Heathrow has said that strikes failed to cause any delays or cancellations in May, as the UK’s busiest airport reported a jump in passenger numbers year on year.
“Heathrow has successfully managed eight days of strikes during the busiest days in May with no delays at security and no flight cancellations,” the airport updated on Monday.
6.7mln passengers passed through the airport’s four terminals during the month, a jump of 26% compared to May 2022, aided by the month’s three bank holidays, Heathrow reported.
Passenger numbers were just 0.6% off pre-pandemic numbers too, with the airport falling just 41,644 people shy of hitting May 2019’s figures.
Strikes by security staff have threatened to hit holidaymakers on several days so far this year as workers from Unite union seek a pay rise in line with the retail price index rate of 11.4%.
Having rejected an offer of a 10.1% increase, Unite announced a further 31 days of industrial action by some 2,000 staff from Terminals Three and Five over the coming months last week.
Strikes will take place on five days between June 24 and 30, then again for 11 days between mid and late July, before an intensified 15 days of action throughout August.
However, Heathrow downplayed the effects of the strikes, hailing the airport’s “strong contingency resource,” which has involved military and civil service workers in the past.
“We have been building that contingency team ahead of the summer season and do not anticipate cancellations as a result of any future strike action,” the airport added.