The underlying reasons for these strikes include high inflation, rising cost of living, and efforts to protect workers' rights and working conditions. In 2023, flight delays and cancellations were exacerbated by regular strikes across the UK and Western Europe involving airline staff, air traffic controllers, security personnel, and baggage handlers. These strikes posed challenges for flight planning and scheduling.
Airlines often receive early warnings about their own staff's strikes but can be affected by airport or other external strikes as well. This can force them to cancel additional flights at the last minute to comply with reduced capacity requirements.
These flight delays and cancellations significantly impact passengers who are often not eligible for full compensation. Airlines are generally obligated to provide care and alternative flight arrangements during strike actions but not necessarily further financial compensation unless under EU or UK law where direct strike action by their staff may qualify.
In February this year, thousands of flight attendants across three unions picketed in front of 30 US, UK, and Guam airports demanding fair contracts with significant pay increases. According to the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), new agreements are overdue. This historic action saw 100,000 flight attendants at 24 airlines currently in contract negotiations protest in unison.
Flight attendants have faced unruly passenger behavior and short staffing as the industry returns to profitability post-pandemic. At several US airlines including American Airlines Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc., Southwest Airlines Co., flight attendants seek new contracts focusing on boarding pay among other concerns. Delta is the only major airline that has offered half pay during boarding starting in 2022.
“Delta management announced this evening that Flight Attendants will be paid for boarding,” stated AFA representatives. “It seems they are feeling the heat.”
Flight attendants perform life-saving work daily from responding to medical emergencies to de-escalating conflicts or fighting fires.
Pilots’ demands for higher pay and better schedules have also led to labor disputes recently. On June 29th hundreds of Aer Lingus pilots participated in an eight-hour strike at Dublin Airport over pay disputes causing significant traffic disruption around the airport resulting in cancellation of about 120 flights affecting approximately 17 thousand passengers.
Overall unrest within commercial aviation due primarily due labor demands along side other factors like extreme weather & pandemic recovery highlights how essential roles such as those performed by both pilots & flight attendants face ongoing negotiation challenges even while ensuring safety & operational continuity remains priority amidst industry dynamics evolving continuously post-pandemic era
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