Labor action has no impact on flight schedule, airport delighted with success of contingency plan

A 24-hour baggage handlers strike at London's Gatwick Airport appears to have come and gone with no impact whatsoever to the flight schedule, according to airport authorities.

The strike was timed to coincide with the end of another 48 hour strike that had begun on Friday at Heathrow Airport, organized by aircraft fuelers. Some 600 baggage handlers were called to strike at 0200 GMT, but airport authorities stated the contingency plan prevented any impact on the airport's schedule of commercial flights.

"There has been no adverse impact on the traveling public," said a spokesman for Gatwick Airport. The strike was called by the TGWU (Transport and General Workers Union) against Servisair, which services some 20 airlines at the airport, including Ryanair, EasyJet, MyTravel, Delta and Continental.

The union is striking to protest the excessive workload of the employees that carry passenger bags at Gatwick, as well as the suspension of a member of the union. TGWU has threatened to call more strikes if their grievances are not attended.

FMI: www.tgwu.org.uk, www.servisair.com