STRIKES could cause travel chaos for Brits across Europe this winter, including one at a major UK airport.
Disruption is scheduled at a range of European airports, with some airlines also at risk of pilots and other employees striking.
Tanker drivers employed by North Air at Edinburgh Airport are set to walk out for over two weeks, according to Scotland’s largest union Unite.
The strike will begin at 5am on Wednesday, December 18 and will end at the same time on Monday, January 6.
The routes most likely to be affected include United Airlines’ flights to New York, as well as Emirates’ to Dubai, according to the union.
It added that Loganair’s domestic routes to the Scottish islands could also be “directly impacted”.
However, a spokesperson for the airport told The Independent that it is “working with airlines to understand their contingencies to minimise passenger disruption.”
United and Emirates are likely to be affected as they cannot store enough extra fuel from their incoming flights, due to their long distance, without exceeding safe landing limits.
Loganair may be able to load extra fuel at locations such as the Isle of Man, Stornoway, Orkney, and Shetland to reduce the impact the strike may have on its flights.
However, its more than 350 mile route to Southampton could prove more difficult due to runway payload restrictions.
When fuel has not been available at an airport, long-haul carriers have previously flown short distances, such as London Heathrow to Stansted, to refuel.
Those due to travel to Italy are also expected to suffer from disruption on and around Sunday December 15.
Techno Sky employees, who manage the technological infrastructure for Italy’s air navigation service, are set to strike for the entire 24 hours of Sunday.
In addition, Techno Sky personnel at Milan Control Center, Linate Airport Center and Monte Settepani CRT will strike for four hours, from 13:00 to 17:00, on Sunday too.
The company oversees operations at 45 Italian airports, and the industrial action is also being backed by two of Italy’s major transport unions: FILT-CGIL and UILT-UIL.
Also joining the four hour walkout are air traffic controllers operating across Milan’s three airports and Palma Airport, as well as workers from Aviation Services at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport.
Finland has already been hit by strikes this winter, with walkouts on December 9 and 13 affecting 33,000 people after around 300 flights were cancelled.
Action by the Finnish Air Line Pilots Association caused major disruption to Finnair operations, with one in three of its flights being cancelled on Friday.
A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.
If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.
You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.
So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.
But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.
When am I not entitled to compensation?
The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.
Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.
Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?
If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.
Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.
Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.
If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.
Since September, EasyJet employees in France have been striking in protest against the closure of the operator’s Toulouse hub, scheduled for March 2025.
It’s thought that 125 employees could be affected, and the strike is set to continue until Monday December 16.
This comes as Brits have been warned to brace for busy Christmas travel period which could cause chaos.
Heathrow Airport has said it is preparing for its busiest ever Christmas Day.
It expects the number of passengers travelling through its terminals on December 25 to be 21 per cent higher than on the same day last year.
The airport also predicts that passenger numbers for the month as a whole will exceed the previous record of 6.7 million in 2023.
It made the forecast after confirming it served 6.5 million passengers last month in the “busiest ever November”.
Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye said: “As we embrace the festive season, our focus remains on ensuring smooth, joyful journeys – whether it is helping passengers get away for Christmas to reunite with their loved ones, or making sure cargo reaches its destination on time.”
Meanwhile, those travelling by rail may also face delays after West Coast train managers voted to strike for three days over the Christmas period.
The RMT union said that walkouts have been scheduled for 22, 23 and 29 December for Avanti services after rejecting the train company’s proposals for “rest day working arrangements”.
Train managers usually work a 41-hour week but due to staff shortages can be asked to work on their days off – but the RMT said that the current arrangements were “unacceptable”.
A spokesperson for Avanti West Coast said that at “one of our busiest and most important times of the year” customers “will now face significant disruption because of these strikes“.
Rail services on all three days are expected to be limited.
A revised timetable for 22 and 23 December should be made available from today.
Around 300 train managers are expected to join the walkout.
Drivers travelling over Christmas have been warned to check their preferred route before setting off – with delays expected at five major motorways.
It is expected that some 16 million cars will take to the roads on December 23 and Christmas Eve.
Brits could be forced to queue for hours, while demand for electric vehicle charging stations is set to soar.
As the festive period gets ever-closer, the M1, M5, M6, M60 and M25 are all expected to be hit by severe traffic – especially on the final weekend before Christmas.
