Europe’s summer travel chaos

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. 

Labour unrest

After sweeping job cuts and pay 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 per cent pay rise for pilots among other benefits, in a sign of what other airlines may have to offer to avoid labour strife. 

Scandinavian carrier SAS and Ireland’s Ryanair in July agreed terms with some unions representing their pilots, while British Airways and KLM signed wage deals with ground staffers, as strikes affected hundreds of thousands of travellers in the key holiday period.

Pilots at the German flagship carrier voted on July 31 in favour of industrial action. Pilot’s union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) board member Marcel Groels said the vote did not necessarily mean a strike would happen and that they were ready to negotiate. VC is demanding a 5.5 per cent pay rise this year for its pilots and automatic inflation compensation thereafter. 

Lufthansa was already rocked by strike action by its ground staff on July 27, which forced it to cancel more than 1,000 flights. Labour union Verdi is demanding a 9.5 per cent pay hike for around 20,000 workers and warned more industrial action could be on the cards. 

Ryanair

Ryanair’s Spanish cabin crew union members plan to strike four days a week until January to press demands for higher pay and better working conditions, the USO union said on July 27. The strike action, 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 during July, when they walked out for several days, mainly on weekends.

Easyjet

Spain-based pilots at Easyjet said on July 29 that they will strike for nine days in August. The pilots will strike from the bases in Barcelona, Malaga and Palma in Mallorca.