Gatwick baggage screeners strike to hit late August

Published on Aug 13, 2025, 8:36 am CDT

5 min read

Baggage screening staff at London Gatwick Airport, represented by Unite, will walk out on August 22-26 and again August 29-September 2 in a dispute over pay. The action lands squarely on the August bank holiday period, raising the risk of longer check-in lines, slower baggage processing, and flight disruption across the airport. Gatwick says it expects to run a normal summer schedule while working with suppliers to mitigate impacts.

Key Points

Why it matters: The strikes target hold-luggage screening, a chokepoint that can snarl departures across airlines.
Travel impact: Expect longer bag-drop lines, slower baggage delivery, and potential knock-on delays.
What's next: Talks could continue; Unite warns action may intensify without a deal.
Who's involved: Unite the Union, contractor ICTS, and carriers operating at London Gatwick Airport (LGW).
Timing: Two windows, August 22-26 and August 29-September 2, spanning the bank holiday.

Snapshot

Unite has notified two walkout windows for baggage screeners employed by ICTS at London Gatwick Airport (LGW): August 22-26, then August 29-September 2. Because these teams screen checked bags for all carriers, the risk is systemic, with slower throughput at bag drop and potential gate-hold delays if baggage flows back up. The dates include the August 25 bank holiday in England and Wales, a peak travel weekend. Gatwick says it is coordinating with suppliers and aims to operate a normal holiday schedule, while the union says disruption will be widespread unless management improves its pay offer. Travelers should consider packing carry-on only, building extra time into journeys, and watching airline notifications closely.

Background

At Gatwick, hold baggage screening is typically delivered by third-party contractors, and ICTS provides that service across terminals. Unite argues these workers are among the airport's lowest paid, earning just above minimum wage, and cites ICTS financial growth since 2020 in pressing for a higher settlement. Similar summer labor disputes in the UK and Europe have focused on inflation-catch-up raises and staffing pressures during peak travel. Gatwick has invested heavily in security upgrades and resilience projects in recent years, but labor availability at key bottlenecks, like screening and ground handling, still dictates on-the-day performance. The union has hinted at further action if talks stall. For airlines, the main operational risk is reduced checked-bag throughput, which can cascade into delayed departures, missed curfews, and aircraft out of position into the following day.

Latest Developments

Strike windows cover August bank holiday

Unite scheduled two walkout periods, August 22-26 and August 29-September 2, capturing the bank holiday weekend of August 23-25. The union says all departures could face disruption because screeners serve the airport, not a single airline. Gatwick states it expects a normal summer schedule, and that it is working with suppliers to minimize impacts. Carriers will triage operations around peak departure banks, balancing on-time performance with baggage delivery, which may leave some flights delayed at the stand until bags clear. Travelers connecting to late-evening departures should watch for creeping delays as departure waves stack up.

What travelers can do right now

Airlines are likely to issue proactive guidance to reduce checked-bag volumes and to space arrival times at terminals. Expect carriers to prioritize tight-connection bags, sports equipment, and mobility devices where possible, but oversize items may see the longest waits. Rail to the airport and security for cabin baggage will operate as normal. You can reduce friction by traveling carry-on only where feasible, arriving earlier than usual, and enabling airline app alerts. For broader context on regional disruption, see London Gatwick Airport (LGW) and our coverage of related walkouts such as Ryanair Ground-Handling Strikes In Spain Start Friday and recent UK weather impacts in Storm Floris Travel Disruption Hits UK Flights, Rails, Cruises.

Analysis

Hold baggage screening is a binary constraint. If the screening belts slow, bag rooms back up, and aircraft either depart late without some luggage or wait on the stand until containers clear. Because the striking screeners serve the airport rather than a single airline, the constraint applies across carriers, magnifying knock-on effects during bank-holiday peaks. Airlines can mitigate by encouraging carry-on only travel, throttling bag-drop acceptance, and resequencing departures to preserve long-haul integrity. None of these options fully offsets lost throughput. Expect the worst pressure during morning and late-afternoon departure waves, when easyJet, British Airways, TUI, and other carriers push dense holiday schedules.

Gatwick's statement of confidence suggests contingency staffing by contractors and cross-skilling from non-striking teams. That can help, but long lines and slower baggage delivery are still likely on strike days. If delays propagate into curfew-sensitive late nights, some flights may slip to the following morning, creating crew-duty problems and aircraft mispositioning. The financial stakes are meaningful too, since delayed departures erode on-time performance and increase EU and UK care-of-passenger costs for meals and hotels, even when compensation rules do not require cash payouts for third-party strikes. The bottom line, given timing and scale, is a messy but manageable weekend if talks progress, and a rougher ride if they do not.

Final Thoughts

If you are booked through London Gatwick Airport (LGW) on August 22-26 or August 29-September 2, build extra time into your journey, travel carry-on only if possible, and enable airline notifications. If you must check a bag, photograph contents, keep medications and mobility aids with you, and label everything clearly. Monitor your airline and airport feeds for any cut-off times or bag-drop restrictions. Reconfirm ground transfers in case of late arrivals. With preparation and flexible plans, you can reduce the friction from the Gatwick baggage screeners strike and keep your holiday moving.