Baggage handlers at Switzerland's largest airport, Zurich Kloten, have gone on strike, forcing passengers to carry their own luggage onto their planes.

Baggage handlers at Switzerland's largest airport, Zurich Kloten, have gone on strike, forcing passengers to carry their own luggage onto their planes.

The surprise strike started at 5:30 this morning, local time, when about 150 baggage handlers walked off the job.

The porters, who are employed by the SAir subsidiary, Swissport, are upset by the imposition of new working conditions, which threaten free flight benefits and mean changes to staffing levels.

SAir spokesman, Urs Peter Naef, admitted the action was causing disruption.

"Passengers have had to carry their bags themselves to the aircraft," he said. "That's not so bad in the morning as we have a lot of business customers. But we're going to have more problems between 10 and 12 as the long haul flights are going to leave Zurich."

Naef said SAir had agreed to negotiations with the handlers, but gave no indication as to how long the strike might last.

"Negotiations have started, but so far there are no results I can communicate," he said.

By Tom O'Brien

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