Striking baggage handlers at Zurich's international airport have returned to work after reaching a deal with the SAir Group late on Monday. The one-day walkout disrupted flight schedules and left passengers to carry their own luggage.

Striking baggage handlers at Zurich's international airport have returned to work after reaching a deal with the SAir Group late on Monday. The one-day walkout disrupted flight schedules and left passengers to carry their own luggage.

The workers of the SAir subsidiary, Swissport, and SAir agreed to set up a special commission to look into the strikers' concerns. SAir threatened to sack the baggage handlers if they didn't return to work today.

The strikers were protesting their transfer to a new company. They say the arrangement will lead to poorer working conditions and the loss of flight concessions. They are demanding increased pay and protection from dismissal in case of strike actions.

Airport officials said at least 14 flights had been delayed by up to four-and-a-half hours.

SAir spokesman, Urs Peter Naef, said the disruption had worsened as the day went on. "Passengers have had to carry their bags to the aircraft themselves. That's not so bad in the morning as we have a lot of business customers. But the problems got worse later in the day, when the long-haul flights started leaving Zurich."

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