Norwich Airport ATC staff ‘press ahead’ with strike action

No flights will operate at Norwich Airport today (Friday) as air traffic control staff pledged to “press ahead” with a 24-hour strike at the start of the August bank holiday weekend.

 

The staff’s union, Prospect, said the airport had “failed to come up with a sufficiently improved offer” and the members “rejected it comprehensively”.

 

The union said the airport’s latest offer “still fell well short of demands”.

 

ATC staff have already been taking action short of a strike including working strictly to contract, no non-contractually obligated overtime, no swapping shifts, and withdrawal of goodwill.

 

Significant staff shortages caused the airport to close last Friday morning.

 

David Avery, Prospect national secretary, said: “We have given Norwich Airport every opportunity to come to us with an acceptable offer that will close the pay and conditions gap with the rest of the country and help tackle the chronic staff shortages.

 

“While there has been some movement it is nowhere near enough to address the long-term staffing problems at the airport.

 

“As such we have no choice but to continue with strike action as planned.

 

“We appreciate that this will cause disruption for some passengers but when an employer treats staff with so little respect they have no option but to stick to their guns.

 

“Norwich Airport can avert further strike action but they have to give us an offer which is competitive with the rest of the country. We are no longer prepared to provide the goodwill upon which the airport has been operating.”

 

Norwich Airport said in a statement that it has made a “substantial and responsible” offer to Prospect members.

 

It said that, following a 3.5% pay increase in April 2026, the airport is offering a further 3% consolidated increase from July 2026 and another 3% from April 2027 – a cumulative increase of approximately 6.1%.

 

This is alongside an additional 2% retention allowance, which employees could choose to direct into their pension through salary sacrifice.

 

“The employees concerned have received pay increases totalling approximately 25% over the past three years, and our benchmarking shows our latest offer would result in most roles being paid at or above the average for comparable regional airports,” said the airport.

 

“Prospect is also seeking four weeks paid paternity leave and enhanced maternity provision for this group. Introducing benefits for one small group that are not available to the wider workforce would not be fair or financially sustainable for Norwich Airport.

 

“Despite the significant movement made by the airport, Prospect has not provided constructive feedback.

 

“Our offer remains available and we are asking Prospect to engage constructively to reach an agreement and avoid unnecessary disruption to passengers and the wider Norfolk community.”

 

The Eastern Daily Press reported that Tui passengers who had been due to fly from Norwich will instead have to depart from Southend Airport in Essex, 101 miles away.

 

Passengers have been told to arrive at Norwich Airport, where they will be taken via coach to Southend.

 

Ryanair, Loganair and KLM flights are also affected.

 

The Norwich Airport website said: "Due to the 24-hour strike by Prospect union members in Air Traffic Control, Norwich airport will be closed to air traffic on Friday 28 August and no flights will operate to or from the airport that day.

 

“We apologise for the disruption and inconvenience this will cause to passengers.

 

“We remain firmly committed to resolving this dispute through constructive dialogue and will continue to engage with Prospect with the aim of reaching agreement.”