Leeds Bradford Airport strike: 130 workers to walk out over pay

Unite members, including air traffic controllers, plan to strike from 16-18 October. The union says it could bring the airport to a standstill; the airport says it expects near-normal operations.

Almost 130 workers at Leeds Bradford Airport are set to strike for two days this month in a dispute over pay, in a walkout the union says could bring the site to a standstill. Members of Unite, a mix of air traffic control staff, customer experience and security workers and cleaners, will take industrial action from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October. The airport, however, says it expects to run near-normal operations throughout. The two sides are sharply divided over both the strength of the pay offer and the likely impact on flights.

Why This Matters For Leeds

The immediate worry is obvious: the autumn half-term is close and the two sides disagree flatly on whether flights will run. Beyond the October dates, the dispute is an early test of how the airport’s new majority owner, AENA, handles industrial relations at a fast-growing Yorkshire gateway. A settlement that keeps experienced, safety-critical staff on board would steady both passenger confidence and the airport’s record-breaking growth.

Why workers at Leeds Bradford Airport are striking

Unite says its members recently came out of a four-year pay deal and that some departments have fallen behind staff doing equivalent jobs at other airports. Talks have been running since December 2025, but the union says the airport’s formal offer does not go far enough to close that gap on pay parity. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the business ‘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.’ The union points to the airport’s finances: according to its accounts, the airport reported turnover of £61.5m for the year to 31 March 2025, up 14% on the year before. In May, Spanish airports group AENA completed a deal giving it a controlling 51% interest, through a holding company, in a transaction valued at around £270m.

“Our hardworking members should not be paid less than those doing the same jobs at other airports.”

— Sharon Graham, General Secretary, Unite

Airport disputes the ‘shutdown’ claim

Unite argues that the mix of staff involved means the walkout could effectively close the site: without air traffic control no flights can operate and without security and customer staff passengers cannot be processed. Regional officer Neil Whitaker acknowledged travellers ‘will be concerned’ but said members ‘have no choice but to strike.’ Leeds Bradford Airport rejects that picture. In a statement it said it expects near-normal operations over the strike period, describing its pay proposal as ‘fair, responsible and significantly above inflation’ and saying it remains committed to further talks. It added that it respects the right to lawful action but considers a strike ‘the wrong route’ while issues are still under discussion. No airport-wide cancellations have been announced; passengers are advised to check with their airline nearer the time.