Half-term holidays from Yorkshire could be thrown into chaos, with around 130 Leeds Bradford workers set to walk out in a pay dispute that would ground flights entirely.
Here's where things stand. The Unite union had scheduled strikes for 16 to 18 October, involving air traffic controllers, security staff, cleaners and customer experience workers. Those air traffic control strikes have now been suspended so members can vote on a revised pay offer. A separate ballot for hourly paid staff — including security, check-in, passport control and passenger assistance teams — closes soon, and that group could still strike as planned this weekend.
The bigger worry for families is a second wave of industrial action planned from 23 October to 2 November, which lands squarely in the busy half-term window. That round goes ahead if workers reject the latest offer. Unite says the dispute has been running since the end of last year, with members seeking pay parity with counterparts at Newcastle airport. General secretary Sharon Graham argued Leeds Bradford staff are paid far less than people doing identical jobs at a nearby airport.
The stakes are high because air traffic controllers are central to the action. If they strike, the airport sees no departures or arrivals at all — there's no workaround that keeps planes flying. Leeds Bradford handles roughly 4.5 million passengers a year, and half-term is one of its busiest stretches.
The airport's response has been measured. It says it respects the right to lawful industrial action but disputes the union's framing, describing its own offer as significantly above inflation and necessary for the business's long-term sustainability. It also says it expects to run near-normal operations and that minimising customer disruption is its priority.
If you're flying from Leeds Bradford between late October and early November, keep an eye on your airline's updates rather than the airport's reassurances — airlines will rebook or cancel first if walkouts are confirmed. Consider travel insurance with strike cover, build buffer time into any connecting plans, and know your refund rights: if your flight is cancelled, you're typically entitled to a rerouting or a refund. Check-in online, arrive with your plans flexible, and have a backup route in mind — Manchester Airport is the obvious alternative gateway if things collapse at the last minute.
Travellers should care because this is exactly the kind of dispute that gets resolved or escalates with only days' notice, and half-term flights are expensive to rebook. Watch for the ballot results; they'll decide whether the 23 October to 2 November strikes go ahead.
