United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Britain set for biggest strike in decades
Britain is set to experience its biggest strike since 1926 today when 2 million public sector workers walkout over pensions.
Airports are expecting major disruption at border controls as immigration staff join the protest.
BAA has warned it could take arriving passengers up to 12 hours to clear immigration, which will have a knock-on effect on arriving and departing flights.
To avoid the disruption, some airlines have cancelled flights into the UK today.
Emirates has cancelled EK029 from Dubai to London Heathrow and EK030 from London Heathrow to Dubai.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad has also cancelled three of its London services due to operate today.
Other carriers, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Cathay Pacific, have been advising passengers due to land in the UK today to re-book for alternative dates to avoid the risk of lengthy queues at immigration.
Meanwhile, easyJet has drafted in more than 350 volunteer staff who have agreed to help arriving passengers.
The volunteers, including pilots, cabin crew and airline management, will help provide passengers with information, assist families and passengers with special needs as well as offloading luggage from the baggage belts to prevent congestion.
The airline said it plans to run a full schedule of flights and continues to work closely with the UK Border Agency and the airports on their contingency plans.
Catherine Lynn, easyJet’s customer and revenue director, said: “Our passengers have asked us to try to keep them flying tomorrow and so we are all pulling together to try and make this happen.”
Britain’s schools, hospitals, ports and government offices are also being effected and more than 1,000 demonstrations are planned across the UK.
by Bev Fearis
Related News Stories:
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Storm Lilian travel chaos as bank holiday flights cancelled