LONDON, Nov 2: Twenty international airlines operating from London’s Heathrow airport were hit on Sunday by a 48-hour strike by check-in staff and baggage handlers, officials said.

Employees of Swissport, which provides ground services to such carriers as Japan Airlines, Air China, Malaysian Airlines, Middle East Airlines and Kuwait Airways, walked off their jobs to back up demands for a 16 percent pay rise.

Swissport serves 20 airlines at Heathrow which account for less than 10 percent of the airport’s daily schedule, airport officials said.

Efforts were being made to keep the following Swissport-served airlines flying, though delays were expected: Aer Lingus, El Al, Icelandair, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Saudi, and Swiss International Air Lines.—AFP