The union Unite had said its Aviation Fuel Services (AFS) members would walk out from 5am on Thursday until the same time on Sunday in a dispute over pay, causing problems for passengers using the airline company customer companies. They include KLM, Emirates, Virgin, United, Singapore, Air France and Delta. But the action was suspended on Wednesday afternoon when it emerged that the company had made what the union described as an “improved” pay offer which was to be put to a new vote. Although it is not over, the controversy is not Heathrow’s. It threatened to add to the UK’s hub airport’s problems in 2022 that have marred its recovery after 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 wider industry. Airlines and airports have faced criticism for disrupting passengers this year, especially at peak times, with late-notice cancellations, delays and operations at ground services, check-in and passport control cracking under the strain. While airlines have benefited from a government amnesty that allows them to cancel summer flights and minimize the threat of cancellations without facing penalties, 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 the coming summer, while putting a cap on the number of daily departing passengers. The action amounted to a cut of 4,000 customers daily. This week it was revealed that the capacity cap will be extended until the end of October. AFS told Sky News that the action, if it had gone ahead, would have limited its ability to refuel planes. The airlines it serves said they had made contingency plans in case the strikes went ahead. While details of the new AFS offer have not been disclosed, it has previously defended a “collective” proposal which it said was equivalent to an award increase of more than 15.5% in 2022. Read more on Sky News: What are passengers’ rights when airlines cancel flights? Two more days of rail strike announced The union had pushed for more, saying the company’s offer only covered damages from a three-year wage freeze. Regional officer Kevin Hall said: “Unite has consistently said that the AFS was able to make an offer more likely to meet members’ expectations. “After the help of Acas (the conciliation agency) an improved offer was made. “Members will now be given time to consider and vote on the new offer.” AFS has yet to issue a new statement.
