Scots holidaymakers could face travel chaos this summer as security workers at Aberdeen Airport have announced a fortnight of strikes in an ongoing pay dispute. Unite members unanimously supported industrial action, with the first walkout scheduled for Monday, July 6.
Strike Details and Impact
The walkouts will take place across July and August, covering 14 days. The full strike schedule includes July 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30, followed by August 1. Unite says the strike mandate followed the refusal by ICTS HBS Security to make an acceptable pay offer. Negotiations through the conciliation service Acas have provided no breakthrough, leaving security staff with no option but to take strike action.
Significant delays are expected as Unite members make up the majority of the baggage screening team at Aberdeen Airport. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “ICTS is a very profitable company that can easily afford to give our members a decent pay increase. It has been caught red handed putting profits before people.” The parent group ICTS (UK) Limited recorded its latest annual accounts in April, showing profits of £7.6 million in 2025, up from £4.4 million the previous year.
Previous Disputes and Warnings
Unite has recently resolved two separate pay disputes at Aberdeen Airport involving ICTS central search and Aberdeen Airport Limited workers. Unite industrial officer Paula Buchan said: “ICTS would rather cause massive disruption at the airport than positively work with Unite to resolve this dispute. Strike action will cause significant delays at Aberdeen airport. ICTS still has time to return to talks with an offer workers can accept. A failure to do so will result in significant airport disruption.”
The Record has approached Aberdeen Airport bosses for comment.
