Air traffic control staff at Norwich Airport have confirmed a 24‑hour strike on Friday 28 August in a dispute over pay and parental leave that airport bosses say could force a temporary shutdown of the site.
What is happening and why it matters locally
Members of the Prospect trade union began industrial action short of a strike earlier this week by limiting duties to contracted hours and refusing unpaid or additional tasks. The union says those measures have not produced an acceptable offer from Norwich Airport and the next stage is a full 24‑hour stoppage at the end of the month.
The disruption comes at a busy time for leisure travel. Airport operators warn current staffing depends heavily on overtime to maintain safe operations; without that extra cover, some or all flights could be cancelled and the site temporarily closed. For residents and businesses in Norfolk, the potential loss of services would affect holiday plans, inbound tourism and local connectivity.
Positions from the two sides
Prospect’s national officer, David Avery, framed the action as the result of stalled bargaining. He said members were seeking pay and conditions in line with colleagues elsewhere in the sector and presented the withholding of labour as a last resort.
"It is extremely disappointing that we have still not received an acceptable offer from Norwich Airport, which has left us with little choice but to push ahead with this industrial action."
Norwich Airport Ltd (NAL) responded that it was disappointed by the announcement and stressed it remained committed to talks. The company said negotiations were ongoing and indicated it would continue to engage with the union with the aim of reaching agreement.
Financial offers and the dispute's centre
The core of the breakdown concerns pay levels and parental leave. Prospect is seeking a 10% pay increase to bring local air traffic control salaries in line with industry standards, while NAL has made an offer of 3% for both 2026 and 2027. The gap between those positions is the central barrier to a negotiated settlement so far.
Flights at risk on 28 August
Airlines have not yet cancelled services at the time of the announcement but passengers are being urged to check in as usual and to monitor communications from their carrier. Direct scheduled flights from Norwich on the day in question include a number of popular holiday routes.
| Destination | Status |
|---|---|
| Palma | Direct flight scheduled |
| Alicante | Direct flight scheduled |
| Dalaman | Direct flight scheduled |
| Corfu | Direct flight scheduled |
| Aberdeen | Direct flight scheduled |
| Amsterdam | Direct flight scheduled |
That list includes services used by local holidaymakers and business travellers alike. The airport spokesman highlighted the potential for cancellations if staffing is insufficient to operate safely.
What passengers should do
- Check in as usual with your airline and monitor any messages they send.
- Confirm flight status directly with your carrier before travelling to the airport on 28 August.
- Be prepared for delays or cancellations and consider travel insurance that covers industrial action.
The dispute is not yet resolved. Both sides say they remain open to talks, but with a significant gap between the union's demands and the airport's offer, the prospect of disruption on a peak travel date remains real. For Norwich, the strike underlines the city’s reliance on a small but critical group of staff whose labour underpins the safe operation of regional aviation.
