Chaos at European airports and the wave of strikes that aggravated it inspires tourists with alarm: thousands break paid tours, tens of thousands of air tickets are canceled, people stand in queues for many hours, but cannot go anywhere. Experts have updated the list of countries for tourists where the risk of encountering chaos and strikes is higher, as well as airlines that have either already scheduled strikes or are ready to start them. It also lists countries and airports that are trying to take action quickly.
The list of countries is as follows:
- Great Britain – the list is headed by the country from which the air chaos began. The most risky place named London Heathrow, the busiest airport in the UK. In addition to long lines and massive flight cancellations, a tourist may also face a strike – it is planned to be announced by airport baggage control officers. They went on strike the following month due to pandemic-induced wage cuts, which they said never returned to decent levels.
- Belgium – strikes have already taken place in the country, including aviation personnel, caused by an increase in the cost of living. As a result, Brussels Airport was forced to cancel all outbound flights this week. Bus services have also been halted. There is a risk of another strike.
- France: At France's main airport, Charles de Gaulle, workers have gone on strike demanding a monthly raise of 300 euros and better working conditions. The strike resulted in the cancellation of 25% of flights. New promotions scheduled for July 2.
- Norway: At the moment there is a risk of an air carrier strike. The fact is that in early June, Norwegian Airlines agreed to increase fares for pilots by 3.7%. Other airlines may take similar steps to avoid labor disputes – but there is a risk that staff will strike to achieve this.
For carriers, tourists here have been warned:
- Ryanair – the scandalous low-cost airline plans to strike on European flights. While the airline's British pilots have adopted an updated proposal for post-COVID fare improvements, unions representing flight attendants in Belgium, Portugal, France, Italy and Spain are set to go on a one to three day strike later this week.
- easyJet intends to surprise tourists heading to Spain. The USO, a local union, said it plans to go on strike for nine days in July demanding a 40% increase in the base salary of flight attendants. At the same time, EasyJet announced that it was canceling thousands more flights this summer.
- Lufthansa is at risk of ground strike as the union representing Lufthansa demands a wage increase of at least 350 euros a month for 12 months to mitigate the effects of rising inflation. While negotiations are underway, they will last until June 30.
- SAS – Nearly 1,000 airline pilots in Denmark, Norway and Sweden are on strike on June 29 amid disputes over fares and cost-cutting plans at the struggling Scandinavian airline.
airports, airlines and the government.
- Schiphol, one of Europe's busiest airports, requires 500 security guards to be hired. Before the pandemic, there were 68,000 employees working in and around the airport, but that number has now dropped to 58,000. The airport has already agreed to pay more than 5.25 euros per hour for 15,000 cleaners, baggage delivery workers and security guards during the summer months.
- The Portuguese government plans to double the number of border control officers at six of the country's airports by July 4.
- In Spain, the police will hire an additional 500 officers at the country's busiest airports, including Madrid and Barcelona, bringing the total to 700,000 .
- In Germany, according to Ralf Beisel, managing director of the airports association ADV, about 20% of jobs in security, baggage control and aircraft control at German airports are vacant. This is about 2,000 employees in ground handling services alone. As a result, the aviation lobby, which consists of the country's airlines, airports and ground handlers, asked the federal government to allow them to hire 2,000 temporary workers from Turkey.
- In France, according to airport operator Groupe ADP and CDG Alliance, a shortage of 4,000 personnel at Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports in Paris must be filled. More than 20,000 people have been laid off in Charles de Gaulle during the pandemic, according to the CGT trade union. ICTS, the airport security company based in Charles de Gaulle, is offering a one-time bonus of 180 euros for those who put off their holidays until September 15 and 150 euros for new employees, according to a spokesman for the CGT union.
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