The week has only started and already it is not looking good for air passengers.

British Airways cabin crew voted for a strike, French air traffic controllers are striking and Turkish Airlines has advised of airport staff striking in Athens from midnight on February 23. The Lufthansa pilots’ strike, originally planned for February 22-25 has since been suspended and talks between the airline and the union are continuing.

The UK’s Unite Union on February 22 announced that the ballot of its crew members at British Airways (international) had resulted in another overwhelming vote for a strike. This is as a result of the long-running dispute over imposed changes to crew numbers and working practices.

However, the union has not announced dates for industrial action.

"With this overwhelming vote in the teeth of BA harassment and media misrepresentation, BA's cabin crew have made clear that the deep sense of grievance they feel about their treatment by their employer remains,” said Unite assitant general secretary, Len McCluskey.

"The only way forward for this airline is if all parties can negotiate a solution to the issues before us. In recent weeks we have been in serious discussion with BA. We sincerely hope that the continued strength of the vote by crew will give BA pause for thought.

"Meaningful negotiations are continuing at the TUC and bringing them to a successful conclusion is the only way to resolve this dispute. That is why we are not announcing dates for industrial action at this stage."

The union stressed that the proposed strike was not over salaries but rather the cabin crew’s concern that the reduced crew would impact on service standards and that BA’s refusal to consult on these changes meant that the company had broken with long-standing negotiating structures.

Strike to affect Paris airports

Due to a strike by air traffic controllers, flights from Paris's Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports are expected to be cancelled today. The strike is expected to last until February 26 and passengers are advised to confirm their flights with their airline before travelling to the airport. As a result of the strike, the French Civil Aviation Authority will limit the number of flights handled for each airline during this period.

Athens airport strike

Turkish Airlines has advised that all the employees of Athens Airport will go on strike as of midnight on February 23 until midnight on February 24. Any passengers flying to Athens with the airline will be flown out from Istanbul on February 25 as there will be no flights to the destination on February 24. All transit passengers flying to Athens via Istanbul will have to spend the night in Istanbul.