by A global airline has cancelled hundreds of flights from London Heathrow airport over the busy Easter holidays ahead of planned strikes by security guards.
British Airways said on Tuesday it is scrapping about 32 flights a day from Heathrow – one of the world’s busiest airports – at the start of the holidays, the BBC reports.
More than 1400 security guards employed will strike from March 31 to Easter Sunday, April 9, to demand better pay.
The strikes will coincide with the two-week Easter school holidays, traditionally a peak time for travel for many in the UK.
British Airways has been told by the airport to reduce its schedule on those days by 5 per cent, or 300 flights, and has stopped selling tickets.
Qantas said it was not expecting any impact on its services at Heathrow and would inform customers on any changes to their flights.
The British trade union Unite said those striking include guards who work at the airport’s Terminal Five, which is used exclusively by British Airways, as well as those responsible for checking all cargo that enters the airport.
Heathrow Airport said it was deploying 1000 additional staff, together with its management team, who will be in the terminals offering help to travellers over the Easter break.
It said it may take “a little longer than usual to get through security”, and advised passengers to help ensure a smooth departure by checking their flight status before travelling to the airport, and by having their liquids and electronics ready for security.
Inflation in the UK climbed steeply last year to 11.1 per cent in October, though it dropped to 10.1 per cent in January. That’s still the highest in about 40 years, and a dramatic change after years of 2 per cent inflation.
Tens of thousands of teachers, doctors, health care workers, train and bus drivers and civil servants have staged mass walkouts in recent months to demand higher wages.
