Major disruption is expected this week as staff strike at Heathrow Airport. About 1,400 security officers are expected to take part in the industrial action, which will run over the King's coronation.
Unite confirmed that employees will walk out from 4 to 6 May, 9 to 10 May and 25 to 27 May in a dispute over pay - causing "inevitable disruption and delays" to hundreds of flights.
The union's general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: "Yet again, we have a chief executive who thinks it is acceptable to boost his earnings while he denies his own workers a decent pay rise.
READ MORE: Ryanair, TUI, Jet2 and easyJet hand luggage rules
"This dispute is bound to escalate with more workers being balloted and disruption set to continue throughout the summer."
When security guards at Heathrow staged a 10-day walkout over Easter, BA was forced to cancel five per cent of its flights. A Heathrow spokesperson said: "We kept Heathrow running smoothly during the first 10 days of Unite's failed industrial action, and passengers can have confidence that we will do so again this time.
"We will not let Unite disrupt the flow of visitors to the UK during such an important period for the country."
Bosses at Heathrow say they have offered a 10% pay increase as well as a lump sum payment of £1,150 since January - but claims that the union has failed to put this revised offer to their members.
Hundreds of flights were cancelled or delayed yesterday (May 1) as French air traffic controllers stage a major walkout. Aviation employees are fighting against changes to the national pension age that will see it lifted from 62 to 64.
Airlines were told to cancel flights over the weekend in anticipation of the strikes. Ryanair cancelled 220 departures, which caused 40,000 passengers to see their travel plans ruined, the airline said.
UP NEXT:
- Passenger with mobility issues felt 'humiliated' by Bristol Airport security officer
- Bristol Airport slashes parking fee to £5 for Blue Badge holders
- Jet2 passengers describe feeling 'a big drop' minutes before landing in Storm Noa
- TikToker shares clever tips for saving money on your flights
- Bristol Airport chaos as ambulance takes over an hour to arrive after plane makes emergency landing
