# Factbox: Europe’s summer travel chaos Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-07-27 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Airlines Struggle with Strikes and Staff Shortages Meta Description: Discover how labour unrest and reduced summer schedules are impacting airline operations, leading to disruptions and long queues at major airports. URL: https://financedigest.com/factbox-europes-summer-travel-chaos-2html ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-07-11t134942z1lynxmpei6a0jxrtroptp4airlines-iata-travel-disruption-1-1736815528649-compressed.jpg) (Reuters) – Strikes and staff shortages are forcing airlines to cancel thousands of flights and causing hours-long queues at major airports, dashing hopes for a sizzling first summer following widespread COVID-linked lockdowns. Here is a summary of some of the key developments: LABOUR UNREST After sweeping [job cuts and pay](https://www.financedigest.com/best-paying-jobs-in-natural-gas-distribution.html "Best paying jobs in natural gas distribution") cuts when COVID-19 brought travel to a grinding halt, staff across the industry from pilots to baggage handlers are asking for big pay increases and better working conditions. Norwegian Air in June agreed a 3.7% [pay rise](https://www.financedigest.com/unicredit-shareholders-urged-to-reject-ceo-orcels-pay-rise.html "UniCredit shareholders urged to reject CEO Orcel’s pay rise") for pilots among other benefits, in a sign of what other airlines may have to offer to avoid labour strife. \[nL8N2XX1LQ\]. Scandinavian carrier SAS and Ireland’s Ryanair in July agreed terms with some unions representing their pilots, while British [Airways and KLM signed wage](https://www.financedigest.com/ita-airways-averts-strike-after-wage-increase-accord-with-unions.html "ITA Airways averts strike after wage increase accord with unions") deals with ground staffers, as strikes affected hundreds of thousands of travellers in the key holiday period. \\*\\* Ryanair Ryanair’s Spanish cabin crew union members plan to [strike four days a week until January to press demands for higher pay](https://www.financedigest.com/in-inflation-hit-germany-massive-strike-over-pay-to-cripple-transport.html "In inflation-hit Germany, massive strike over pay to cripple transport") and better working conditions, the USO union said on July 27. The [strike action](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-braces-for-winter-of-strike-action-as-nurses-walk-out.html "Britain braces for winter of strike action as nurses walk out"), also backed by Sitclpa, will take place from Monday to Thursday every week from Aug. 8 to Jan. 7. [Ryanair workers also caused disruption at many Spanish airports](https://www.financedigest.com/ryanair-says-british-airports-to-struggle-this-christmas.html "Ryanair says British airports to struggle this Christmas") during July, when they walked out for several days, mainly on weekends. \\*\\* Lufthansa Lufthansa’s ground staff went on strike on July 27, [prompting the cancellation of nearly all its flights](https://www.financedigest.com/system-glitch-prompts-boeing-to-postpone-test-space-flight.html "System glitch prompts Boeing to postpone test space flight") from its Frankfurt and Munich hubs, more than 1,000 flights in total. The [German flagship carrier said there could be a few more cancellations and delays](https://www.financedigest.com/german-industry-calls-for-delay-to-global-minimum-tax-bdi.html "German industry calls for delay to global minimum tax – BDI") on July 28-29. Labour union Verdi had called for the walkout, due to run until 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) on July 28, over its demand for a 9.5% [pay hike for around 20,000 workers](https://www.financedigest.com/thousands-of-british-postal-workers-walk-out-over-pay.html "Thousands of British postal workers walk out over pay") and warned more industrial action could be on the cards. \\*\\* Easyjet Spain-based cabin crew at Easyjet [announced plans](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-announces-plans-to-lead-green-industrial-revolution.html "EU announces plans to lead green industrial revolution") to go on strike for nine days in July, demanding a 40% increase in their basic salary which is much lower than in countries such as France and Germany, local union USO said. They are set to strike again between July 29-31. \\*\\* SAS pilots on July 19 ended their 15-day strike, which had grounded 3,700 flights, affected 380,000 passengers, and [put the carrier’s future in doubt](https://www.financedigest.com/toyotas-july-global-vehicle-output-drops-again-puts-annual-target-in-doubt.html "Toyota’s July global vehicle output drops again, puts annual target in doubt"). REDUCED SUMMER SCHEDULES Airlines, including Lufthansa, British Airways, easyJet, KLM and [Wizz Air](https://www.financedigest.com/wizz-air-loses-fight-against-67-million-in-state-aid-for-romanian-rival.html "Wizz Air loses fight against million in state aid for Romanian rival"), have cut thousands of flights from their summer schedules to cope with the disruptions, while major airports have also taken steps to limit traffic. London’s [Heathrow on July 12 asked airlines](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-heathrow-airlines-appeal-regulators-landing-fee-cut.html "UK’s Heathrow, airlines appeal regulator’s landing fee cut") to stop selling tickets for summer departures, after it capped the number of passengers travelling through it at 100,000 a day to limit queues, baggage delays and cancellations. [HIRING SPREE](https://www.financedigest.com/jpmorgan-readies-overseas-retail-expansion-with-german-hiring-spree.html "JPMorgan readies overseas retail expansion with German hiring spree") AND INCENTIVES [Airports and airlines are scrambling to hire more workers from pilots to security and border control staff](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-airports-face-christmas-disruption-as-border-staff-to-strike.html "UK airports face Christmas disruption as border staff to strike") and baggage handlers after many left during the COVID-19 crisis. Industry executives say it is hard to recruit for often physically demanding, relatively [low paid work](https://www.financedigest.com/low-use-of-shortened-work-hours-points-to-mild-german-recession-ifo.html "Low use of shortened work hours points to mild German recession – Ifo") at airports often located out of town. Training new hires and getting them [security clearance to work](https://www.financedigest.com/hybrid-working-and-the-continued-security-challenges-for-financial-organisations.html "Hybrid working and the continued security challenges for financial organisations") at airports also takes months. \\*\\* Schiphol [agreed to pay](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-agrees-law-to-make-airlines-pay-more-to-pollute.html "EU agrees law to make airlines pay more to pollute") 15,000 cleaners, baggage handlers and security staff 5.25 euros ($5.50) extra per hour during the summer. One of Europe’s busiest airports [needs to hire 500 security](https://www.financedigest.com/no-collateral-no-problem-here-is-what-you-need-to-know-to-secure-a-business-loan.html "No Collateral, No Problem: Here is What You Need to Know to Secure a Business Loan") staff. It [currently has 58,000 workers](https://www.financedigest.com/more-than-half-of-workers-are-open-to-leaving-their-current-employers.html "MORE THAN HALF OF WORKERS ARE OPEN TO LEAVING THEIR CURRENT EMPLOYERS") at and around the airport, 10,000 fewer than before the pandemic. \\*\\* Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports in Paris [need to fill 4,000 jobs mainly in security](https://www.financedigest.com/the-three-must-haves-of-cyber-security-that-you-need-to-stay-cyber-safe.html "The three “must haves” of cyber security that you need to stay cyber safe"), maintenance and travel retail, according to airport operator Groupe ADP and the CDG Alliance. More than 20,000 people were laid off at Charles de Gaulle during the pandemic, according to the CGT union. Airport security company ICTS, which operates at Charles de Gaulle, is [offering a one-off](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-european-companies-offer-one-off-bonuses-hike-pay-amid-cost-of-living-crisis.html "Factbox-European companies offer one-off bonuses, hike pay amid cost-of-living crisis") 180-euro bonus to those delaying their vacation until after Sept. 15 and 150 euros for [staff who sign](https://www.financedigest.com/why-training-your-staff-is-key-in-spotting-the-warning-signs-of-a-cybersecurity-breach.html "Why training your staff is key in spotting the warning signs of a cybersecurity breach") up new recruits, according to a CGT union representative. \\*\\* Frankfurt Airport, Germany’s busiest hub, has rehired nearly 1,000 ground services employees after cutting about 4,000 during the pandemic, but will continue to [see disruptions due to lack of workers in the next](https://www.financedigest.com/britains-next-sees-lower-profit-in-2023-as-consumer-outlook-darkens.html "Britain’s Next sees lower profit in 2023 as consumer outlook darkens") two or three months, its operator Fraport has said. Germany plans to fast-track [work permits and visas for several thousand foreign airport workers](https://www.financedigest.com/1-in-5-uk-workers-believe-there-is-a-gender-divide-with-work-uniforms.html " 1 in 5 UK workers believe there is a gender divide with work uniforms"), mainly from Turkey, to help to ease the travel chaos. According to the ADV airport association, about one in five [jobs in security](https://www.financedigest.com/uncertainty-driving-job-security-and-financial-security-worries.html "Uncertainty ‘Driving Job Security And Financial Security Worries’"), check-in and aircraft handling is unfilled at German airports. ($1 = 0.9933 euros) (Reporting by Klaus Lauer in Berlin, Juliette Portala and Caroline Paillez in Paris, Toby Sterling in Amsterdam, Paul Sandle in London and Reuters bureaus; Compiled by Boleslaw Lasocki, Antonis Triantafyllou, Tiago Brandao and Marie Mannes in Gdansk; Editing by David Evans, Bernadette Baum and Milla Nissi) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---