A strike by passenger assistance staff at Gatwick Airport has been postponed, but ground handlers working for Red Handling are still planning industrial action.

Union officials are putting an improved pay off to Wilson James workers, which is likely to be accepted, bringing an end to the threat of their planned strikes.

However, Unite the Union said an offer to Red Handling employees was not likely to be accepted, which means a planned strike this weekend – plus another over the busy August Bank Holiday weekend – are likely to go ahead.

The result of ballot of Red Handling staff will be known on Thursday, shortly before staff are due to walk out at midnight.

The strike, if it goes ahead, will last until Monday 21 August, and could hit Delta Air Lines, Norse Atlantic, Norwegian, Delta, TAP Air Portugal and Saudi. Unite estimates it will affect 216 flights and 45,000 passengers.

A further strike is planned for the Bank Holiday weekend, from 25 to 28 August.