Strikes at Gatwick Airport in July 2024: Dates and airlines affected

Strikes are an unfortunate but necessary part of the working world. Without strikes, we would never have had things like the five-day work week, paid holidays or the right to sick leave. Strikes have done a lot of good for all of us – but they can still be very annoying when they get in the way.

If you are leaving for your holiday in July from London Gatwick, the UK’s second busiest airport, you should be aware that over 100 security staff are planning to walk off the job for several days in July. They are doing so under the pretext of better pay and will cause significant disruption to airport security.

As always with industrial action, there is a chance that the union and the company may reach an agreement before the strike. We will let you know if there is any news on this.

Until then, here’s everything you need to know about the strikes at Gatwick this summer.

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🇪🇺 All the strikes at European airports you need to be aware of right now.
🚝 When is the next rail strike? Dates and affected lines in June 2024.

When will the strikes at Gatwick Airport take place?

The strikes will last six days July 12, 13, 14and then July 19, 20 And 21On these days, passengers may experience “significant delays” at security checkpoints and in customer services such as check-in.

Why are the workers striking?

According to Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite union, which is responsible for organising the strike, the workers are “simply concerned about a fair day’s wage”.

“ICTS and Wilson James are wealthy companies and can afford to make acceptable pay offers. Our members at Gatwick have the full support of Unite in striking for a decent pay rise.”

Which airlines will be affected by the strikes at Gatwick?

In a way, all of them and yet none at all. The strikers mainly work for security companies. The effects affect passengers of all airlines, but not the airlines themselves.

However, 100 truck drivers at Easyjet’s warehouse could also go on strike, meaning Easyjet customers could face further delays or disruptions to their journeys.

Will flights be cancelled?

No, flights should not be cancelled. The striking staff will not stop flights from taking off or landing again, but Gatwick has said customers should continue to check the latest information from their airline in case it changes.

Will I get compensation if a flight is affected by strikes?

If your flight is delayed for a certain period of time, you may be entitled to compensation. These periods are:

• Less than 1,500 km: 2 hours delay
• Between 1,500 km and 3,500 km: 3 hours delay
• More than 3,500 km: 4 hours delay

For more information about your compensation rights, including the amount of compensation you may be entitled to and how to claim, click here.

What has been said about the strikes so far?

Dominic Rothwell, a regional representative for Unite, said that “these disputes could easily be resolved if reasonable offers were put forward.”

“There is still time to avoid industrial action, but to do so, companies must put agreements on the table that are acceptable to our members.”

Gatwick, however, said it was “working with our suppliers to avoid any impact. We expect to be able to operate a normal summer holiday schedule for our airlines and passengers on these days.” However, Gatwick hopes that “Wilson James, ICTS and their union can reach a solution by then.”

Are there any other strikes you should watch out for?

If you’re flying to Europe, you may want to make sure your outbound flight isn’t affected by the strikes at European airports. You can find out more here.

That being said, it’s always good to follow the ongoing rail strikes here in the UK and luckily we have an industrial action centre for just that purpose, which you can view here.

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