# Factbox-Europe’s summer travel chaos Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-07-26 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Airlines Face Flight Cancellations & Labour Strikes - Meta Description: Discover how staff shortages and strikes are impacting major airlines, causing cancellations and delays, affecting thousands of passengers. URL: https://financedigest.com/factbox-europes-summer-travel-chaoshtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-07-11t134942z1lynxmpei6a0jxrtroptp4airlines-iata-travel-disruption-1736815533510-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. \\*\\* Heathrow Hundreds of British Airway staff based at Heathrow voted on July 22 to call off [strike action after accepting a 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") offer. The day before, a three-day [strike by refuellers at Britain’s](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") busiest airport was suspended after the employees received a revised offer, a labour union said. \\*\\* French airports [French unions](https://www.financedigest.com/french-uber-drivers-to-earn-more-than-8-per-ride-after-union-deal.html "French Uber drivers to earn more than per ride after union deal") said on July 19 they had reached wage accords for ground staffers after three months of negotiations. The agreement will result in a more than 6% salary [increase for some lower salary ranges, while higher-level jobs will see an increase of around](https://www.financedigest.com/polyimide-fibers-market-is-expected-to-increase-at-a-healthy-cagr-of-around-5-over-the-forecast-period-of-2021-2031.html "Polyimide Fibers Market is expected to increase at a healthy CAGR of around 5% over the forecast period of 2021-2031") 1% to 5%. \\*\\* SAS AB SAS and pilot [unions reached a 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") deal on July 19, ending a 15-day strike that grounded 3,700 flights and put the carrier’s future in doubt. The airline, which filed for U.S. bankruptcy protection on the second day of the strike, said the [industrial action had cost it more than $145 million and affected 380,000 passengers](https://www.financedigest.com/german-new-passenger-car-registrations-up-3-in-august-industry-source.html "German new passenger car registrations up 3% in August – industry source"). \\*\\* KLM The Dutch arm of [Air France](https://www.financedigest.com/air-france-cancels-55-of-short-medium-haul-flights-sept-16-due-to-strike.html "Air France cancels 55% of short, medium-haul flights Sept. 16 due to strike") KLM and unions said on July 14 they had come to a collective labour agreement after weeks of unrest. The agreement includes a two-step pay increase totalling 4% for ground crew with a [minimum](https://www.financedigest.com/greece-to-increase-minimum-wage-again-before-election.html "Greece to increase minimum wage again, before election") monthly increase of 80 euros ($80.5) before tax in each phase. \\*\\* Lufthansa More than 130,000 passengers could be affected from a one-day walkout scheduled on July 27 by Lufthansa’s ground staff. The German flagship carrier said it would [cancel over 1,000 flights](https://www.financedigest.com/southwest-cancels-thousands-more-flights-u-s-government-vows-scrutiny.html "Southwest cancels thousands more flights; U.S. government vows scrutiny") scheduled for that day, and that there could be a few more cancellations and delays on July 28 and 29. Ground staff said they would [stage the one-day strike](https://www.financedigest.com/british-nurses-to-stage-first-strikes-on-dec-15-20.html "British nurses to stage first strikes on Dec. 15, 20") for a 9.5% pay increase. The strike will run from 3.45 a.m. (0145 GMT) on July 27 until 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) on July 28. \\*\\* Ryanair Ryanair said on [July 21 it reached a five-year agreement with labour unions representing pilots in France and in Spain](https://www.financedigest.com/in-renewed-push-spain-to-tender-eu-funds-for-evs-batteries-in-july.html "In renewed push, Spain to tender EU funds for EVs, batteries in July"). The agreements include a [return to pre-COVID salaries and “allow wage improvements and other benefits beyond the full return to salaries for Ryanair pilots based in France and in Spain,”](https://www.financedigest.com/mallorca-emerges-as-this-years-summer-hotspot-as-british-buyers-return-to-spain-in-their-masses.html "MALLORCA EMERGES AS THIS YEAR’S SUMMER HOTSPOT AS BRITISH BUYERS RETURN TO SPAIN IN THEIR MASSES") the airline said. \\*\\* Easyjet Spain-based cabin crew at Easyjet in Spain [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 also set to strike again between July 29-31 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. On July 18, flights to and from [Britain’s London Luton airport were temporarily disrupted after soaring](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-delays-major-rail-project-hs2-as-costs-soar-again.html "Britain delays major rail project HS2 as costs soar again") temperatures caused a defect in its runway, prompting airlines to delay or divert their planes. Heathrow on July 12 asked airlines 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. The British government launched an “Aviation Passenger Charter” on July 17 to help passengers know what to do if they are confronted with cancellations, delays or [missing baggage with guidance](https://www.financedigest.com/takeover-target-thg-misses-downgraded-2022-earnings-guidance.html "Takeover-target THG misses downgraded 2022 earnings guidance") on how to complain if they feel they have been treated unfairly. 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/combating-the-security-risk-of-remote-working.html "Combating the security risk of remote working ") 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](https://www.financedigest.com/europe-power-firms-need-1-5-trillion-euros-in-margin-calls-equinor-says.html "Europe power firms need 1.5 trillion euros in margin calls, Equinor says") to hire 500 security 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-financial-services-industry-needs-to-get-serious-about-cyber-security-in-the-covid-19-era.html "The financial services industry needs to get serious about cyber security in the Covid-19 era"), 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](https://www.financedigest.com/payment-security-compliance-declines-only-1-in-3-companies-globally-make-the-grade.html "Payment security compliance declines – only 1 in 3 companies globally make the grade") ICTS, which operates at Charles de Gaulle, is offering a one-off 180-euro bonus to those delaying their vacation until after Sept. 15 and 150 euros for staff who sign 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](https://www.financedigest.com/meta-plans-to-cut-thousands-of-jobs-as-soon-as-this-week-bloomberg-news.html "Meta plans to cut thousands of jobs as soon as this week – Bloomberg News") foreign airport workers, 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 and Bernadette Baum) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---