NORTHERN Ireland travellers planning on transiting Heathrow Airport should check with their travel agent first!

That¹s the advice from the Province¹s ABTA spokesperson Doreen McKenzie as the knock-on effect of industrial action by an in-flight catering company continues to have serious implications for British Airways and a number of other airlines who use BA ground handling staff.

Up to 500 British Airways flights to and from Heathrow were cancelled until at least 18.00 today (Friday), and about 70,000 passengers worldwide were affected by the dispute. The disruption is expected to last for several days due to aircraft being left out of position.

Said Doreen McKenzie: ³My advice to anyone from Northern Ireland due to catch a British Airways¹ flight from Heathrow is to contact their travel

agent before travelling to London. They will have access to the latest travel advice and news

British Airways was forced to suspend all flights to and from Heathrow on Thursday afternoon due to unofficial strike action and no departures were expected until Friday evening at the earliest. BA has been trying to resolve the dispute involving about 1,000 baggage handlers, loaders and drivers and some check-in staff.

Some of the carrier's ground staff walked out in sympathy following industrial action at catering firm Gate Gourmet after more than 600 employees were dismissed. This resulted in a lack of hot food for long haul flights and led to four services being cancelled on Wednesday. But in a dramatic escalation of the problem, all BA flights from Terminal 1 and 4 were grounded on Thursday due to the unofficial walk-out. Fifteen departures were cancelled and 14 inbound services were diverted. Disruption today has spilled over to other airlines operating from Heathrow, including Qantas, Sri Lankan Airlines, Finnair, GB Airways and BMed.