Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has met with representatives of the aviation ground services sector to discuss the potential disruption caused by possible strikes in that sector.

UK aviation operates in the private sector and industrial relations are managed between the employer and the union. During strike action, the Department expects ground handling services to ensure appropriate contingency plans are in place which minimise any potential disruption, work with the airlines and airports and put the consumer first.

Officials engage regularly with ground handling companies, along with all of the aviation sector in order to understand preparedness for any disruption caused by industrial action.