Disruption ahead for UK air cargo

Union strikes planned at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) in February are expected to further exacerbate airfreight difficulties stemming from a rising number of COVID-19 infections and Brexit trade hurdles. [caption id="attachment_91096" align="alignright" width="400"] Heathrow Airport, cargo terminal, CargoLogicAir 747-83Q(F) interior of cargo hold, July 2017. Photo courtesy of Heathrow Airport.[/caption] The Unite aviation union, which represents workers with Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL), announced last week that strikes would recommence as of Feb. 5, with additional strikes planned for Feb. 9, 13, 16 and 18. Further strikes are expected in the future, according to Unite. The strike action is a result of HAL’s decision to “fire and rehire its workforce, with workers experiencing permanent pay cuts of up to 25%, or 8,000 pounds ($11,000) a year,” according to a Feb. 4 announcement from Unite. Cargo handlers with British Airways had similar complaints that led to LHR strikes late last year. Workers employed at LHR by British Airways and HAL — workers at both companies are represented by Unite — also went on strike in December , before the Brexit customs changes hit U.K.-EU trade Jan. 1. See also: Brexit’s impact on EU-UK air trade compounded by COVID resurgence Freight forwarders expect the strikes to cause some slowdowns in cargo operations at LHR. The British International Freight Association (BIFA), the U.K. industry organization for freight forwarders, has continued to update its members on strike action at LHR. In its announcement to its member forwarders, BIFA stated that the strike will involve firefighters; engineers; security staff; and baggage, central terminal, landside and airside operations. Meanwhile, during a media call today, David Emerson, vice president of sales and marketing for the EMEA region at SEKO Logistics, said things have been “moving reasonably well at Heathrow in particular” despite the impacts of Brexit and the COVID resurgence. “It was just announced that there’s going to be a strike at Heathrow in the coming weeks, so that’s not going to be ideal,” Emerson said. “But generally, it’s been difficult because of the lack of capacity, so we’re having to be creative with our capacity, with [SEKO VP of Global Air Freight Shawn Richard] and the airfreight team, with charters and part-charters to keep our business moving.”

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Disruption ahead for UK air cargo

More strikes to come at London Heathrow

Your vote is important for the 2021 Air Cargo Excellence Survey

Sustained factory output curbs Chinese New Year airfreight slowdown

Related Posts

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