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Up to 600,000 travellers could face disruption at Gatwick Airport this August Bank Holiday as baggage screeners prepare to strike, travel experts have warned.
The walkouts, planned between 22–26 August and again from 29 August–2 September, are expected to cause widespread delays. The airlines most affected will include easyJet, British Airways, Vueling, TUI Airways and Wizz Air.
During peak summer weekends, Gatwick manages up to 900 flights a day, meaning that across the four-day Bank Holiday period between 3,200 and 3,600 flights could be impacted. With an average of 165 passengers per flight, this equates to as many as 600,000 travellers – or around 150,000 daily.
Union Unite says staff working for ICTS, the contractor responsible for baggage screening, are “among the lowest paid at the airport,” earning just above minimum wage. Gatwick Airport stressed the dispute is “an industrial matter with third-party suppliers,” adding that it is working with partners to minimise disruption and expects a normal flight schedule.
According to Darina Kovacheva, Head of Legal at compensation firm SkyRefund, because the strikers are ICTS employees and not airline staff, the disruption would likely be deemed outside airlines’ control under EU261/UK261 rules. This means passengers are unlikely to be entitled to compensation, unless it can be shown that airlines failed to take reasonable steps to reduce delays or cancellations.
Even so, airlines must still provide meals, refreshments, and two free communications after delays of several hours, depending on flight distance. If overnight delays occur, hotel accommodation and transport to and from the airport must also be arranged.
