled hours or accept schedule changes. This started on 26 June and by 7 July around 400 flights had been cancelled. It is best to check the status of your flight before leaving for the airport.
What if your airline goes on strike?
If striking staff cause your flight to be delayed or cancelled, the airline is usually obliged to assist you and/or provide compensation. However, this often depends on your airline’s conditions of carriage as well as the extent of your travel insurance. Both should be readily available on your airline or insurer’s website.
However, if you book your flight knowing in advance that there will be a strike (ie it has already been announced by the union), it is extremely unlikely that you will receive compensation. Before booking, be sure to check for strike dates not only with your destination airline, but also at the departure and arrival airports.
Of course, it’s worth bearing in mind that a strike threat is just that: a strike warning that isn’t guaranteed to happen. Strikes are mainly used as a bargaining chip between unions and employers, so there is always a chance that both sides can reach an agreement before the strike takes place.
In any case, if your trip involves any of the above airlines, destinations and dates, be sure to keep an eye on your flight status and prepare for a trip with more problems than expected…
