Leeds Bradford Airport strike October 2026: almost 130 to walk out

Almost 130 workers at Leeds Bradford Airport plan to strike from Friday 16 October to Sunday 18 October in a dispute over pay, according to The Hoot. The Leeds Bradford Airport strike in October 2026 involves Unite members across air traffic control, customer experience, security and cleaning.

The airport and the local report disagree on the likely effect. The airport said it anticipates "near-normal operations", while The Hoot reported that the strike would mean the entire airport shuts down. None of the sources reviewed lists any cancelled flights, so passengers booked to fly that weekend should check their flight status before setting out.

Who is striking in the airport workers strike

The Hoot reports that the strikers are Unite members working as air traffic control staff, customer experience staff, security staff and cleaners. The workers have recently come out of a four-year pay deal, and the report says some departments have fallen behind other airports in equivalent roles. Pay talks have been under way since December 2025, and the report says the airport’s formal offer does not go far enough to address the lack of pay parity.

The action is timed in two blocks. The hours below come from the report; the lengths are our calculation.

Hourly paid staff are therefore out for three hours longer than air traffic control, and both groups return at the same time on Sunday morning.

Leeds Bradford Airport disruption in October: what the airport says

In a statement quoted by The Hoot, the airport said:

"We respect the right of employees to participate in lawful industrial action. However, we are disappointed by this and do not believe strike action is the right way to resolve the issues still under discussion."

The airport said it had made "what we believe is a fair and responsible offer that is significantly above inflation". It said its priority was to minimise disruption for customers, "many of whom have worked hard and saved for important holidays, family visits and business travel". It added that it remains committed to dialogue with Unite and would welcome continued discussions aimed at reaching a resolution.

The two accounts of the likely effect cannot both be right. The airport expects near-normal operations, while the local report says the whole airport will close. Until the airport or airlines publish a schedule for 16–18 October, the number of affected flights is unknown.

What happens next

The timeline is short: hourly paid staff are due to walk out at 03:00 on Friday 16 October, air traffic control follows at 06:00, and both groups are due back at 06:00 on Sunday 18 October. The sources do not give a date for any further talks or any later strike dates.

If you are due to fly during that period, the sensible steps are to check your booking with your airline, look at the airport’s flight information on the day, and keep any messages about changes to your flight. Business travellers with tight connections may want to ask their airline about alternatives now rather than on Friday morning. The airport has said its priority is to minimise disruption for customers.

Your questions answered

Is Leeds Bradford Airport operating normally?

As of the report, the strike had not yet started, and nothing in the sources points to disruption outside 16–18 October. For those dates, the airport said it anticipates "near-normal operations", but The Hoot reported a full shutdown. Check with your airline before travelling.

When was Leeds Bradford Airport built?

The sources reviewed do not give a construction or opening date. A Met Office archive record lists registers of weather observations for Yeadon / Leeds Bradford Airport covering April 1961 to October 1994. That shows observations were being recorded at the site from 1961, but it is not an opening date.