Airport workers vote for strike

Airport workers belonging to the Unite trade union have voted in favour of a strike, meaning ferry crossings could once again provide a valuable alternative to flights later this year.

Unite announced that it had balloted more than 6,100 staff at the six UK airports operated by BAA - Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh - and 74 per cent voted in favour of industrial action.

The dispute relates to pay, with the trade union dismissing BAA's offer of a one per cent salary increase for employees as "derisory".

Brendan Gold, Unite's national officer for civil aviation, said: "BAA is doing passengers a great disservice by allowing this dispute to get to this stage. We are therefore calling on BAA to return to the negotiating table with a fair offer."

Dates for any planned strikes are yet to be announced and the airport operator is arguing that the ballot result does not provide a "clear mandate" for industrial action.

People planning a trip from the UK to Europe later this year can avoid any uncertainty relating to flights by travelling by ferry.

Both P&O Ferries and SeaFrance provide quick and easy access to Europe via the Dover to Calais ferry route, while Stena Line offers ferries from Harwich to Hook of Holland.

Travellers heading to Ireland can also go by sea with operators such as Irish Ferries and Norfolkline.

Posted by Andrew Smith