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ARCHIVED - UK strikes cause serious disruption to Spain travel plans
Significant delays are expected on flights from the UK to Spain over Christmas
Christmas week has got off to a shaky start in the UK as industrial actions has been scheduled by several key services, with everyone from nurses and ambulance drivers to Royal Mail going on strike in the coming days. But the biggest impact will again been seen in the airports, with the authorities warning of significant delays and chaotic queues at passport control and security.
Scenes of bedlam witnessed this summer look set to be repeated at Heathrow and Gatwick as Border Force staff have announced eight days of industrial action over Christmas. Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester airports, as well as Newhaven port, have also joined the fray.
The UK government has warned travellers to expect “serious disruption” when they arrive at the airport while bosses at Heathrow are predicting that passport checks will take significantly longer.
The work stoppages will take place during key dates over the holiday period: between December 23 and 16 and again from December 28 to 31.
In anticipation of the strikes, both Virgin Atlantic and British Airways have stopped selling flights to Heathrow during the affected days, so travellers hoping for a last-minute Christmas trip are out of luck.
Even getting to and from the airport could be a hassle, since the RMT rail workers’ union has called further strikes between December 24 and 27, and bus drivers in Battersea, Beddington, Hayes, Southall, Twickenham and Walworth will down tools over a pay dispute on Christmas Eve.
Those hoping to send a Christmas card or care package to Spain in lieu of a visit will also need to make alternative arrangements, since Royal Mail has scheduled its next round of strikes on some of the busiest days of the year: December 23 and 24. On these days, first and second-class letters won’t be delivered, post offices and customer service points will remain shut and letters won’t be collected from any of Royal Mail’s post boxes.
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