London Gatwick Airport strikes in May half term and June 2025: full list of dates and airlines affected

Time Out

06-05-2025

This time of year, Britain's airports get pretty rammed. Following the four-day Easter weekend and three-day early May bank holiday, thousands and thousands of Brits have trips planned over the coming months.
Anyone travelling abroad should prepare for big crowds and long queues during May half term (May 26-30). But if you've got plans to take off from London Gatwick in that time, you should be extra organised. Staff strikes are set to throw a spanner in the works.
Over the coming weeks, plane refuellers working for Redline Oil Services Ltd and staff (including baggage handlers, check-in staff and flight dispatchers) at Red Handling will go on strike, with some overlapping dates of industrial action.
Here's everything you need to know about the strikes planned at the Gatwick over May and June 2025.
When are the Gatwick strikes?
Redline's refuellers are set to strike over two periods: Friday May 16 to Tuesday May 20, and Friday May 23 to Tuesday May 27.
Strikes at Red Handling (which are unrelated to those at Redline) are on May 11, 18 and 25 and June 2.
Why are Gatwick staff striking?
Unite, which is the union for both groups of striking staff, has said workers are paid poorly and treated badly, with general secretary Sharon Graham saying:
'Workers at both companies have had enough of poor pay offers and appalling treatment from their employers and it is little surprise they are taking strike action. We will back our members at Red Handling and Redline all the way during these disputes.'
Red Handling is also facing accusations from Unite that workers are having problems with pensions, and that they struggle to take breaks. Unite also accuses the company of using union-busting tactics – which Red Handling denies (more on that below)
Which airlines will be affected?
Unite has predicted that the strikes will cause major delays and cancellations at Gatwick.
Notably, Gatwick is the largest UK hub of easyJet. The airport is also a big base for Ryanair.
Travellers can also expect to face long queues and delays and disruptions at check-in, so make sure to leave plenty of time ahead of when your flight's due to take off.
Can I get compensation if a flight is affected by strikes?
Experts have warned that airlines aren't obliged to offer financial compensation for delays caused by the strikes. Baggage handlers and flight dispatchers aren't directly employed by airlines, so the strikes are considered an 'extraordinary circumstance' and out of their control.
Airlines still have a duty of care and are expected to organise refunds or replacement flights for their customers if there are major delays. They should also cover your food and accommodation if you need it while you wait to be placed on an alternative flight.
What have employers and Gatwick Airport said about the strikes?
A Gatwick spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the proposed industrial action from Red Handling and Redline Oil, and are working closely with both parties, and our airlines, to minimise impacts to passengers. Of course, we hope Red Handling, Redline Oil and their unions can reach a resolution before then.'
A Red Handling executive spokesperson told Surrey Live that it was 'committed to ensuring fair and equitable pay' and that the firm works hard to 'ensure adequate breaks and downtime for our team, which go far beyond UK compliance requirements'.
The lengthy statement continued: 'The atmosphere within the business is positive and we continue to work closely with our staff to embrace new and innovative ways to further boost morale. For example, we will be holding an appreciation event for all RED Handling team members later this month.
'While we have inherited a complex pensions scenario, which resulted in a small number of payments being delayed for a small number of staff, all contributions are now up to date. What's more, we have voluntarily undertaken an internal audit on pay and benefits, which remains on track to conclude by Saturday 10 May. Throughout the process, staff have been kept fully up-to-date with progress and are aware of the associated timescales.
'Having kept regular communication lines open with Unite representatives, we are disappointed to read purported claims of union busting tactics. This is categorically not the case. We always have, and always will, treat each and every team member – both represented and non-represented – with the utmost care and respect. Return to work processes following previous industrial action were conducted as per UK labour guidance, alongside robust welfare procedures. There have been no reports or internal complaints received about the mistreatment of staff.
'What's more, we disagree with comments made about the employment of agency workers to cover the recent series of strikes. Like many of our competitors, we use temporary staff to support our business in terms of high demand. During the Bank Holiday Weekend, however, no agency workers were used by RED Handling.
'Finally, we would like to clarify that RED Handling and Redline Oil are not associated businesses, with the overlap in industrial action unrelated. Over the past few weeks, we are pleased to have resolved almost every point raised by Unite on behalf of our staff and have been very honest and transparent with our employees throughout. As a result, the number of staff that turned out to strike over the Easter Bank Holiday was far lower than expected.
'Having been advised of planned industrial action across four Sundays (commencing 11 May), we remain open to constructive dialogue to tackle any further concerns that Unite may have. While contingency plans are in place to prevent undue disruption, we feel confident on finding a resolution to prevent planned strike action.'