The threat of strikes scheduled by airport workers this month across seven major airports in the UK has ended following an agreement union officials and BAA management in a row over pension schemes .
The decision to scrap the strikes will bring a great deal of relief to around 1.3 million travellers who would have been heavily affected by the dispute.
The strikes, scheduled for January 14 and 17, would have crippled Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports, and resulted in delays and cancellations for the days either side of the strike due to the realigning of staff .
A planned walkout by thousands of firefighters, security and clerical workers on January 7 had already been cancelled just before Christmas but the threat of further stoppages remained.
The Unite union said representatives from airports decided at a meeting to accept an agreement to hold "proper consultations" over the future of BAA's pension scheme before any changes are made.
However, some January air travellers will still face disruption due to planned strike by cabin crew members of Virgin Atlantic . The two 48-hour strikes are scheduled for January 9/10 and January 16/17.
Three flights on each day have been cancelled by the airline due to the strikes and include flights between London and New York, Chicago, Boston and Nairobi .
Virgin Atlantic chief executive, Steve Ridgway apologised to passengers whose travel plans may be disrupted and said it was the airline’s "number one priority to get them to their destination" .
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Plans For Airport Strikes Cancelled Fri, 04 Jan 2008      Recommended linksTravel Agents ResourceOnline Holiday Guides BAA Airports Holiday Insurance Quote Virgin Atlantic Flights Eurostar Services Halted By French Strikes More Airport Chaos As British Airways Faces Half Term Strikes UK Airports Still Prone To Delays |
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