Airport workers across Europe are walking out in protest of the “Grinch-style behaviour” of low-paying employers, threatening to disrupt travel during the busy Christmas season. The strikes come as staff push for better pay, improved working conditions, and job security, targeting a period when millions travel for holidays.

In Italy, coordinated walkouts are planned on 17 December, involving ground handling staff, airline crew, and air traffic controllers. The four-hour strike, from 1 pm to 5 pm, will include ENAV air traffic controllers at Rome airport, Assohandlers staff covering major airports, employees of ITA Airways, and ground staff for Vueling, Air France, and KLM. Officials warn that disruption may extend throughout the day, causing flight delays and longer check-in and baggage queues at airports in Milan, Rome, Venice, Naples, and Catania.

In the UK, London airports are preparing for a series of strikes around Christmas. From 19 to 22 and 26 to 29 December, easyJet ground staff at Luton Airport will walk out, affecting check-in and baggage handling. London Heathrow Airport is also facing potential disruptions as Scandinavian Airlines Services (SAS) cabin crew plan to strike from 22 to 24 and on 26 December. Flights to major Scandinavian hubs, including Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo, may experience delays or cancellations.

Workers cite low pay as a key reason for the action, with union Unite noting that some staff have been forced to rely on food banks while working at expensive Scandinavian destinations. “This is real Grinch-style behaviour from SAS – it is taking advantage of the goodwill of its staff and will now be responsible for cancelled Christmas flights,” said Callum Rochford, Unite regional officer.

Spain is also seeing ongoing travel disruptions due to strikes at Ryanair’s ground handling partner, Azul Handling. Since the summer, staff have staged weekly walkouts over working conditions, bonuses, and job security. Strikes will continue until 31 December on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during early morning, midday, and late-night shifts. Passengers flying from Alicante, Barcelona-El Prat, Girona, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Madrid-Barajas, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Tenerife South, and Valencia can expect longer queues and delays with check-in and luggage collection.

Travel experts advise passengers to check the status of flights before heading to airports, as some walkouts are announced only days or hours in advance. Those affected by cancellations or delays may be entitled to alternative tickets or compensation.

With strikes coinciding with one of the busiest travel periods of the year, passengers are urged to allow extra time for check-in, baggage handling, and security procedures to avoid last-minute chaos.

UK consumer group Which? has criticised major European budget airlines for rarely offering carry-on bag fares as low as advertised. The watchdog’s survey shows that the lowest prices promoted by Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air are almost never available to passengers.

The survey examined nearly 1,500 bag prices across eight popular routes, spanning Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air. It found that advertised cabin bag fares starting from £5.99 (€6.80) were available less than one per cent of the time. Data was collected across four dates in August, November, December, and February to account for peak and off-peak travel.

Which? highlighted that passengers often only discover cabin bag charges at the final stage of booking, a practice the watchdog described as frustrating and potentially misleading. In some cases, the fees for carry-on luggage exceeded the cost of the flight itself, particularly on short European routes, which are the main draw for budget travellers.

The watchdog contrasted these practices with those of larger airlines such as British Airways, KLM, and Qatar Airways, which typically include a free cabin bag while charging for checked luggage. Budget carriers’ additional gate fines and opaque pricing have drawn scrutiny in recent years. In November 2024, Spain’s Consumer Rights Ministry fined five budget airlines €179 million over “abusive practices” regarding luggage, though the EU Commission has challenged Spain’s authority to impose the penalties.

Which? has shared its findings on EasyJet with the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), which is now investigating. Rory Boland, editor at Which?, said: “Our research shows that the tens of millions of passengers who need to take a cabin bag will pay much more than the cheapest price advertised. Rather than a few pounds, prices for bags can often exceed the flight itself. The tactics used by these airlines deserve to be called out.”

EasyJet’s lowest advertised cabin bag fare of £5.99 was not found on any of the 520 flights surveyed. The cheapest fare identified was £23.49 (€26.79), with the average at £30 (€34.20). EasyJet said its pricing is transparent and allows customers to pay only for what they need.

Ryanair’s lowest cabin bag fare of £12 (€13.70) was available on just two out of 634 flights, or 0.3 per cent of the time. The airline dismissed the survey as unrepresentative, noting it operates more than 100,000 flights each month and claimed its policies are optional and transparent.

Wizz Air’s lowest cabin bag fare of €10 was available on only two of 338 flights, or 0.6 per cent of the time. A spokesperson said customers receive a free under-seat bag with every ticket and can choose larger luggage if required, insisting their pricing is compliant and clear across multiple channels.

The Which? survey adds to growing concerns over budget airlines’ baggage fees, with regulators and consumer groups calling for more transparency and fairness in cabin bag pricing.

The growing partnership between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan’s hospitality sectors took center stage at the HORECA Expo Uzbekistan 2025 in Tashkent, where industry leaders discussed digital innovation, service culture, and cross-border cooperation shaping Central Asia’s fast-evolving tourism landscape.

The three-day event brought together restaurateurs, policymakers, and service professionals from across the region to exchange ideas on how technology and collaboration are redefining the modern hospitality industry. Representatives from both countries emphasized that digitalisation and shared training are transforming how hotels and restaurants operate, with regional cooperation now seen as key to sustained growth.

Kazakhstan focuses on digital transformation

Kazakhstan’s delegation, led by the Association of Restaurants of Kazakhstan, highlighted the country’s rapid progress in integrating digital tools into everyday operations. Established in 2016, the association now represents around 16,000 restaurants nationwide.

“We started by organizing culinary contests, and soon realized restaurateurs needed a dedicated platform to share experience,” said Irina Lebedeva, Financial Director of the Association. “Now, we’re focused on digitalisation — automating reservations, accounting, and even customer feedback through new technologies.”

Lebedeva noted that modern restaurants are about creating an emotional experience, not just serving food. “Guests come for impressions — the light, music, atmosphere,” she said. “Technology helps us maintain that consistency while giving managers more time to focus on quality rather than paperwork.”

Uzbekistan expands support for global reach

Uzbek officials outlined policies designed to help local entrepreneurs take their culinary ventures abroad. According to Shukhrat Isakulov, head of the Department for Tourism Development under the Ministry of Ecology, the government offers subsidies covering equipment, logistics, and even ingredient transport for restaurateurs opening businesses overseas.

“The programme runs until 2027 and supports those promoting Uzbek cuisine internationally,” Isakulov said. “We want Uzbek hospitality to be visible on the global stage.”

At home, Uzbekistan continues to invest in professional training and digital infrastructure to improve standards across hotels, restaurants, and transport services. Officials say the goal is to raise service quality across the entire tourism value chain.

Shared goals for a regional future

Delegates from both countries agreed that shared traditions and close geography make collaboration natural. With similar languages and a common service ethos rooted in warmth and personal connection, cooperation between Uzbek and Kazakh hospitality sectors is growing rapidly.

“We don’t have closed clubs or membership fees,” Lebedeva added. “If someone wants to learn and develop, the doors are open. Collaboration is what makes the industry stronger.”

Participants concluded that the future of Central Asia’s hospitality industry lies in mutual learning, digital innovation, and shared professional standards — ensuring growth that celebrates both unity and diversity across the region.