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It’s a tough time to be working in the aviation industry. Faced with staff shortages and huge levels of disruption, many workers at airlines and airports are facing long, stressful hours and poor working conditions. And, thanks to the cost of living crisis, loads of them are doing it all for lower wages, too.
Needless to say, it’s no wonder that so many staff at airports and airlines have been going on strike. From Italy and Belgium to Greece and France, airports across Europe have seen thousands of flights delayed and cancelled by industrial action.
Strikes can, of course, have a serious impact on your holiday, so it’s best to be as informed about them as possible. Read on for our guide to who’s going on strike in Europe right now, where and when those strikes will happen – and whether you need to worry about them.
Pilot and cabin crew strikes in Germany
At 12.01am on Thursday February 12, Deutsche Lufthansa AG cancelled hundreds of flights as part of a one-day walkout by pilots and flight attendants protesting a delay in contract negotiations.
To mitigate the disruption, Lufthansa has tried to rebook passengers onto other group airlines such as Austrian Airlines, Eurowings and Swiss, but according to Bloomberg, the German Airport Association estimated that more than 460 flights have been cancelled, and a whopping 69,000 passengers affected.
Nationwide airport strikes in Italy
On Monday February 16, severe disruption is expected to affect air transport in Italy, which is particularly frustrating news for those travelling to the Winter Olympics.
A 24-hour walkout by staff – including pilots, flight attendants, and ground staff – of flagship airline ITA Airways has been planned, and flights across Italy’s major hubs such as Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Rome Fiumicino, Venice Marco Polo and Verona Valerio Catullo Airport, will be hit.
Italian law states that there are time slots (between 7-10am and 6-9pm) within which services must operate, but according to euronews, 70 percent of the 314 flights scheduled for that day are outside those hours.
Vueling Airlines flight attendants are also expected to walk out on the same day, as are airport handling ground staff at Linate and Malpensa. Overall, it’s thought that between 25,000-27,000 passengers could be affected by delays and cancellations.
What happens if your airline goes on strike?
If strikes cause your flight to be delayed or cancelled, the airline is usually obliged to help you and/or provide compensation. However, this often depends on the conditions of your airline – some airlines won’t cover strikes out of their control, such as airport or baggage handler strikes. Your compensation also depends on the extent of your travel insurance. These should both be easily accessed on either your airline or insurer’s website.
If you book your flight already knowing that a strike is set to take place (ie. it’s already been announced by the union), you are exceptionally unlikely to receive compensation. Before you book, be sure to check for any strike dates not just at your intended airline but also at departure and arrival airports.
Of course, it’s worth bearing in mind that the threat of a strike is exactly that: a threat. Strikes are primarily used as bargaining chips in negotiations between unions and employers, so there’s always the chance that both sides will come to an agreement before one actually takes place.
In any case, if your journey involves any of the above airlines, destinations and dates, be sure to keep an eye on your flight status and prepare for a more disrupted journey than expected.
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