Airport staff threaten to disrupt holiday travellers in New Year strikes

Travellers returning from Christmas and New Year holidays face chaos as airport staff are poised to go on strike.

Workers at Heathrow and other main airports across the UK have voted in favour of action in a row over pensions.

The result of the strike ballot among the 5,000 employees will be declared at the end of this week, raising fears that any action will hit the first flights of the new year.

Senior officials of Unite, the UK's largest union, say reports from local representatives show there is overwhelming support for industrial action.

Gatwick and Stansted could also face shutdown on strike days.

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By law the union must then give seven days' notice of any action — meaning the first walkouts could take place from Thursday 27 or Friday 28 December.

Union leaders, however, are unlikely to order walkouts before the new year, saying they are "mindful" of the holidays but also the adverse public reaction.

Cabin crew working for Virgin Atlantic are also involved in a separate strike ballot over pay. That result is also expected at the end of the week.

In the larger dispute, airport firefighters, security, maintenance and clerical staff have been called to support strike action in protest over plans by airport owners BAA to close its final salary pension scheme to new employees.

BAA-owned Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports also face huge disruption or even closure.