Travellers to the UK for Christmas and the New Year will fly straight into 8 days of strike action by border force staff
Thousands of British expats journeying back to the UK over Christmas and New Year will face severe disruptions to their travel plans. What’s new is that rail workers and other service sector staff have also announced a series of strikes.
Rail staff, nurses, civil servants, bus drivers, and postal workers are among those planning to walk out in the weeks before Christmas, with industrial action expected to continue into 2023.
Staff at six UK airports are due to stage walkouts from December 23 to Boxing Day and from December 28 to new year’s eve. The strike action triggered a warning from home secretary Suella Braverman of “serious disruption” to travel.
However, the boss of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, the UK’s second-largest tour operating group, sent out a defiant message in response to the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union strike which affects three of airlines’ ten departure airports – Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow.
“We are aware of the strike action, and we would like to let our customers and industry partners know that we very much intend to operate our full schedule of flights throughout the festive period, including on the dates when strike action is taking place.
“Our customers have worked hard to make precious holiday plans, including seeing family and friends, over the festive period.
“Our teams will work tirelessly to make sure we fly everyone to and from their destinations so that they can enjoy those well-deserved holidays, ” said Chief executive Steve Heapy.
Virgin airlines are working on contingency plans. a spokesperson for the opertaor said: “We’re aware of planned strike action by UK Border Force staff between 23-26 and 28-31 December and continue to work closely with government and industry to support contingency planning and minimise disruption.
“Our customers’ journeys over the festive period are our priority and we’re focussed on supporting their travel plans, keeping them updated on any potential disruption at the border.”
Read more: UK Airport Border Control Strikes Threaten Expat Christmas Travel
