الرئيسية
By CASSANDRA VINOGRAD, AP
LONDON (AP) — A nationwide public-sector strike next
Wednesday in Britain threatens to paralyze operations at Heathrow,
Europe's busiest airport.
BAA, the airport's operator, said
Friday 12-hour delays for arriving passengers are likely because the
Nov. 30 strike will hit the U.K. Border Agency's ability to support
normal operations.
An estimated 2 million workers are expected to
protest changes in public-sector pensions with a 24-hour walkout —
billed as potentially the biggest union action since 1979.
The
lines at Heathrow's immigration counters are expected to be so long that
passengers will need to be held on planes, BAA warned.
"This in
turn would quickly create gridlock at the airport, with no available
aircraft parking stands, mass cancellations of departing aircraft and
diversions outside the U.K. for arriving aircraft," Normand Boivin, the
chief operating officer for Heathrow, warned in a letter to airlines.
The
letter, written Thursday and shared with The Associated Press, urged
airlines to reduce the number of passengers they bring in on Nov. 30
because BAA had "reluctantly concluded that the U.K. Border Agency
wouldn't be able to come up with a contingency plan to ensure
business-as-usual."
Boivin said the border agency expects to be functioning at less than 50 percent of normal productivity.
British
Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways both agreed to waive fees for
rebooking flights on Nov. 30 and expressed concern over the strike's
impact on business.
The U.K. Border Agency acknowledged travelers
could see longer waiting times at airports but said it has considered
"all options" to make sure it's prepared for the strike and aims to
minimize any disruptions.
It said the security of Britain's
borders is the agency's top priority, though unions have criticized
moves to draft in civil servants and contractors to cover for striking
immigration officials.
"Our members take two to three months to
train - the idea that people can cover after a few days' training is
absurd," said Mark Serwotka, leader of the Public and Commercial
Services union.
The Home Office said it has undertaken
"significant work" to plan for the strike, which includes training
managers, staff and contractors to the high standards it requires to
carry out border checks and asking staff around the world to provide
additional cover on Nov. 30.
Government ministers have warned the nationwide could cost the economy half a billion pounds and lead to job losses.
Heathrow Airport handles 180,000 passengers on a typical day, according to BAA.
Gatwick
Airport also warned passengers to be prepared for "significant
disruption" at immigration and said it asked carriers to give passengers
the chance to change their flights.
Gatwick's chief operating
officer, Scott Stanley said the airport is working with the border
agency and airlines to put contingency measures in place and ensure
disruptions are kept to a minimum.
"Unfortunately, airport staff
cannot man the desks at the border zone but we will provide all
necessary assistance to the Border Agency and we are determined to make
sure that the needs and welfare of all our passengers will be met on the
day," Stanley said.
LONDON (AP) — A nationwide public-sector strike next
Wednesday in Britain threatens to paralyze operations at Heathrow,
Europe's busiest airport.
BAA, the airport's operator, said
Friday 12-hour delays for arriving passengers are likely because the
Nov. 30 strike will hit the U.K. Border Agency's ability to support
normal operations.
An estimated 2 million workers are expected to
protest changes in public-sector pensions with a 24-hour walkout —
billed as potentially the biggest union action since 1979.
The
lines at Heathrow's immigration counters are expected to be so long that
passengers will need to be held on planes, BAA warned.
"This in
turn would quickly create gridlock at the airport, with no available
aircraft parking stands, mass cancellations of departing aircraft and
diversions outside the U.K. for arriving aircraft," Normand Boivin, the
chief operating officer for Heathrow, warned in a letter to airlines.
The
letter, written Thursday and shared with The Associated Press, urged
airlines to reduce the number of passengers they bring in on Nov. 30
because BAA had "reluctantly concluded that the U.K. Border Agency
wouldn't be able to come up with a contingency plan to ensure
business-as-usual."
Boivin said the border agency expects to be functioning at less than 50 percent of normal productivity.
British
Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways both agreed to waive fees for
rebooking flights on Nov. 30 and expressed concern over the strike's
impact on business.
The U.K. Border Agency acknowledged travelers
could see longer waiting times at airports but said it has considered
"all options" to make sure it's prepared for the strike and aims to
minimize any disruptions.
It said the security of Britain's
borders is the agency's top priority, though unions have criticized
moves to draft in civil servants and contractors to cover for striking
immigration officials.
"Our members take two to three months to
train - the idea that people can cover after a few days' training is
absurd," said Mark Serwotka, leader of the Public and Commercial
Services union.
The Home Office said it has undertaken
"significant work" to plan for the strike, which includes training
managers, staff and contractors to the high standards it requires to
carry out border checks and asking staff around the world to provide
additional cover on Nov. 30.
Government ministers have warned the nationwide could cost the economy half a billion pounds and lead to job losses.
Heathrow Airport handles 180,000 passengers on a typical day, according to BAA.
Gatwick
Airport also warned passengers to be prepared for "significant
disruption" at immigration and said it asked carriers to give passengers
the chance to change their flights.
Gatwick's chief operating
officer, Scott Stanley said the airport is working with the border
agency and airlines to put contingency measures in place and ensure
disruptions are kept to a minimum.
"Unfortunately, airport staff
cannot man the desks at the border zone but we will provide all
necessary assistance to the Border Agency and we are determined to make
sure that the needs and welfare of all our passengers will be met on the
day," Stanley said.