Industrial action suspected at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) has been suspended after a last minute offer from the airport. 130 Unite trade union members were expected to walkout on Friday Oct. 16 for two days over a dispute in pay. This included air traffic controllers, security staff, customer experience staff and cleaners, with the airport expecting a ‘shutdown.’
Hourly paid staff received an offer first, excluding air traffic controllers but both groups are now being balloted, allowing members to have their say on a new pay offer. If this offer is rejected, staff are expected to strike from Friday Oct. 23 until Monday Nov. 2 instead, coinciding with the busy half term period.
Unite cited a pay disparity between the workers at LBA and Newcastle Airport, who receive more pay for the same roles. A starter air traffic controller at LBA is paid around £34,000 while the same role at Newcastle is paid £55,000, in a city which has a lower cost of living. In September 2025, Unite members staged a similar strike at Bournemouth Airport.
In a statement, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:
“It is wrong that workers at Leeds Bradford Airport are paid far less than those doing the same job at another nearby airport. These are essential workers who play a vital role in ensuring the smooth running of the airport and the safety of passengers and deserve fair pay. Unite will always fully back our members taking action at Leeds Bradford Airport.”
Unite also stated that workers at LBA have recently come out of a four year pay deal and many departments are falling behind other airports in equivalent roles, while many hourly workers are paid just above minimum wage.
In another statement, Unite’s regional officer Neil Whitaker said:
“Following negotiations, we have suspended the air traffic controller strikes taking place this week to allow members to have their say on a new pay offer.”
On the 12 Oct., the airport released a statement acknowledging the action. LBA expressed disappointment in its striking workers but said they respect the staff’s right to lawful industrial action. They stated:
“The airport has made a fair and responsible offer that is significantly above inflation and reflects both the current challenging economic conditions and the need to ensure the long-term sustainability of the business.”
They described the union and staff’s tactics as “aggressive” and they “only create uncertainty.” The airport’s statement continued:
“Our priority now is to minimise disruption for customers, many of whom have worked hard and saved for important holidays, family visits, and travel opportunities. At this stage, we anticipate running near-normal operations during the periods of industrial action.”
The airport emphasised their importance in the region and the connection they provide Yorkshire with, while reminding people of the significant effort the airport is undergoing as part of project LBA:REGEN to transform facilities, infrastructure, operations and customer experience.
Do you support the striking workers? Let us know in the comments.
Aviation Reporter - A recent BA Journalism graduate from the London College of Communication, Emilia combines a strong background in reporting and digital media with a deep passion for aviation. During her time at LCC, she served as a student ambassador and peer mentor while actively developing her social media expertise. In February 2026, Emilia was selected as a John Schofield Trust Student Fellow, gaining valuable industry mentorship to further hone her craft as an aviation journalist.
