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A public-sector strike this Wednesday (30 November) in the UK threatens to impact operations at all international airports, especially at London Heathrow. Airlines are issuing advice for passengers, cancelling flights and offering alternate flights.
Travellers arriving at UK airports on Wednesday should be prepared for a wait up to 12 hours to clear immigration in case the strike by customs staff takes place.
While all international airports in the UK are likely to be affected by the industrial action, delays at London Heathrow are expected to be particularly severe. Heathrow is not only one of the world’s busiest airports but the airport has a flight pattern that is set to amplify the problem. Nearly 100 long-haul flights are due to arrive before 9am on Wednesday at Heathrow.
“Modelling of the impacts of strike action on passenger flows show that there are likely to be very long delays of up to 12 hours to arriving passengers,” Normand Boivin, Chief Operating Officer of Heathrow wrote in a letter posted on the airport’s website.
“The delays at immigration are likely to be so long that passengers could not be safely accommodated within the terminals and would need to be held on arriving aircraft. This in turn would quickly create gridlock at the airport with no available aircraft parking stands, mass cancellations or departing aircraft and diversions outside the UK for arriving aircraft,” the letter said.
Mr Boivin also told the airlines to reduce load in order to ease the turmoil expected when immigration officers walk out on Wednesday.
“We will plan for a normal flight schedule, but we are requesting all carriers to reduce load factors on each international flight arriving into Heathrow on 30 November to 50 per cent of normal levels,” he wrote.
Similarly, Gatwick airport has warned of “significant disruption” if the strike takes place.
Scott Stanley, Gatwick’s Chief Operating Officer, stated: “Unfortunately, airport staff can not man the desks at the Border Zone but we will provide all necessary assistance to the Border Agency and we are determined to make sure that the needs and welfare of all our passengers will be met on the day.”
More than 2 million public workers are expected to join the one-day walkout on Wednesday that concerns workers’ pension policy.
What Different Airlines Are Doing?
Australia’s flag carrier, Qantas is allowing passengers who are scheduled to arrive at London Heathrow on Wednesday to have rebooking on alternative flights between 28 November 2011 and 07 December 2011. Qantas is also offering to re-route flights without incurring fees and thus not burdening budget travellers who booked in advance to grab cheap flight tickets with the airline.
British Airways will also be offering to change flights free of cost for such travellers. UK’s flag carrier hopes to run a normal schedule, as per a company’s statement.
On the other hand, Cathay Pacific has advised its travellers to not to travel to Heathrow on the day. The airline’s website said it would waive off re-booking fees.
Virgin Atlantic will also offer change of flights without any charge, as per the airline’s website. Easyjet, a low-cost airline known for offering cheap flight tickets, said passengers arriving at UK airports should be prepared for delays and must check the status of their flight before arriving at the airport.
Carriers in the Gulf have issued warnings to caution passengers who have flights to UK on Wednesday. Gulf Air made no final announcements but warned flights to UK may face substantial delays on that day.
In the same vein, Qatar Airways said on its website that flights to London Heathrow and Manchester are likely to be impacted by the industrial action. Etihad Airways, on the other hand, has cancelled three flights on November 30, fearing long delays in waiting to clear immigration.