More than 300 union members are on strike at London Heathrow, but local media reported few issues at the airport today.
UK Border Force workers have begun a four-day strike scheduled to run from April 29 to May 2, which they said would “disrupt passport checks for travelers coming into the UK at Heathrow airport.”
But The Independent, a British newspaper, reports that travelers so far have “identified no problems with passport control” at Terminals 3 and 5.
Still, said the airport, while “we have robust plans in place to minimize disruption where possible, we urge passengers to check the latest advice from operators before they travel. Gates will be open as usual, and most journeys should be unaffected. However, some longer queue times may be experienced.”
Two other planned strikes have been canceled, including one by aircraft refuelers over the May 4 Bank Holiday, which could have grounded 35 airlines, and a weeklong strike of firefighters planned for May 7 to May 13. But travelers taking the train from Heathrow to central London will be affected by a train drivers’ overtime ban that runs from May 6 to May 11, and a subsequent strike on May 8, when services will be reduced from 7:30 am and 7:00 pm.
Heathrow Airport today reported a record-breaking 18.5 million passengers in Q1 2024, more than it has ever seen before. The strong performance was in part driven by growth on key business routes like Delhi and Mumbai, strong North American traffic, and surging East Asian demand (up 40% over last year).
