Strike threat at Stansted averted as airport reports record April

Staff who handle passengers with disabilities at Stansted have dropped a strike threat after accepting an improved pay offer.

 

About 100 employees of airport services firm ABM at the airport were due to walk out earlier this month in a dispute over income.

 

They have now accepted a two-year pay deal, including a 3.8% increase, backdated to November 2025, plus an additional one per cent from this month.

 

The workers will have a pay rise of 3.5% in year two and will also receive a £350 pro rata payment this year, according to the Unite union.

 

They had previously rejected a pay offer of 2%.

 

Unite regional officer Steve Edwards said: "These workers do a vital job at Stansted and we are glad the employer recognised this following extensive negotiations.

 

"Unite is very happy to have secured this deal for our members at ABM, which guarantees pay rises for two years."

 

The resolution of the dispute came as Stansted reported its busiest ever April driven by a “bumper” Easter travel period.

 

The airport handled more than 2.6 million passengers during the month, up 3.2% year on year and beating the previous April high set last year by 80,000.

 

The school holiday period saw up to 1.5 million passengers use Stansted, with almost 400,000 flying across the bank holiday weekend alone.

 

The conflict in the Middle East did impact some services, including a double daily Emirates service to Dubai, meaning fewer flights operated to the region during the period than normal. 

 

Spain, Italy and Turkey as the most popular countries visited during the month with the top individual destinations being Dublin, Istanbul and Edinburgh.

 

Stansted’s rolling total for the 12-months ending April reached 30.1 million, an increase of 0.5% on the previous year.  

 

Operations director Nick Millar said: “Last month was another example of the great choice and value we offer passengers, coupled with a smooth and reliable airport experience, continuing to drive strong passenger demand, particularly over the busy Easter holidays.

 

“Even with a record number of passengers using London Stansted in April, I’m delighted we were able to deliver a really very strong operational performance, both on the airfield and in the terminal, thanks to the dedication and teamwork shown by colleagues right across the airport.

 

“We are now focussed on the half-term holidays later this month and maintaining a reliable airport operation as we prepare for hundreds of thousands of people to head away on holiday and welcome overseas visitors choosing London Stansted as their gateway to London, the east of England and beyond.”