Heathrow urged to list cancelled flights

HOLIDAYMAKERS have urged Heathrow to end the “unbearable waiting game”, as the airport said it could not confirm which flights were among nearly 180 cancelled due to strike action.

Britain’s busiest airport has cancelled 177 departing flights tomorrow and Tuesday because of a planned 48-hour stoppage by thousands of members of the Unite union. Talks aimed at resolving the pay dispute enter a third day today.

But thousands of passengers face travel misery as they are yet to be told which services will be affected.

Ghazala Hussain, from Sheffield, who is due to fly to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca as part of a 55-strong group, said: “I cannot explain how stressful this situation is. No one is giving a clear answer.

“It’s taken us years and years to save for this trip. We have booked hotels and parking and now there are rumours we might be shifted to another airport. We are hard-working people and this is not only causing anxiety but financial issues too.” She urged the airport to end the “unbearable waiting game” and publish a list of cancelled flights as dozens on social media complained about poor communication.

Security guards, firefighters and engineers are among those set to stage walkouts in industrial action that could hit up to 90,000 passengers.

Unite’s members voted by almost 9-1 to reject a pay offer Heathrow said was worth 7.3 per cent over two and a half years.

A Heathrow spokesman said passengers must check with airlines for cancelled flight information.

She said: “Unite is proceeding with its unnecessary strike action on August 5 and 6 and we regret that passengers looking to get away on well-earned family holidays will be impacted.”

Naomi Leach, of Which?, said: “Thousands of people will understandably be frustrated to have their travel plans thrown into chaos by these lastminute cancellations and sadly the disruption this August is set to continue.”

Ms Leach said all affected passengers were entitled to a full refund or to be re-routed on to another flight.

More strikes are planned on Aug 23 and 24 if the dispute is not resolved.