Plane refuelling staff to walk out at Heathrow

Unite says 50 refuelling staff plan to take part in the 72-hour strike

Flights could be delayed or cancelled at London Heathrow Airport over the early May bank holiday weekend due to a planned strike by refuelling staff, a union said.

Unite said 50 workers from AFS are due to take part in 72 hours of industrial action beginning on 4 May.

The union said it was taking the action over "drastic cuts" to terms and conditions for new staff members since January.

Heathrow Airport says it has contingency measures in place if the industrial action goes ahead.

AFS has been asked to comment.

The company is a joint venture with partners including BP, Total Energies, Q8 Aviation and Valero Energy.

Unite members at AFS refuel aircraft at Heathrow from 35 different airlines including Virgin, Delta, Emirates and Air France.

General secretary Sharon Graham said: “AFS is behaving appallingly by attacking the T&Cs of new members of staff – those it views as the easiest to intimidate."

In May 2023, Heathrow saw 6.7 million passengers pass through it.

AFS is one of a number of refuelling firms at the airport. British Airways, which makes up more than half of Heathrow's traffic, will be unaffected, it is understood.

Unite regional officer Kevin Hall added: “AFS will have to answer directly to the airlines and passengers for the disruption caused by their unmerited actions.”