Airport operator BAA has struck a deal with trade union leaders to avert strike action that would have spelt chaos for thousands of travellers.

Workers at Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports had planned the walkouts after a long-running dispute over pay and conditions. The strikes would have caused massive travel disruption during one of the busiest periods for UK airports.

Thankfully, Britons planning a late-summer French holiday can now relax, as ground staff have accepted a new pay deal. According to Reuters, workers will receive a 2 per cent pay rise and a one-off payment of at least £500.

Terms were finally agreed after marathon 9-hour talks between the Unite union and BAA. Reuters report that negotiations were intense, but Unite officials are confident that its members will be satisfied with the new deal.

“The negotiations were tough but Unite has delivered a fair deal for BAA staff,” Unite national officers Brian Boyd and Brendan Gold were quoted as saying in a statement.

For their part, BAA apologised to passengers for the latest period of uncertainty, which came just months after strikes by cabin crew and major disruption caused by a volcanic ash cloud.

“All parties brought a constructive approach to negotiations and we are sorry for the uncertainty ahead of yesterday’s discussions,” a BAA spokesperson told The Independent.

“We now look forward to working with our people to improve the service we provide to passengers and airlines in the weeks and months ahead,” he added.

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