Leeds Bradford Airport strike October 2026: 16-18 October

Leeds Bradford Airport says it expects “near-normal operations” during a planned strike that Unite says will begin at 3am on Friday 16 October. The Leeds Bradford Airport strike October 2026 involves almost 130 Unite members and is due to run until 6am on Sunday 18 October, according to the York Press. The airport’s statement was reported on Wednesday 7 October.

Air traffic control staff are due to start at 6am on the Friday, three hours after the other groups. Unite says the dispute is over pay, with workers seeking parity with colleagues at other UK airports, and earlier claimed that no flights could operate without air traffic control. The airport has not accepted that, and the sources reviewed by Reported.News contain no statement from Jet2 or any other airline.

Strike times and the airport’s response

According to the York Press, the action involves workers from air traffic control, customer experience, security and cleaning teams. It is due to begin at 3am on Friday 16 October and end at 6am on Sunday 18 October, with air traffic control staff joining at 6am on the Friday.

Those times settle a point on which earlier reports differed. Yahoo News UK described a two-day walkout, while TTG Media reported three days. On the reported times, the action touches three calendar dates but lasts 51 hours for customer experience, security and cleaning staff, and 48 hours for air traffic control. These are our calculations from the published times, not figures from the airport or the union.

“At this stage, we anticipate running near-normal operations during the period,” the airport said in its statement. It added that it was “disappointed” and did not believe strike action was “the right way to resolve the issues still under discussion”. Its stated priority is to minimise disruption for customers.

The pay dispute behind the walkout

Unite says the dispute centres on pay, with members seeking parity with colleagues at other UK airports. Travel Tourister reported that pay talks have run since December 2025, following the end of a four-year deal, and that Unite regards the airport’s formal offer as falling short. We have not been able to confirm those details with a primary source.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham was quoted by Travel Tourister as saying: “Leeds Bradford Airport is very profitable and can more than afford to come back to the table with an offer that doesn’t fall short of our members’ expectations.” Unite regional officer Neil Whitaker was quoted as saying that “our members have no choice but to strike”.

The airport takes a different view. It said it has made “a fair and responsible offer that is significantly above inflation” and that it remains committed to constructive dialogue with Unite. It also said any profits are reinvested in the airport, pointing to the LBA:REGEN project, which it said opened a new central search zone and staff welfare facilities this week. Neither side has published the size of the offer or the pay gap in the sources we have seen.

Jet2 and Spain flights

TTG Media reported that the disruption could affect several of the UK’s largest airlines and operators, including Leeds-based Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, which counts the airport as its hometown base. Travel Tourister, a travel news site, reported on 7 October that Jet2 was listed as flying to Málaga, Alicante and Almería on both Friday 16 and Sunday 18 October. It said fares for Málaga and Alicante were still on sale for those dates.

That is a snapshot of what Travel Tourister saw on the airline’s website, not confirmation from Jet2 that those flights will operate. The sources include no comment from Jet2, and no figures for how many flights or passengers are involved. Travel Tourister also says Ryanair and Wizz Air operate from the airport, but nothing in the sources describes their plans for the strike dates.

The two sides’ positions remain directly opposed. Unite’s spokesperson said, as quoted by Travel Tourister, that “no flights would be able to fly in and out without air traffic control”, while the airport expects near-normal operations. Until one side’s account is tested by events or by an airline schedule, passengers cannot know which will hold.

What happens next

The airport said it would welcome continued discussions aimed at reaching a resolution, and the sources say issues are “still under discussion”. They do not report any new talks date or any move from Unite to call off the action. The key moments are 3am on Friday 16 October, when the first group is due to walk out, 6am the same day, when air traffic control joins, and 6am on Sunday 18 October, when the action is due to end.

Passengers can take a few steps now. Check your booking reference with your airline or tour operator and look for any message about changes to your flight. Avoid committing to non-refundable onward travel, such as trains or hotels, until your flight is confirmed. If you do incur costs, keep the receipts, because you may need them when asking an airline or insurer what is covered.

If Jet2, the airport or Unite issues a further statement, or if the dispute is settled, this report will be updated.

Your questions answered

Will airport strikes affect my flight?

If you are due to fly to or from Leeds Bradford between 3am on Friday 16 October and 6am on Sunday 18 October, the position is disputed. Unite says flights cannot operate, while the airport expects near-normal operations. The sources report no strike action at other UK airports, so this story does not suggest wider disruption.

Are there currently queues at Leeds Bradford Airport?

The sources do not include any live information on queues or waiting times. The strike has not started, so any current queues would not stem from it. For the latest position, check the airport’s own channels and your airline before you leave home.

What are the latest updates on the Leeds Bradford Airport expansion?

The airport’s statement refers to its ongoing LBA:REGEN project, which it said opened a new central search zone and staff welfare facilities this week. The sources give no further detail, and do not say whether this is the expansion you have in mind. We will cover it separately if verified information becomes available.