Gatwick baggage walkout

Baggage handlers and other ground staff at Gatwick airport today walked out on their fifth strike in a dispute over conditions and the suspension of a shop steward.

A further walkout by employees of Servisair is planned for Friday and more could follow. Travellers, however, were advised to turn up on time for their flights.

Servisair looks after easyJet, Ryanair, Delta, Continental and Emirates airlines. It also serves charters including Thomas Cook, Britannia, My Travel and Excell. BA flights are not affected.

The company has been forced to draft in staff, including managers, from other parts of the UK to replace the strikers. A Servisair spokesman said: "We have our contingency plans ready again."