EasyJet Warns of Festive Travel Disruption
Christmas travel plans for thousands of passengers are at risk as DHL check-in and baggage handling staff serving easyJet at London Luton Airport prepare for a six-day strike over pay. The action, involving around 200 Unite members, will hit some of the airport’s busiest travel days, raising fears of widespread delays and cancellations.
Workers will walk out from 03:00 on 19 December to 03:00 on 22 December, and again from 03:00 on 26 December to 03:00 on 29 December. The strike is expected to impact approximately 410 flights, particularly popular routes to Spain, Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic.
The dispute follows DHL’s offer of a 4.5% pay rise, which employees rejected as failing to address low pay and soaring living costs. Unite argues that DHL staff at Gatwick Airport earn around £3 more per hour for the same roles, leaving Luton workers struggling with rising food, fuel and heating bills.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the companies “can comfortably afford” a fair pay increase, pointing to DHL Group’s €1.4bn operating profit in Q2 2025 and easyJet’s forecast of over £700m annual profit. Workers say inadequate wages leave them unable to save or support their families.
With the Civil Aviation Authority predicting the busiest Christmas in UK aviation history, disruption at Luton — which handled 16.2 million passengers in 2023, including 1.2 million in December — could be severe. EasyJet operations are expected to face long delays and potential cancellations throughout the strike period.
Unite regional officer Jeff Hodge said strike action could still be avoided but only if DHL returns to the negotiating table with an acceptable offer.
