Travellers at Gatwick airport are set to face chaos over Christmas after a union confirmed it would be organising six one-day strikes.

The action by firefighters and security workers could cause major delays.

Leaders of the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) are planning to hold the strikes on November 28, December 2, 10, 15, 23, and January 2 in a dispute over pay.

The union said the rejected pay offer had been worth 1.7 per cent from last April plus £150, with a further £150 lump sum and a one per cent rise from next April.

After the strike details were released yesterday, Tim Lyle, national secretary for aviation, said the airport would not be able to operate on strike days.

The Civil Aviation Authority has previously warned if Gatwick's 78 firefighters were to strike the airport might have to shut for safety reasons.

The British Airports Authority (BAA) said it was disappointed the TGWU was pushing ahead with strike action after rejecting the two-year pay deal, which it said was above the rate of inflation and worth 6.3 per cent over two years.

Tony Ward, BAA group services director, said: "Our terms of employment are highly competitive.

"In the interests of maintaining the public service, we will be pressing for the involvement of the advisory, conciliation and arbitration service to bring this matter to an early conclusion."

A spokesman for Gatwick said: "At this stage we are doing everything we can to avoid strike action."