Ryanair, easyJet, TUI and BA to be hit by strikes in July

British tourists travelling from Gatwick Airport could face travel chaos as workers are due to go on strike at the end of July.

Almost 1,000 Gatwick staff are set to take part with roles including ground handling, baggage handling and check-in agents joining in the strikes over pay.

The union has said that significant disruption, cancellations and delays are “inevitable” in bad news for British tourists.

Passengers will be contacted by their airline if their flight is affected by the strikes but should keep an eye on their flight status before travelling to the airport.

The strikes are just one issue British tourists could face this summer with flights to Europe also likely to be affected by air traffic control strikes.

Many airlines are likely to be affected by the industrial action including major carriers such as easyJet, Ryanair, TUI, British Airways, Wizz and Westjet.

Tourists should check their flight details before travelling to the airport on a strike day. Passengers should arrive two hours before a short-haul flight and three hours before a long-haul flight unless they are told otherwise. Queues at security could be longer than usual on the strike days.

The strikes coincide with some of the busiest travel days in the UK as families head off during the school holidays.

Airlines aren’t required to offer compensation as the Gatwick workers aren’t employed by the airlines. However, passengers should be offered an alternative flight if theirs is cancelled.

Rocio Concha, Which? director of Policy and Advocacy, said: “Airlines know potential disruption is coming, so they must communicate effectively with passengers and give them the opportunity to be refunded or rerouted at the earliest opportunity – even if that means buying passengers a seat on a flight operated by a rival carrier.

“They must also provide passengers with assistance, which may include free refreshments or accommodation, if appropriate to the length of the delay”.