The start of the big summer holiday getaway at Heathrow Airport no longer faces the imminent threat of the interruption of a staff strike by an aircraft refueling company.
The Unite union had said its members of Aviation Fuel Services (AFS) would leave from 5am on Thursday until the same time on Sunday in a dispute over payment, which would mean disruptions for passengers using the airlines customers of the company.
They include KLM, Emirates, Virgin, United, Singapore, Air France and Delta.
However, the action was suspended on Wednesday evening when it was found that the company had done what the union described as an “improved” wage offer that had to be put to a new vote.
Although it is not over, the dispute is not over at Heathrow.
He threatened to add to the 2022 problems at the UK’s central airport that have hampered his recovery since the end of the COVID pandemic restrictions.
It has struggled to cope with the return of high demand for international travel due to staff shortages, a headwind that is also affecting the industry in general.
Both airlines and airports have faced criticism for disrupting passengers this year, especially during rush hour, which has seen late notice cancellations, delays and ground service operations, billing and passport control squeak under tension.
While airlines have taken advantage of a government amnesty that allows them to cancel summer flights and minimize the threat of cancellations without the threat of sanctions, Heathrow has had to go further this month. to improve its own reliability.
He revealed, on July 12, that he had told airlines to stop booking new passengers for next summer, while putting a limit on the number of daily passengers leaving.
The action resulted in a cut of 4,000 daily customers.
It has been revealed this week that the capacity limit would be extended until the end of October.
AFS told Sky News that the action, if it had taken place, would have restricted its ability to refuel aircraft.
The airlines it serves said they had made contingency plans in case the strikes had followed.
Although the details of AFS’s new offer were not disclosed, he had previously defended a “collective” proposal which, he said, meant an increase in awards of more than 15.5% during the 2022.
Read more on Sky News: What are the rights of passengers when airlines cancel flights? Two more days of rail strikes are announced
The union had been pushing for more, saying the company’s offer only covered the losses from a three-year wage freeze.
Regional official Kevin Hall said: “Unite has consistently said that AFS was able to make an offer more likely to meet members’ expectations.
“After the assistance of Acas (the conciliation service) an improved offer was made.
“Now partners will have time to consider and vote on the new offer.”
AFS has not yet released a new statement.