Jet2 has vowed to maintain Christmas and new year flights in the face of eight days of strike action by Border Force staff.
Virgin Atlantic also plans to operate its schedule as planned with further updates provided once the scale and impact of the strikes materialises.
Staff at six airports will stage walkouts from December 23 to Boxing Day and from December 28 to new year’s eve, triggering a warning from home secretary Suella Braverman of “serious disruption” to travel.
But the boss of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, the UK’s second largest tour operating group, sent out a defiant message in response to the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union strike which affects three of its ten departure airports – Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester.
Chief executive Steve Heapy said: “We are aware of the strike action, and we would like to let our customers and industry partners know that we very much intend to operate our full schedule of flights throughout the festive period, including on the dates when strike action is taking place.
“Our customers have worked hard to make precious holiday plans, including seeing family and friends, over the festive period.
“Our teams will work tirelessly to make sure we fly everyone to and from their destinations so that they can enjoy those well-deserved holidays.”
Other airlines are working on contingency plans in an effort to minimise disruption.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “We’re aware of planned strike action by UK Border Force staff between 23-26 and 28-31 December and continue to work closely with government and industry to support contingency planning and minimise disruption.
“Our customers’ journeys over the festive period are our priority and we’re focussed on supporting their travel plans, keeping them updated on any potential disruption at the border.”
The strikes come at one of the peak travel periods and coincide with walkouts by train and rail workers.
It is the first Christmas since 2019 that airlines have been able to operate without widespread Covid travel restrictions.
Around 1,000 PCS union members – including staff working in passport control – are taking industrial action after the Home Office offered workers a 2% pay rise instead of 10% being demanded.
The government has put 600 army personnel and civil servants on standby to carry out border checks.
Murray Burnett, managing director of Scottish TMC Munro’s Travel, said: “Around two million seats on an estimated 10,000 flights are scheduled for arrival during the strike period at the affected airports and Heathrow is expected to be the worst hit. Manchester airport has already said it may need to cancel some flights.
“The airports will pull out all the stops to cope with the transit of travellers through passport control during this action, but there will undoubtedly be delays, and possibly, cancellations.
“Delays and cancellations are never good news, but these impacts reach further at this time of year as workers aim to get home to their families for Christmas.
“At the same time as the Border Force action, there will be days of national rail strikes too. And, in the week before these strikes, baggage handlers at Heathrow will also be on a three-day strike.
“Our team is expecting a busy period as we’ll be on standby to assist and support our clients through strike days across the festive holidays.”
A spokesperson for the Airports Operators Association said: “UK airports have worked tirelessly to tackle several challenges since the reopening of international travel in order to provide a high level of service to passengers.
“The decision of Border Force staff to take industrial action is disappointing. We urge Border Force, the Home Office, and all government departments to get back around the table to resolve these strikes before they begin or put in place concrete and deliverable contingency measures to keep the border operating smoothly.”