Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with (a) airlines and (b) unions on strikes and departures from Gatwick Airport.

UK aviation operates in the private sector; and industrial relations are managed between the employers and the unions. Any instances of industrial action are for Gatwick to manage with their airlines, ground handlers and other organisations.

A number of strikes were announced over the summer by ground handlers and service providers for passengers with reduced mobility at Gatwick. Department for Transport officials engaged with the airport and with ground handlers to ensure that robust plans were in place to manage disruption.

As a result of negotiation between the Unions and the employer, the strikes were cancelled.