Heathrow security strikes threaten Easter holidays

FAMILIES are facing Easter holiday chaos as Heathrow security guards prepare to strike for ten days after talks broke down.

Since Heathrow bosses failed to reach an agreement with union Unite, thousands of travellers could see flights to and from Britain’s busiest airport cancelled.

More than 1,000 security workers based at Terminal 5 are set to walk out and flagship airline British Airways is set to cancel over 300 flights from this Friday until Easter Sunday (April 9).

Meanwhile a further 400 members of Heathrow’s campus security team are also set to walk out – which could lead to further disruption across other terminals.

The dispute is over a 10 per cent pay rise, which Unite say is a cut in real terms. Last night experts warned further walkouts could put holidaymakers off from booking future trips. Paul Charles, of travel consultancy the PC Agency, said: ‘Travellers will need nerves of steel over the coming weeks to cope with the various strikes.’ A BA spokesman said it had ‘apologised to customers’.