Airlines using Edinburgh airport face the threat of a peak festive season strike by fuel supply tanker drivers in a row over pay.
Routes including United Airlines to New York and Emirates to Dubai along with Loganair’s domestic routes to the Scottish islands could be directly impacted, the Unite union warned.
The dispute centres on a rejected 4.5% pay offer by refuelling firm North Air, following what the union claimed as “years” of below inflation pay increases.
Unite members have backed strike action in an attempt to secure a better pay offer.
“Despite recent talks having being held at the conciliation service Acas, there has been no enhanced pay offer by the company to avert widespread travel disruption,” the union said.
Unite is now warning that it will have “no option” but to issue strike dates at Scotland’s busiest airport which it says would directly hit peak festive season flights unless there is movement over pay in the coming days.
Unite industrial officer Carrie Binnie said: “Unite’s tanker drivers employed by North Air deserve a fair pay rise. They are highly-skilled workers who provide a key service at Edinburgh airport. Pay at North Air has not kept up with inflation despite the company being profitable.
“If strike action happens, which would cause widespread disruption over the festive season, then it’s on North Air’s heads.
“They are choosing to escalate this dispute, rather than choosing to resolve it which they could do easily. Unless the company quickly comes to its senses, we will have no option but to issue strike dates in the coming days.”
Travel Weekly has approached North Air for comment.