Scots planning flights down south have been issued a warning about their return trip as Heathrow strikes may lead to hundreds of flight cancellations.
Walkouts will reportedly exclusively impact short haul flights, meaning that trips to Scottish travel hubs could be impacted amid the 10-day security staff strike action which will begin this Friday, March 31.
British Airways has been mandated by the airport to cut flights the first weekend of the strike (March 31 to April 3) - which could see around 32 flights per day scrapped. Travel expert Simon Calder said on his travel podcast that Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen could see cancellations.
He added that only short haul British Airways flights to other UK destinations and European holidays spots departing from Heathrow Terminal 5 will be cancelled - but other BA services will operate as normal.
While BA staff are not included in the strikes, they have had to cut back services due to the disruption caused.
Heathrow Airport asks passengers to check their flight status and arrive at the airport no earlier than two hours before short haul flights and three hours before long haul flights. They also ask that travellers arrive ready for security with their compliant liquids and electronics out of their hand luggage.
The strikes, announced by Unite the Union last week including some 1,400 security guards, will likely go ahead as no future talks are planned, according to Calder.
A BA spokesperson said: "Following Heathrow's requirement for us to reduce the number of passengers travelling during the period of its employees' proposed strike action, we've regrettably had to make a small number of adjustments to our schedule.
"We've apologised to customers whose travel plans have been affected and have offered them a range of options, including rebooking onto a new flight with us or another airline, or requesting a full refund.
"Our teams are continuing to work closely with Heathrow to ensure that our customers' journeys run smoothly."
A Heathrow spokesperson commented: "We will not let these unnecessary strikes impact the hard-earned holidays of our passengers. Our contingency plans will keep the airport operating as normal throughout.
"We are deploying 1,000 additional colleagues and the entire management team who will be in the terminals providing assistance to passengers over the busy Easter getaway.
"As at any busy time, it may take a little longer than usual to get through security, but this will be well managed and kept flowing."
The travel expert said that the union was looking for a pay rise as they are currently on 'poverty wages', while Heathrow had reportedly already handed out a 10 percent rise.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Workers at Heathrow Airport are on poverty wages while the chief executive and senior managers enjoy huge salaries. It is the airport’s workers who are fundamental to its success and they deserve a fair pay increase.
"Our members are simply unable to make ends meet due to the low wages paid by Heathrow. They are being forced to take strike action due to need not greed."
Will you be impacted by this strike action? Let us know in the comments.
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