Heathrow Airport strikes in May 'could see flights cancelled' on 37 airlines, says Unite - airlines listed

Heathrow workers have announced 72 hours of strike action, with a risk of cancellations according to a union.

Around 50 refuellers will walk out on May 4, and Unite said on Monday (April 22) the action could see flights “delayed, disrupted and grounded”.

The union says the action follows “drastic cuts to the terms and conditions of new staff recruited since January 2024” by employer AFS, a joint venture between oil and gas companies Air BP, Total, Q8 Air and Valero.

Unite says the company “is attacking the most vulnerable new staff in its workplace by offering them reduced pension and sickness benefits”.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “AFS is behaving appallingly by attacking the T&Cs (terms and conditions) of new members of staff – those it views as the easiest to intimidate. But Unite will not stand for such bully-boy tactics and we will be backing our members in their fight for improved pensions and sick pay for all staff.”

The union says strikes over the May bank holiday are likely to lead to severe disruption to airline services for passengers.

AFS and Heathrow have been contacted for comment.

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Unite regional officer Kevin Hall said: “Our members recognise that if they allow this attack on their conditions to take place, before long this will become the norm. Unite won’t allow that to happen and is standing firm with our members on the picket line.

“AFS will have to answer directly to the airlines and passengers for the disruption caused by their unmerited actions.”

Airlines affected

The airlines affected, according to Unite, are:

1. AIR CANADA
2. AMERICAN AIRLINES
3. UNITED AIRLINES
4. DELTA
5. VIRGIN ATLANTIC
6. JAPAN AIRLINES
7. EMIRATES
8. QANTAS
9. ELAL
10. SINGAPORE AIRLINES
11. KOREAN AIRLINES
12. AIR FRANCE
13. KLM
14. ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES
15. JET BLUE
16. LOT (POLISH)
17. ROYAL AIR MAROC
18. MIDDLE EAST AIRLINES
19. SAS (SCANDINAVIAN)
20. TAP AIR PORTUGAL
21. MALTA AIRLINES
22. DHL
23. AERO MEXICO
24. LATAM AIRLINES
25. AIR INDIA
26. LOGAN AIR
27. BULGARIAN AIRLINES
28. UZBEKISTAN AIRWAYS
29. CHINA AIRLINES
30. AIR MAURITIUS
31. URKMENISTAN
32. AVIANCA
33. ASIANA
34. SAUDI
35. TIANJIN AIRLINES
36. BEIJING CAPITAL
37. RWANDA AIR