Norwich Airport will close entirely on Friday 28 August, with all inbound and outbound commercial flights cancelled for 24 hours. The shutdown follows a planned strike by Prospect union members in air traffic control over an ongoing dispute regarding pay, pensions, and parental leave.
Offshore helicopter flights will also be suspended, affecting airlines such as KLM, Loganair, TUI, and Ryanair. North Sea gas and drilling rig helicopter operations will be halted as well.
Airport statement on closures
The airport said: "Due to the 24-hour strike by Prospect union members in Air Traffic Control, Norwich Airport will be closed to air traffic on Friday 28 August and no flights will operate to or from the airport that day."
They added: "Passengers due to travel on Friday should check with their airline for the latest information about their flight and the options available to them. We apologise for the disruption and inconvenience this will cause to passengers."
"We remain firmly committed to resolving this dispute through constructive dialogue and will continue to engage with Prospect with the aim of reaching agreement."
Passenger numbers and routes affected
Norwich Airport welcomed 453,000 passengers in the year leading up to March 31 this year, and has seen a 5% increase in travellers over the last 12 months. The airport offers routes to destinations including Amsterdam, Alicante, Faro, and Malta.
Union response
David Avery, Prospect National Secretary for Aviation, said: "It is extremely disappointing that we have still not received an acceptable offer from Norwich Airport, which has left us with little choice but to push ahead with this industrial action."
"Our members in air traffic control are not making unreasonable demands, they are simply asking for pay levels and terms and conditions that are normal for their colleagues across the country."
"We hope that the employer can quickly return to the bargaining table with an improved offer that will enable this dispute to be resolved without the need for strike action."
