A UNION has warned that budget airline flights from an Essex airport could face serious disruption this summer, due to workers’ demands for higher pay.

Unite, Britain’s leading union, is warning Ryanair flights from Stansted could face serious disruption as struggling workers demand fair pay after suffering a ten per cent pay cut in 2020.

Workers employed by the ground handler Blue Handling, which provides baggage handling, check-in, and other services to Ryanair at Stansted, have rejected a four per cent offer. 

In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, they suffered a ten per cent pay cut, and are now demanding wages be increased.

Blue Handling employs about 750 workers and handles around 200 flights a day during the summer holiday season but is facing staff shortages.

Ryanair is recovering well following the pandemic and has forecast passenger traffic of 165 million this year.

Unite regional officer Burcin Bayazit said: “Spiralling food and energy prices mean that workers are struggling to afford the basics.

“Blue Handling must ensure that our members are repaid the money the workers lost during Covid.

“Our members have made it clear to us that they are ready to take part in an industrial action ballot.

“The company needs to get serious otherwise it could face significant disruption this summer.”