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As the festive season gets into full swing, travellers flying across Europe this Christmas are being warned to prepare for disruption at airports due to a series of planned strikes by airport and airline staff, reported Euronews. With the holidays traditionally one of the busiest travel periods of the year, the wave of industrial action threatens delays, long queues and possible cancellations for millions of would-be holidaymakers.
In the UK, ground-handling staff at London Luton Airport, those who handle check-in and baggage services, have scheduled walkouts over pay disputes. These strikes are set to take place from December 19 to 22 and again from December 26 to 29, coinciding with the peak of the Christmas travel rush, and could impact more than 400 flights if staffing levels dip significantly.
Spain and Italy face disruption too
Across Spain, baggage handling crews employed by Azul Handling, a partner for major budget carriers, have been staging ongoing walkouts since August, and are expected to continue striking through December at key airports like Barcelona El Prat, Madrid-Barajas, Alicante, Malaga, Tenerife South and Valencia. That could mean longer wait times for check-in, baggage drop and luggage collection during the busiest weeks of the season.
Italy is also preparing for workforce action, notably a four-hour stoppage by ITA Airways ground and air crew on December 17, which has the potential to disrupt flights at major hubs such as Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa at the busiest part of the day.
What travellers should expect
The disruption comes as European airports already cope with record passenger numbers over the holidays, Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport alone expects more than one million passengers between December 19 and January 4.
Experts say the combination of strikes and peak demand could mean longer check-in and baggage queues, possible flight delays or last-minute cancellations, and heavier congestion at security and boarding gates