A Eurowings plane landing at Heathrow airport in London (Steve Parsons/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)A strike by ground handlers at Heathrow which would have caused half-term travel chaos has been called off.
Members of Unite employed by Menzies Aviation were due to walk out for three days from Friday.
The union said the strike would no longer go ahead after the 400 workers received a “substantial” pay offer.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is an excellent result for our members at Menzies Aviation who have overturned two years of pay freezes to secure significant increases.
“It shows what workers can achieve when they stand together in a union.”
The strike was likely to spark severe travel disruption for British Airways and other Heathrow Airlines.
One group of the affected Menzies workers provided ground handling and passenger services for a host of airlines including Aer Lingus, American and Lufhansa.
The other is responsible for refuelling British Airways planes.
The Standard has contacted Menzies for comment.
According to the union, the accepted deal will mean a seven per cent increase of pay backdated to 1 January 2022 for ground handlers.
Meanwhile, BA and Joint Venture refuelling workers are set to receive lump sum payment of £3,000, said the union.
A Heathrow Airport spokeswoman said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming passengers for the half-term getaway after a disappointing Christmas due to Omicron.”
