Half-Term Flights Face Disruption Threat Despite Halt To Air Traffic Control Strikes

Air traffic controllers at Leeds Bradford Airport have paused a planned weekend strike to vote on a new pay offer, but half-term holidaymakers still face potential disruption from hourly-paid staff.

Half-term holiday plans for thousands of Yorkshire travellers hang in the balance despite a last-minute suspension of strikes by air traffic controllers at Leeds Bradford Airport.

A planned walkout this weekend has been paused for air traffic control staff following a late pay offer from airport management, but significant disruption remains a strong possibility.

Hourly-paid workers, including security guards, check-in staff, passport control workers and passenger assistance teams, are currently voting on a separate pay deal. If the ballot closes with a rejection on Wednesday, these essential workers will still strike from Friday the sixteenth to Sunday the eighteenth of October.

Further industrial action is also scheduled between the twenty-third of October and the second of November, deliberately coinciding with the busy school half-term holidays, should either group reject their respective offers.

The dispute centres on pay parity, with the union Unite claiming that its members are paid significantly less than those doing identical roles at Newcastle Airport, a city with a lower cost of living.

According to the union, a starter air traffic controller at Leeds Bradford earns around £34,000, while the same role at Newcastle commands a salary of £55,000.

Both airports share a common link through the Spanish firm AENA, which owns Newcastle Airport and recently acquired a fifty-one per cent majority stake in Leeds Bradford Airport as part of a £270 million holding company deal completed in May.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:

"It is wrong that workers at Leeds Bradford Airport are paid far less than those doing the same job at another nearby airport.

These are essential workers who play a vital role in ensuring the smooth running of the airport and the safety of passengers and deserve fair pay. Unite will always fully back our members taking action at Leeds Bradford Airport."

Airport management expressed disappointment at the escalation of strike dates, describing the union's approach as an aggressive tactic that serves no purpose other than creating uncertainty for hardworking customers looking forward to family holidays.

Officials at the airport maintain that they have made a fair and responsible offer that sits significantly above inflation, reflecting both challenging economic conditions and the need to ensure the long-term sustainability of the business.

A spokesperson for Leeds Bradford Airport said:

"We welcome the decision to suspend the planned air traffic control strike at LBA this weekend, providing reassurance for thousands of passengers due to travel over the coming days.

This is positive news for our customers, airline partners and the wider Yorkshire region. We appreciate the constructive approach taken by all parties to reach this stage.

While the ballot process continues with certain members of our frontline colleagues, we remain hopeful that a positive outcome can be achieved and that an agreement can be reached which works for everyone involved.

Regardless of the outcome of this ballot, LBA has a robust contingency plan in place and will be operating as normal this weekend.

Our focus remains on supporting a smooth and reliable experience for customers while maintaining safe and efficient airport operations.

We would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding during this period of uncertainty and look forward to welcoming them through the airport as normal.

The airport also highlighted its ongoing efforts to transform facilities and customer experience, noting that its regeneration project saw the opening of a new central search zone and staff welfare facilities earlier this month.

Unite regional officer Neil Whitaker confirmed the temporary halt to the air traffic controller strikes for this weekend.

He said:

"Following negotiations, we have suspended the air traffic controller strikes taking place this week to allow members to have their say on a new pay offer."

Addressing the potential for future disruption during the half-term period, he added:

"We appreciate those travelling to and from Leeds Bradford Airport will be concerned to hear that there are further strike dates, but the situation is completely the fault of the airport’s management. It can end this dispute, but that relies on it coming back to the table with a fair deal for our members."