Travel warning: Strikes cancelled at popular UK airport as flights expected to go ahead as planned

Posted by Admin December 17, 2024 Travel

Flights at Edinburgh Airport are expected to run as usual over the festive period after planned strikes have been cancelled.

Fuel suppliers to the airport have opted to not walk out after a pay offer has been settled between North Air and Unite, the “nation’s leading aviation trade union”.

Unite Industrial Officer Carrie Binnie said: “Unite’s membership at North Air overwhelmingly backed the improved pay offer.

“We are pleased to have secured a negotiated pay deal which reflects the hard work and skills of our membership at Edinburgh Airport.

“The pay deal means that the scheduled strike over the festive season is off and the dispute is over.”

Over 100,000 people could have been impacted in the three days run up to Christmas

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Tanker drivers were scheduled to strike on the morning of December 18, with the strike being planned to last for 19 days until January 6.

A North Air spokesperson said: “We are pleased to confirm that we have reached an agreement with Unite on pay and that the planned strike at Edinburgh Airport has been called off.”

A spokesperson for Edinburgh Airport said: “We are pleased that Unite and North Air have reached an agreement.”

Unite had threatened strike action last month after declining a four-and-a-half per cent pay rise.

The union revealed North Air’s profits increased to £1.9million in 2023, with turnover rising to £40.4m.

Unite said that North Air had already agreed to higher pay for several other sectors with a 26.7 per cent rise for Loganair cabin crew.

A 12.8 per cent uplift was also given to security staff in Aberdeen and a 12 per cent rise for baggage handlers, customer service and drivers in Glasgow.

The strike threatened to disrupt travel plans for more than 100,000 people who typically pass through Edinburgh Airport in the three days before Christmas Eve.

The strikes have been called off

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Jet2 had initially given a travel warning to customers alerting them of the strikes that were planned.

Jet2 said: “We are aware of the action that is being undertaken by third-party fuellers at Edinburgh Airport from December 18, 2024 to January 6, 2025.

“The situation is being monitored closely by our ground and operations teams. We plan to operate all flights to schedule, and our check-in desks will close 40 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

“We will be in contact with customers directly should there be any impact on their flight.”