A two-day strike staged by hundreds of baggage handlers at Gatwick caused "very minimal" disruption to passengers, the airport management claimed.

A spokesman for BAA Gatwick said 96% of flights during the strike, which was supported by around 600 workers, had left on time thanks to contingency plans put in place by Servisair, which employs the baggage handlers.

"We've had little or no disruption over the two days. The travelling public have not been inconvenienced greatly at all."

On the dispute, he said: "Obviously we are hopeful we can get round the table and discuss an end to this."

The 48-hour walkout - the handlers' fifth in a month - over working practices and the suspension of a union convenor, began at midnight on Friday after last-minute talks broke down.