Boxing Day 2022: Christmas, Boxing Day gift for flyers! Despite strikes, airlines intend to run all flights

Despite the written warnings by the worker’s Unions, the airlines have decided to operate their flights entirely during the holiday season. The travellers coming into the UK have been warned that they might face disruptions. The advice is that they quickly cross the borders during that period and also travel light. This period is the busiest time all over Europe and the Americas.

People going on holidays abroad and coming into the UK at the six airports are expected to face service delays. The six airports are Gatwick, Heathrow, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester, and Glasgow, where the Border Force staff are expected to go on strike. The reason for the strike is that workers demanded a 10 per cent hike in salaries due to the inflation standing at 11 per cent, and the government has offered them a 2 per cent hike. Around a thousand workers are expected to strike during the holiday season. Plans are afoot to ensure additional workers are deployed for passenger support during the strike days. Britain’s Conservative government says that workers deserve pay hikes, but a double-digit raise is not affordable.

Ironically, this is the first-time airlines have been allowed to operate at full strength after the pandemic and lockdowns in 2019. They are facing an imminent workers’ strike causing problems of cancellations and loss of revenues. Border Force is confident that due to their planned strikes, the airlines would be able to operate 80 per cent of their flights unhindered. Airlines plan to operate at 80% levels as most have yet to return to the pre-covid levels. Virgin Atlantic and Jet2 said they would fully operate their flights and are coordinating with the government to ensure the lowest impact possible on the passengers due to the strike. The people flying into the UK by an EU or UK-based airline could claim compensation and get refreshments and hotel stays without much of a problem. For flights coming from elsewhere, passengers need to check their terms and conditions with the airline or service provider about compensations, refreshments, and hotel stays in the event flights are cancelled or delayed indefinitely.
Passengers who have taken flights out of the country and plan to return during the strike days can buy reasonably priced food and accommodation and keep the bills and stake claims from the airlines on reaching their homes. Currently, the UK has been paralysed by strikes in the public sector mainly due to not getting a raise. The postal, railways, airports, and immigration staff are all on strike or plan on due to unhappiness over pay hikes.

FAQs:

1. Which airport is the busiest in the UK?
   Heathrow.
2. Name the second and third busiest airports in the UK.
   Gatwick, followed by Stansted.