Leeds Bradford Airport could be 'shutdown' for two days this month due to strikes

Leeds Bradford Airport could be forced to ‘shutdown’ for a whole weekend later this month due to strike action.

Almost 130 workers will take industrial action over pay later this month.

The Unite members have been in discussion with the airport’s leaders since December 2025 but the union has now said the airport’s formal offer is “not going far enough to address the lack of pay parity”.

It means a mixture of air traffic control workers, customer experience staff, security staff and cleaners will strike between October 16 and 18.

Hourly paid workers are set to strike from 3am on October 16 to 6am on October 18, while air traffic control staff will strike between 6am on both days.

Unite said the action will force the airport to shut down as “no flights would be able to fly in and out without air traffic control and nobody would be able to depart or arrive without passport control. There would also be nobody within the terminal to assist with passengers”.

Leeds Bradford Airport has said in a statement it doesn’t believe indsustrial action is the right way to resolve the issue and had made what it believes to be a “fair and responsible” offer to staff.

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."

The statement from LBA said: “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.

“Our priority now is to minimise disruption for customers, many of whom have worked hard and saved for important holidays, family visits and business travel. At this stage we anticipate running near-normal operations during the period.”

A release from Unite said the airport reported a turnover of £61.5m for the year ending March 31 2025, up 14 per cent from £54m the previous year and the highest ever levels achieved by it.

However, The Yorkshire Post reported just days ago that the airport recorded a loss of more than £6m in the last financial year.

The airport has just filed a loss of £6.6m for the 2025/26 financial year following from a profit in the previous year of £479,000.

The figures came despite the airport delivering its busiest-ever year with passenger numbers up four per cent to 4.4m people. Turnover was up by two per cent to £62.8m.

Unite regional officer Neil Whitaker said: "We know people who have flights planned to and from Leeds Bradford Airport will be concerned to hear of industrial action, however our members have no choice but to strike.

"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."

The Leeds Bradford Airport comment continued: “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 has been for a number of years.

“Those funds support improvements to facilities, infrastructure, operations and customer experience including the ongoing LBA:REGEN project which saw the opening of a new central search zone and staff welfare facilities this week.

“Our focus remains on serving Yorkshire, supporting our colleagues and maintaining safe airport operations.”