Thousands of holidaymakers could face delays and disruption after baggage handlers and check-in staff at Manchester Airport voted to strike.

Ground staff at the airport, the fourth busiest in the UK, voted overwhelmingly to hold two 24-hour walkouts on August 27 and September 1.

Union officials said the strikes would have a 'considerable impact' and could lead to cancellations.

Manchester Airport: Holidaymakers face travel misery after baggage handlers and check-in staff voted to strike

The Unite union said: 'It is possible that it will halt services because we are not aware of anyone on check-in that could work in the absence of those who will be out on strike.'

Last week, staff at Gatwick and Stansted announced strikes of their own, on Bank Holiday Monday and August 29.

The airports could be crippled by the industrial action, which comes at one of the busiest times of the year. Knock-on delays could affect hundreds of thousands of families.

About 75,000 passengers are expected to use Manchester airport each day of the strike. Up to 97 per cent of Unite members at the airport voted in favour of strike action. Walkouts there affect services including Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, KLM, Air France and Monarch.

The strike threat came after Unite workers refused to accept a 'paltry' 3 per cent pay offer from its employer, the ground services company Swissport. Neither do staff accept Swissport's decision to suspend sick pay for the first three days a worker is ill.

The union added: 'We didn't choose to have this strike while the summer holidays were on but Swissport have forced our hand by announcing their decision on the pay deal now.'

Unite members at Swissport are also shortly to be balloted at Birmingham and Newcastle airports.

Manchester Airport said: 'It is our understanding that Swissport is working with these airlines to minimise any potential disruption to passengers and we very much hope this situation is resolved as quickly as possible.'

Swissport said the offer it had made was fair and provided staged increases to about 5 per cent.

Unite members at Swissport are also shortly to be balloted at Birmingham and Newcastle airports.

Among airlines that could be affected by the Gatwick stoppage are Virgin, Monarch, First Choice and Thomsonfly, while the Stansted strike could hit easyJet, Ryanair and First Choice.

Talks are scheduled tomorrow with industry mediation body ACAS to try and resolve the dispute.

Tina Barbour, CEO for Swissport said: 'We will do our utmost to try and ensure that passengers arrive and depart on time and have minimal disruption to their journey or their time in the airport.

'In today’s difficult trading conditions, especially in the aviation sector, the pay offer is above those offers made by other handling companies.'

Swissport is advising passengers due to travel with airlines it handles to contact their airlines or travel agents.