Heathrow Airport, the busiest airport in London, is bracing for potential travel chaos next month as two separate rounds of industrial action are planned in early May. Refuelers employed by Aviation Fuel Services (AFS) will strike for 72 hours from Saturday, May 4th, threatening disruption during the Early May Bank Holiday weekend—one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. The refuelers are responsible for refueling aircraft from 35 airlines operating at Heathrow, including Virgin Atlantic, Delta, Emirates, Air France, and Japan Airlines. The strike action stems from a dispute over drastic cuts imposed by AFS on the terms and conditions of new staff recruited since January 2024.
A second round of strikes is planned by Unite the union, representing members working in passenger services and security. This strike will take place from Tuesday, May 7th, to Monday, May 13th. Unite has accused AFS of using ‘bully-boy tactics’ by targeting the most vulnerable new staff with reduced pension and sickness benefits. General Secretary Sharon Graham of Unite affirmed the union’s support for its members in their fight for improved benefits.
Another 800 Unite members in passenger services, trolley operations, and security roles are also preparing to strike later in May due to what the union called ‘deplorable action’ by Heathrow Airport’s management. The union alleges that the airport plans to outsource these jobs by June. Ms. Graham pledged unwavering support for the striking staff, condemning Heathrow Airport’s actions as deplorable and motivated by profit maximization at the expense of its workforce.
Heathrow Airport has announced that it is working on contingency plans with AFS to minimize disruption during the Early May Bank Holiday. A spokesperson for the airport stated that ‘robust’ measures are in place and advised passengers to book flights with confidence. Regarding the passenger services strike, a spokesperson for the airport emphasized the reorganization of operations to enhance customer experience. The spokesperson also clarified that no job losses would result from the changes and that discussions with Unite regarding the implementation of changes for affected colleagues were ongoing. Unite’s threats of industrial action were deemed unnecessary, and customers were reassured that the airport would remain operational.
Travelers planning to depart from Heathrow during this period are advised to monitor the situation closely and check with their airlines for any potential disruptions or cancellations. Alternative travel arrangements or rescheduling may be necessary to avoid delays or inconvenience.
