Strike action continues to affect services at Norwich Airport
Another scheduled flight from Norwich Airport has been cancelled, with a KLM service to Amsterdam due to depart at 9.40am called off. The airline did not give a reason for this latest cancellation, though the airport's website continues to warn passengers of possible disruption linked to industrial action.
The cancelled service is the third on this route to be withdrawn in the space of two weeks. Records published by the airline show earlier cancellations on 11 and 12 September, with the reasons recorded as "operational reasons" on 11 September and as a result of "measures imposed by the local government or air traffic control" for the 6am service on 12 September.
- 9.40am KLM service to Amsterdam — cancelled (most recent)
- 11 September KLM service — cancelled for "operational reasons"
- 12 September 6am KLM service — cancelled due to "measures imposed by the local government or air traffic control"
"Measures imposed by the local government or air traffic control" — reason given by the airline for the 12 September cancellation
Background and recent disruption
Norwich Airport has been affected by an ongoing pay dispute since 17 August. The dispute involves members of the Prospect union working in air traffic control and the airport. Industrial action has had a direct operational impact: on 28 August a 24-hour walkout resulted in the cancellation of all flights from the airport, and the facility was forced to close intermittently on 3, 10 and 11 September.
Those events have left passengers with uncertainty about travel plans. The airport's public online advisories have repeatedly cautioned travellers to expect disruption as the dispute continues, though specific explanations for individual cancellations are sometimes left to airlines to publish.
Local consequences and practicalities
For Norwich residents and businesses the effects are practical and immediate. Regular services to European hubs such as Amsterdam form part of the city’s air links for both leisure and business travel. Repeated cancellations can ripple through connecting journeys, affect hotel and car hire bookings and impose additional costs on passengers who must rebook or alter plans at short notice.
As yet there is no public timeline for talks to resolve the dispute; official updates have been limited to website warnings and the individual statements airlines provide when cancelling flights. Passengers due to travel from Norwich are advised to check the latest information from both their airline and the airport before setting out.
What to watch next
The immediate indicators to watch are further notices from the airport and from the Prospect union or employers involved in the dispute. For travellers, the most reliable sources remain the airline holding their booking and the airport website, which so far has continued to flag potential disruption rather than offering a definitive schedule.
| Date | Event | Recorded reason |
|---|---|---|
| 28 August | All flights cancelled | 24-hour walkout linked to dispute |
| 3, 10, 11 September | Airport closed intermittently | Linked to industrial action |
| 11 September | KLM Amsterdam service cancelled | "Operational reasons" |
| 12 September | 6am KLM service cancelled | "Measures imposed by the local government or air traffic control" |
| Most recent | 9.40am KLM service to Amsterdam cancelled | No reason announced |
For now the situation remains unsettled. The pattern of cancellations and closures since mid-August demonstrates that industrial action affecting air traffic control can have an outsized impact on a regional airport like Norwich. How quickly normal services return will depend on progress in negotiations and any operational decisions taken by air traffic authorities or the airport itself. In the meantime, passengers are advised to remain vigilant and to seek confirmation directly from airlines ahead of travel.
