Airport staff are expected to strike at various key European destinations this summer, including in France, Italy and the Netherlands. However, expected strikes at Gatwick airport have been (at least temporarily) postponed.
Here we round up the travel strikes across the UK and Europe in the coming months, with advice on what to do if your plans are affected.
This page will be regularly updated to reflect the latest information, but note that some strikes are announced with little notice.
Travel disruption this summer
Paris: Airports (July 17)
Airport workers at both Roissy-Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports in Paris have called for walkouts on July 17, just 10 days before the beginning of the Olympics. It could cause delays in baggage handling and at check-in, although flights themselves should not be affected.
Italy: Airports (July 21)
Milan Linate and Bergamo Orio al Serio are expected to be hit with strike action on July 21. Delays will be felt most keenly between 1-5pm, in a repeat of a walkout taken earlier in the month by unionised staff. Italy’s transport unions are forbidden from striking during the height of the summer, so further action is not expected.
France: Motorways (throughout the summer)
Those driving throughout France should brace for a series of strikes across the country’s motorways throughout the summer. Protesting a falling number of staff members, workers on both the Autoroutes du Sud (ASF) and Vinci motorways have begun a series of walkouts. Exact dates are unclear, but those expecting to drive on either road should, especially at weekends, be prepared for delays.
Netherlands: Public transport (September 12)
Ahead of a budget announcement by the Dutch government, public transport workers have announced a walkout in the country’s largest cities on September 12. Services in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague will be impacted, with further strikes possible after that date.
What to do if your travel plans are affected by strike action
Before travelling, check whether there are any strikes in your destination and plan accordingly. Localised train strikes, for example, could create issues travelling from the airport upon arrival. Below, we outline your rights for major modes of transport.
Flights
If your flight is delayed or cancelled due to strike action, contact your airline immediately. Airlines are obliged to offer assistance such as food and drink or accommodation for extensive delays due to industrial action. Your airline is also obliged to place you on the next available flight. Or, if the delay lasts for more than five hours, you can withdraw from your flight and ask for a refund.
For flights that are cancelled outright, whether you are entitled to compensation depends on if the strike is considered to be something the airline could control. If so, you will only be entitled to compensation if your carrier informs you your flight is cancelled less than 14 days from the date you’re due to fly. But in the case of European air traffic control strikes, this wouldn’t be seen as the airline’s responsibility.