Gatwick Airport anticipates substantial travel disruptions throughout the Easter weekend due to planned strike action involving staff from Red Handling, a key provider of ground handling services.
The industrial action, spearheaded by the Unite union, is scheduled to commence on Good Friday, April 18th, and continue until early Tuesday morning, April 22nd. This will impact crucial operations including baggage handling, check-in procedures, and flight dispatch.
Over a hundred Red Handling employees are expected to participate in the strike, protesting against unresolved concerns regarding their working conditions.
The timing of this action couldn’t be worse, coinciding with the peak of the Easter holidays. Thousands of families across the UK are eagerly embarking on long-awaited vacations or seeking a quick escape during the extended bank holiday weekend.
Experts at SkyRefund predict that approximately 50 flights daily could be affected—a significant blow considering this is expected to be Gatwick’s busiest period. Red Handling provides essential services for several airlines including TAP Air Portugal, Norwegian, Delta, Saudia, Air Peace, Ethiopian and Air Mauritius.
A spokesperson for London Gatwick stated: “We are fully aware of the ballot results and the impending industrial action by Red Handling, which will undoubtedly affect thousands of passengers during a particularly busy time. We are actively supporting the airlines—who have direct contracts with Red Handling—in implementing their contingency plans. Our hope is that a resolution can be reached before the strike commences.” They further advised passengers to contact their respective airlines for up-to-date information.
SkyRefund has cautioned travelers, particularly those flying with the aforementioned carriers, to anticipate “widespread delays and cancellations” during the Easter period. Passengers should prepare for potentially long queues at check-in and security checkpoints, as well as potential baggage issues.
The possibility of last-minute flight cancellations remains a concern, adding further uncertainty to travel plans while the airport works to maintain essential operations amidst the strike.
Darina Kovacheva, Head of Legal at SkyRefund, explained passenger rights: “Individuals impacted by this industrial action are entitled to care and assistance from their airlines. This includes provisions such as meals and refreshments appropriate for the duration of any delay, and hotel accommodation with transportation if an overnight stay becomes necessary.”
However, she added a crucial caveat: “Passengers are not eligible for financial compensation in cases where delays or cancellations stem from ‘extraordinary circumstances,’ which explicitly includes strikes by airport staff who aren’t directly employed by the airline. Nevertheless, we strongly recommend that passengers retain receipts for any expenses incurred during their disruption.”
This situation adds to a broader pattern of travel challenges, following recent disruptions linked to Ryanair flight updates.
- Affected Airlines: TAP Air Portugal, Norwegian, Delta, Saudia, Air Peace, Ethiopian and Air Mauritius.
- Strike Dates: April 18th (Good Friday) through early morning on April 22nd.
- Passenger Entitlements: Care and assistance (meals, accommodation) after a delay of 2 hours for short-haul flights, 3 hours for medium-haul, and 4 hours for long-haul. Financial compensation is not applicable due to extraordinary circumstances (the strike).
As one traveler noted:
“It’s frustrating to have travel plans disrupted like this, especially during a holiday season. We just hope the situation resolves itself quickly.”
