One in five flights ‘to be axed’ in Heathrow strike chaos hitting 88,000 holidaymakers

One in five flights could be cancelled at Heathrow hitting 88,000 passengers if a 48-hour strike goes ahead next week, union leaders warned last night.

Hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers are expected to be affected as part of the strike mayhem.

Members of militant union Unite – including security staff, engineers and firefighters – have voted overwhelmingly to reject a pay rise worth 7.3 per cent over two and a half years.

Although talks between union officials and Heathrow resumed last night in the hope of reaching a peace deal, both parties warned the walkout on Monday and Tuesday now looks likely to go ahead.

Unite said 88 per cent of members who cast a vote opted to reject the revised offer. 

Up to half a million people are expected to pass through Britain’s busiest airport during the planned 48-hour walkout – timed to coincide with the height of the summer holidays.

Unite has threatened to shut down Heathrow and claimed that more than 4,000 of its members, who also include customer service staff and trolley workers, are likely to take part. 

Although talks between union officials and Heathrow resumed last night in the hope of reaching a peace deal, both parties warned the walkout on Monday and Tuesday now looks likely to go ahead. Heathrow Airport is pictured above [File photo]

Heathrow said it would continue to seek an agreement with Unite, with talks set to continue over the weekend

But last night Heathrow insisted the airport would remain ‘safe and open’, although bosses warned that queues at security are likely to be longer. 

It revealed that 177 of the 2,600 flights scheduled over the two days have already been cancelled in anticipation of a mass walkout. 

Flights have been switched to other airports including Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester.

Meanwhile, an army of around 1,200 Heathrow staff – including highly-paid executives – are on standby to fill roles vacated by protesting union members.

These include baggage handlers and workers helping passengers with security.

The airport has even arranged for Surrey fire brigade to step in – as firefighters employed directly by Heathrow are among those preparing to strike.

Last night Unite claimed Heathrow has already committed to paying airlines, including British Airways and Virgin, £26 per passenger on board every cancelled flight in compensation.

The union said the airport would be paying out millions of pounds in compensation and ‘causing passenger misery’ if it failed to offer workers a ‘fair pay rise’. 

However, Heathrow described the claim it is paying compensation to airlines as categorically untrue. 

It said it had offered a pay rise worth 7.3 per cent over two-and-a-half years for all frontline staff.

Hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers are expected to be affected as part of the strike mayhem. Passengers are pictured above at Heathrow Airport last week following delays due to thunderstorms

But Unite said this amounts to little more than the £3.75 a day boost to many workers provided by the previous offer. 

Security workers at Heathrow currently receive an average starting basic salary of £23,153 – almost £3,000 higher than for new recruits in the Metropolitan Police. 

They have been offered a 30-month deal which includes a one-off payment of £600 to be followed by a 3.6 per cent hike in basic salary on January 1 next year and another 3.6 per cent on January 1, 2021. 

Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, is currently running at just under 2 per cent.

Heathrow said it would continue to seek an agreement with Unite, with talks set to continue over the weekend. 

But a spokesman added: ‘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 breaks will be impacted by this.

‘We have activated contingency plans which will keep the airport open and safe on both strike days. We expect security queue times to be slightly longer than normal and advise passengers to check our website for detailed information on how to prepare for their flights and when to arrive at the airport.’

Meanwhile, pilots’ union Balpa said talks with British Airways would resume again next week in an attempt to avoid a crippling strike.