Around 130 Unite members at Leeds Bradford Airport will walk out from October 16, forcing the airport to shut down for two days and grounding all flights. The strike follows a dispute over pay, with hourly paid staff set to strike from 3am and air traffic control workers from 6am. Both groups are due to remain on strike until 6am on October 18.
Who Is Taking Part and Why
Workers joining the strike include air traffic control workers, customer experience staff, security staff, and cleaners involved in the dispute. They have recently come out of a four-year pay deal, and some departments have fallen behind other airports in equivalent roles, the union said.
Pay talks have been happening since December 2025, with the airport's formal offer not going far enough to address the lack of pay parity, the union added.
Airport Shutdown and Financial Context
The airport will shut down, and no flights will be able to depart or arrive without air traffic control, and nobody will be able to depart or arrive without passport control. There would also be no one in the terminal to assist passengers.
According to Unite the Union, "the airport reported a turnover of £61.5m for the year ending 31 March 2025, up 14 per cent from £54m the previous year and the highest ever levels achieved by it". The union also added that in May, "it was partially taken over by Spanish company AENA, which owns a 51 per cent majority stake at Leeds Bradford Airport as part of a £270 million holding company deal".
Union and Airport Responses
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Leeds Bradford Airport is very profitable and can more than afford to come back to the table with an offer that doesn't fall short of our members' expectations. Our hardworking members should not be paid less than those doing the same jobs at other airports. Workers taking action at Leeds Bradford Airport have Unite's full support in their fight for fairer pay."
Unite regional officer Neil Whitaker said: "The airport is profitable, passenger numbers are growing and our members are a major part of its success. They deserve a fair pay rise, and management must come back to the table to deliver this."
A statement from Leeds Bradford Airport read: "We respect the right of employees to participate in lawful industrial action. However, we are disappointed by this and do not believe strike action is the right way to resolve the issues still under discussion."
"The airport has made what we believe is a fair and responsible offer that is significantly above inflation and reflects both current economic conditions and the need to ensure the long-term sustainability of the business."
"We remain committed to constructive dialogue with Unite and would welcome continued discussions aimed at reaching a resolution. It is important to recognise that any profits generated by Leeds Bradford Airport are reinvested back into the airport and have been for a number of years."
The airport has also announced its financial results for the year ended 31 March 2026, saying they welcomed a record 4.45 million customers during the year, with a record £62.8 million turnover.
