Holidaymakers, estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands, are facing major disruptions and delays at airports as baggage handlers and check-in staff take industrial action over a pay dispute.

The workers at Stansted, Manchester and Gatwick airports have voted to take action over one of the busiest weekends of the year, due to a pay dispute that involves Swissport, the company which handles flight for a number of airlines.

Strikes are already in action at Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport and Malaga in Spain, a major destination for British holidaymakers.

Staff at Gatwick will launch a three-day overtime ban on Thursday, which will affect thousands of travellers using Virgin Atlantic, Monarch, Thomson and Delta.

Swissport says that a contingency plan was in place which should minimise the effect on passengers.

“There will be changes to roster and management will be available as well. We will be putting the right staff in the right place.”

Virgin Atlantic, Monach, Emirates and Etihad passengers are likely to be affected at Manchester Airport, as staff voted in favour of a strike, but it is unclear what form of action will be taken.

On Saturday night it was confirmed that Swissport staff at Stansted would strike, but are still undecided as to what form of industrial action would be taken.

The unions are launching strike action at the refusal of a 2.75 percent rise which was agreed last year.

The latest strike action comes at a time when the travel industry has witnessed a considerable number of last minute bookings due to a wet-summer in the UK and a large number of Britons choosing to holiday closer to home and hunt for cost-effective holiday due to the recession.

Thanks to the Telegraph for the above quotes.  For more information on this article visit their website.