Leeds Bradford Airport is facing a two-day shutdown this month as 130 workers plan to strike over pay. Members of the Unite union, including air traffic control workers, customer experience staff, security staff, and cleaners, are scheduled to walk out from 16 to 18 October.
Hourly paid staff will strike from 3am on Friday to 6am on Sunday, with air traffic control workers beginning their industrial action from 6am. The absence of air traffic control workers is expected to ground flights, preventing both departures and arrivals from the airport.
Unite states that pay talks have been ongoing since December 2025. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham commented that Leeds Bradford Airport is profitable and can afford an offer that meets members' expectations. The airport, which expects to handle around 4.5 million passengers this year, has stated it respects the right to industrial action but is disappointed and believes strike action is not the right way to resolve the issues.
Leeds Bradford Airport has made an offer it describes as fair and responsible, significantly above inflation. The airport's priority is to minimise disruption for customers, and it anticipates running near-normal operations during the period of industrial action.