Hundreds of passengers planning to fly with easyJet from London Luton Airport this Christmas are facing severe disruption and potential travel chaos after ground staff voted for industrial action.
Six Days of Strike Action Announced
The Unite union has confirmed that more than 200 check-in and baggage handling staff, employed by DHL to service easyJet, will walk out for six days over the festive period. The strikes are scheduled from 3am on Friday 19 December to 3am on Monday 22 December, and again from 3am on Boxing Day (26 December) to 3am on Monday 28 December.
These workers, who operate on popular routes to destinations like Spain, Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic, rejected a pay offer of 4.5% from DHL. Unite states the increase does not address low pay rates during the cost-of-living crisis, highlighting that DHL staff at Gatwick Airport earn roughly £3 more per hour for identical roles.
Massive Impact on Festive Travel
The union estimates that the six-day walkout could affect a staggering 410 easyJet flights, severely impacting the airline's operations at one of its key UK bases. This threat comes as the Civil Aviation Authority predicts this Christmas will be the busiest ever for UK aviation.
London Luton Airport handled over 16.2 million passengers in 2023, with 1.2 million travelling in December alone. The strike action now puts dream winter sun holidays and vital family visits at risk of delay or cancellation.
Unite's General Secretary, Sharon Graham, said: "DHL and easyJet can comfortably afford to offer an above-inflation pay rise. It is shameful that hardworking members can’t afford the basics. These companies must stop putting profits over people."
Contingency Plans and Passenger Advice
In response to the strike ballot, both DHL and easyJet have stated they have robust contingency plans to minimise disruption. An easyJet spokesperson said: "We are disappointed to hear of the planned industrial action... we are currently expecting to operate our full flying programme on these dates."
However, Unite regional officer Jeff Hodge warned passengers to be concerned, placing the blame firmly on DHL for refusing to pay a liveable wage. He added that a last-minute agreement could still avert the strikes if an improved offer is made.
Passengers booked on easyJet flights from Luton during the strike dates are strongly advised to monitor official communications from the airline for updates and allow extra time for their journeys.
