Luton Airport Faces Major Christmas Disruption as DHL Ground Staff Announce December Strikes
Nearly 200 DHL Workers to Walk Out During Peak Holiday Travel
Around 200 DHL-employed ground-handling staff at London Luton Airport will strike on 19 – 22 December and 26 – 29 December after rejecting a 4.5% pay rise. Unite the Union confirmed the action today, warning it will severely impact one of the busiest travel periods in UK aviation history.
The strike threatens more than 400 easyJet flights, including services to Spain, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic and several key French cities.
EasyJet Plans Full Schedule but Travellers Should Expect Delays
EasyJet says it plans to operate its full programme using contingency labour. However, passengers should expect baggage delays, longer queues and potential missed connections – particularly those connecting to TGV, regional French flights, or onward European services.
Travellers heading home for the holidays, or contractors travelling for New Year projects, should pack essential items in carry-on luggage and monitor flight status throughout the day.
Pay Gap at Centre of Growing Dispute
Unite says Luton-based DHL workers earn £3 per hour less than colleagues at Gatwick doing the same job. Workers argue the 4.5% offer fails to reflect the cost-of-living pressures, with many struggling to cover basic expenses such as food, fuel and heating.
One worker described being unable to save or provide for their child despite full-time employment, saying: “I can only cover rent and food. I can’t afford to build a better life for my child.”
DHL and EasyJet Under Pressure as Profits Rise
Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham accused DHL and easyJet of “putting profits over people,” noting both companies are financially strong:
- DHL Group reported operating profits of €1.4bn in Q2 2025.
- EasyJet expects profits above £700 million for the year to September 2025.
Unite says both companies can afford a fair, above-inflation pay offer to avoid further disruption.
Passenger Rights Under EU261: What Travellers Should Know
Under EU261, passengers whose journey starts in the EU – or arrives there on an EU carrier may be eligible for compensation if their flight is cancelled.
Although the strike involves ground handlers rather than easyJet staff, the airline may still be liable if it cannot prove the disruption was caused by “extraordinary circumstances.”
The Impact: 410 EasyJet Flights at Risk
Unite estimates 410 easyJet flights will be affected across the six strike days:
| Date | Flights Affected |
|---|---|
| 19 Dec | 71 |
| 20 Dec | 60 |
| 21 Dec | 74 |
| 26 Dec | 71 |
| 27 Dec | 60 |
| 28 Dec | 74 |
Busiest Christmas on Record Heightens Risk
The UK Civil Aviation Authority expects Christmas 2025 to be the busiest in aviation history, with millions travelling through UK airports. Luton, which handled 1.2 million passengers in December 2023, is a major easyJet base.
Any disruption at this scale could ripple across Europe, impacting airline operations, mobility budgets and corporate travel routings.
Could This Push Travellers Away From UK Airports?
A prolonged pay dispute could erode the cost advantage of using London especially Luton as a hub for France-bound travellers. Travellers may increasingly prefer alternative gateways such as Brussels, Amsterdam or Paris, or switch to direct services that bypass UK ground-handling bottlenecks.