Factbox: European summer travel hit by strike-related disruption
18/08/2023 12:52
(Updates Britain, recasts throughout)
Aug 18 (Reuters) - Europe's travel industry is on high
alert for disruption from strikes as passenger numbers globally
recover to pre-pandemic levels.
While Europe's peak season was hit last year by
cancellations, this summer air traffic control issues are likely
to be the weak spot, according to warnings from Eurocontrol,
which manages European airspace.
Here is a summary of recent developments:
EUROCONTROL
On Aug. 4 Union Syndicale representatives at Eurocontrol
suspended tentative plans for industrial action announced on
July 7, after long negotiations and an exchange of letters.
In July the union said it was considering taking industrial
action at Eurocontrol's Network Manager Operations Centre, which
oversees traffic across the European airspace, giving a
six-month window for action but no specific dates.
BELGIUM
Ryanair RYA.I pilots in Belgium went on strike on July
15-16 to demand higher wages and better working conditions.
Belgian media reported around 120 flights were cancelled.
Pilots held another strike on July 29 and July 30, saying
management had failed to address their demands. The union has
said further action could be taken.
Ryanair pilots residing in Belgium called a new strike for
Aug. 14 and Aug. 15. According to the Chaleroi airport website,
88 Ryanair flights to and from the airport on Aug. 14-15 were
cancelled due to the strike.
BRITAIN
ASC, Menzies Aviation and GGS staff, who work for airlines
including British Airways, cancelled walkouts scheduled to take
place from July 28 to Aug. 1 and from Aug. 4 to Aug. 8 after
they voted to accept a 15% pay rise, the Unite trade union said.
Easyjet cancelled 1,700 flights, mostly from Gatwick, in
July and August.
Gatwick airport workers employed by Wilson James have
suspended their August strike to allow members to vote following
a "greatly improved offer", Unite union said on Aug 15.
Two days later, the same union confirmed Red Handling
employees at the same airport had called off their August strike
after receiving a "significantly improved pay offer".
230 Gatwick airport employees and members of Unite were set
to go on strike for eight days during August.
At Luton Airport, workers from GH London Ground Handling
Services announced 24-hour strikes that will affect passengers
flying with Wizz Air on Aug. 30 and Sept. 6 and 13, Unite union
said on Aug. 16.
ITALY
About 1,000 flights were cancelled in Italy on July 15 due
to a nationwide airport staff strike, local media reported. Up
to 100% of workers participated in the strike, trade unions said
in a press release.
Air traffic control company ENAV ENAV.MI has confirmed
there will be no strikes in the Italian air transport sector
between July 27 and Sept. 5 due to a summer exemption provided
for in industry regulations.
PORTUGAL
Easyjet EZJ.L cancelled 350 flights arriving to or
departing from Portugal ahead of a cabin staff strike on July
21-25, the SNPVAC union of civil aviation flight personnel said,
the union's third strike since the start of the year.
On July 21, almost 100% of EasyJet's cabin staff in Portugal
walked out, and the union threatened more strikes in the coming
months if the company kept rejecting the raises they demand.
(Compiled by Tiago Brandao, Pierre John Felcenloben, Antonis
Triantafyllou, Romolo Tosiani and Luca Fratangelo; Editing by
Milla Nissi, Conor Humphries, David Evans and Jan Harvey)
((Tiago.Brandao@thomsonreuters.com))