Airline workers strike threat over New Year

Holiday plans could be thrown into chaos for tens of thousands air travellers after BAA staff moved to vote on strike action in a row over pensions where there are plans to stop new entrants joining the company's final salary pension scheme from 1 December.

5,000 union members employed by the British Airports Authority will be balloted over the next few weeks on whether or not to launch a campaign of industrial action. A strike could see the BAA airports, which include Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Heathrow and Gatwick, closed from 27 December and causing chaos during the New Year travel period.