Fixed compensation
Do not assume it is automatically due. The cause, applicable passenger-rights regime and the airline's response all matter.
London Gatwick assisted-travel strike · suspended 14 September 2026
Gatwick assisted-travel strike suspended after new pay offer
The planned strike by more than 220 Wilson James assisted-travel workers at London Gatwick has been suspended. Unite said on 14 September that the walkouts scheduled for 17–21 and 23–26 September were paused after Wilson James made a new, improved pay offer, allowing members to vote on it. Passengers should therefore not treat the previously announced strike dates as active industrial action at this stage.
Check my affected flightIs your flight affected?
Use your actual itinerary and operating airline to check which passenger rights may apply. It takes you from this incident briefing to a flight-specific assessment.
Check my affected flight →What happened
Unite, the union representing the affected Wilson James workers, confirmed on 14 September that both planned strike periods have been suspended following a new pay offer. The workers provide assistance to passengers getting on and off flights. The suspension means the previously announced industrial action is not currently due to proceed while members consider the offer. This page will retain the original dates for search and passenger-reference purposes, but the current status is suspended rather than active.
Operational conditions can change quickly. Check the airline and airport for live status before travelling.
Compensation is only one part of your rights
Because the planned industrial action is suspended, passengers should not assume a flight problem on these dates is caused by this dispute. If a flight is nevertheless cancelled or significantly delayed, UK261 eligibility must be assessed from the actual cause supplied by the operating airline. Fixed compensation is a separate question from care, rerouting and refund rights, which can still apply to qualifying disruption regardless of whether fixed compensation is payable.
Refund or rerouting
A cancellation can create travel-remedy rights even where an extraordinary circumstance prevents fixed compensation.
Care and expenses
Where the applicable rules provide a duty of care, reasonable meals, accommodation or transport can remain separate from compensation.
What to do now
Check your airline and Gatwick flight status before travelling, but do not change travel plans solely because of the previously announced Wilson James strike dates. If you require assisted travel, keep your assistance booking confirmed as normal. If your flight is disrupted, save the airline's stated reason, itinerary, rerouting or refund offer and itemised receipts for reasonable care costs so the actual cause and applicable rights can be assessed.
Check the facts of your flight
AeroDue separates the cause, itinerary and operating airline so passengers do not confuse an airport-wide incident with an automatic compensation result.
Check my affected flight →Sources used for this briefing
Unite — Wilson James strike at Gatwick airport suspended over new offer
UK Civil Aviation Authority — delays, cancellations and passenger rights
AeroDue provides passenger-rights intelligence. It does not operate airports, provide live flight status, process claims or guarantee compensation.