Strikes by Heathrow ground handlers due to take place over the weekend have been suspended after an improved pay offer from employer Menzies Aviation.
Talks took place on Thursday between Unite union and Menzies, with the 72-hour strike due to start on Friday being suspended as “an act of goodwill” after a new offer of increased pay.
“Unite has been adamant that Menzies was able to offer an improved pay offer and that has proved to be the case,” said the union.
“As an act of goodwill, the strike action scheduled to begin tomorrow has been suspended so that members can be balloted on the new offer.”
Over 400 ground handlers working in terminals two, three and four were expected to walk out, threatening to cause havoc to travellers using Britain’s largest airport.
Menzies previously offered a backdated 4% increase from May and a 6.5% rise in the new year, which was rejected by the handlers and dubbed “miserable” by Unite.
Strikes in November had seen flights from Heathrow disrupted, with American Airlines, Qantas and Lufthansa all hit.
Heathrow has already predicted a busy December, but the suspension of the strikes will be a short-lived relief with walk outs by the handlers still due to go ahead from Thursday 29.
Border force staff will also strike for eight days in December, although Heathrow previously outlined that the vast majority of passengers would be unaffected by this action.