And there’s still no end to airport queue chaos
HOLIDAYMAKERS catching planes instead of driving also faced delays yesterday.
Families joined snaking queues at several of the country’s biggest airports including Manchester, Gatwick, Stansted and Heathrow.
At Manchester, passengers spilled out into a car park and there were reports of luggage delays. A spokesman said queues were the responsibility of check-in and ground staff.
Chaos continued at Stansted Airport in Essex yesterday with passengers facing queues almost the length of the airport to check in.
Many travelling to the airport by train also faced long waits to get out of its rail station.
Staff shortages have been leading to hold-ups at security and check-in desks at airports across the UK as the travel industry picks up after the pandemic lockdowns.
Hundreds of flights are being delayed or cancelled as there are not enough staff to cope with the booming demand.
It comes as further chaos at Heathrow this summer has been averted after a strike by hundreds of British Airways check-in staff was called off.
Members of Unite and the GMB unions had voted for industrial action in a row over a pay cut during the pandemic.
After extensive negotiations, the company made a new offer, which members were balloted on and accepted. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘This is a great result for our check-in members at British Airways. By standing together, they have forced a corporate giant like BA to do the right thing and restore levels of pay slashed in the pandemic.’ Unite said the offer, which will be paid in several stages, was worth 13 per cent.
Nadine Houghton, GMB national officer, added: ‘No one wanted a summer strike at Heathrow, but our members had to fight for what was right.
‘This improved pay deal came because of their efforts.
‘Now these mainly women workers have won pay improvements for themselves – as well as forcing BA to make this offer to the rest of their staff too.’
Long waits to get out of station