The Unite Union has warned that easyJet passengers flying from London Luton Airport to major holiday destinations this Christmas will face disruption as DHL check in and baggage handling staff have voted to take strike action. The staff are outsourced to easyJet by DHL and work on check in desks and as baggage handlers. They operate on popular routes to and from Luton including to countries such as Spain, Germany, Italy and Czech Republic.
Around 200 workers, members of Unite, are taking action after rejecting the company’s latest offer of a 4.5 per cent pay rise. Workers believe this doesn’t go far enough to address the low pay rates, the current cost of living crisis and rising food, fuel and heating bills with workers struggling to afford essentials, while DHL workers at Gatwick earn around £3 an hour more for doing the same job.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “DHL and easyJet can comfortably afford to offer these workers an above-inflation pay rise. It is shameful that hardworking members can’t afford the basics and they are paid less than their counterparts. These companies must stop putting profits over people and come back to the table with a fair pay offer to avoid this disruptive strike, which is entirely of their making.”
In the second quarter of 2025, DHL Group’s operating profits increased by 5.7 per cent to €1.4bn. Meanwhile, easyJet has announced it expects profits of more than £700 million in the 12 months to September 2025. One worker said: “I was in debt from a previous low paid job, but this hasn’t ended as my pay isn’t enough. I have the same routine of dedicating myself to a job where I can only cover rent and food. I can’t afford to save to give a better life to my child or spend enough time with my child.”
Strikes by DHL workers at Luton will take place from 03:00 on Friday 19 December to 03:00 Monday 22 December, then from 03:00 on Boxing Day (26 December) to 03:00 on Monday 29 December.
The Civil Aviation Authority is expecting this to be the busiest Christmas in UK aviation history, with millions expected to travel this festive season. Luton, a major base for easyJet, is one of the UK’s busiest airports, carrying over 16.2 million passengers in 2023 with 1.2 million of these travelling through the terminal in December that year.
Any strike action will severely impact easyJet’s Luton operations, with delays to flights expected as well as some cancellations. It is estimated that over the six days of strikes, 410 easyJet flights will be affected. Unite regional officer Jeff Hodge said: “We know passengers set to fly easyJet from Luton on these dates will be concerned, but the dispute is entirely the fault of DHL who can well afford to pay these workers a wage they can live on but are choosing not to. Strike action could still be avoided, but that now hinges on DHL returning to negotiations with an offer that is acceptable to our members.”