The king’s coronation long weekend and spring bank holiday are being targeted in the latest round of strikes by security staff at Heathrow.
Workers plan to walk out on May 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10 and then again on May 25, 26, 27 in a row over pay.
The eight days of industrial action in a dispute over pay, labelled as ‘May mayhem’ by the Unite union, could affect more than one million passengers, according to aviation data firm Cirium.
It calculated that a total of 5,148 flights are scheduled to depart from the UK’s busiest airport over the strike period – equating to over 1.1 million seats.
Of these flights, 2,621 (51%) are due to be operated by British Airways.
The coronation service at Westminster Abbey takes place on May 6 ahead of a bank holiday on May 8, following by the spring bank holiday on May 29.
Unite warned of “inevitable disruption and delays” at the airport.
The 1,400 security officers took 10 days of strike action over Easter, with the union claiming that “hundreds” of flights had to be cancelled.
Unite regional co-ordinating officer Wayne King said: “Strikes next month will cause further disruption to airport passengers but this dispute is a direct result of Heathrow’s stubborn refusal to make an offer that meets our members’ expectations.
“Our members have been crystal clear they are seeking a substantial permanent increase in pay. A small one-off lump sum payment will not alleviate the financial pressures our members are facing on a daily basis.”
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “We kept Heathrow running smoothly during the first 10 days of Unite’s failed industrial action, and passengers can have confidence that we will do so again this time.
“We will not let Unite disrupt the flow of visitors to the UK during such an important period for he country.
“Instead of chasing headlines, Unite should listen to its members. The majority of Heathrow colleagues do not want to strike and want to accept the offer on the table.
“Each day that Unite refuses to allow members to vote on the 10% pay increase and a £1,150 lump sum payment is a day that costs colleagues money they deserve now.”
Unite has also warned of summer travel disruption in Scotland due to a separate pay dispute involving security staff at Glasgow airport.