EasyJet passengers at London Luton face Christmas travel chaos as strikes begin

Thousands of travelers planning to fly with EasyJet this festive season are being warned of significant disruption as industrial action officially commenced at London Luton Airport today. The strike, involving around 200 check-in and baggage handling staff employed by DHL, is set to impact two of the busiest travel periods of the year.

The industrial action is scheduled in two three-day waves: the first began at 3:00 am this morning and will run until 3:00 am on December 22. A second walkout is planned for the post-Christmas period, starting at 3:00 am on December 26 (Boxing Day) and concluding on December 29. Union members from Unite called for the strike following a dispute over pay, arguing that current wages have not kept pace with the rising cost of living and trailing behind rates at other major London hubs like Gatwick.

While EasyJet has stated it aims to operate its full schedule using contingency measures, experts warn that delays, cancellations, and longer-than-usual queues at check-in and baggage drop are highly likely. With over 400 flights potentially affected during the six days of action, passengers are being strongly advised to check their flight status before traveling to the airport.

For the Turkish community in London planning visits to family or holiday breaks, this disruption comes at a particularly difficult time when airports are already at peak capacity. Travelers are reminded that under current regulations, they may be entitled to compensation, alternative routing, or refreshments if their flights are significantly delayed or canceled due to internal staff industrial action.