Leeds Bradford Airport Half-Term Strikes Are Suspended for Acas Talks, and the Airport Says It Will Run as Normal

The strikes planned at Leeds Bradford Airport from Friday, October 23, to November 2, 2026, have been suspended, the Unite union said on October 19. More than 130 workers, including air traffic controllers and hourly paid staff, have paused the action to allow talks with the airport brokered by Acas.

The airport says that with all planned strike action withdrawn, it will operate as normal throughout the October half term, with no disruption expected to services.

What changed on October 19

The walkout would have covered the busy school half-term break. Unite says the strikers include air traffic controllers and hourly paid staff such as passport control and passenger assistance workers.

This is the second round of strikes at the airport to be stood down in a week. Unite suspended the October 16 to 18 walkout, as we reported when the weekend strike was called off, so that both groups could vote on new pay offers from the airport.

According to Unite’s statement, both the controllers and the hourly paid workers have “heavily rejected” the airport’s latest pay offers, but members agreed to pause the action so the two sides can talk with Acas involved.

Unite regional officer Neil Whitaker said the union had “paused action in good faith” to hold talks with the airport and Acas in the coming days. He added that members “still have a strong mandate for industrial action.”

If the talks do not produce an improved deal that members accept, Whitaker said, Unite “will not hesitate to announce strike action which will have a major impact on the airport.”

What the airport says

Leeds Bradford Airport welcomed the decision in a statement published by the Yorkshire Evening Post. A spokesperson said a revised pay offer “remains on the table” for both the controllers and the hourly paid staff.

The airport said both sides agree that Acas support will help, and that it expects that process to start in the coming days. Neither side has said what the offers contain.

Why the controllers are the sticking point

The controllers want pay parity with colleagues at Newcastle Airport, which Unite says pays more for the same role. In an October 12 statement, the union put a starting controller’s pay at around £34,000 at Leeds Bradford against £55,000 at Newcastle.

The union links the two airports through their owner. It says Spanish operator AENA part owns Newcastle and took a 51% majority stake in Leeds Bradford in May, through a £270 million holding company deal.

Unite also says many of the hourly paid workers earn just above minimum wage. The controllers matter most for flights, though: Unite warned earlier that the airport would face a shutdown if they struck, because no aircraft can take off or land without them.

What travelers should know

Anyone flying from Leeds Bradford over half term can expect a normal operation, according to the airport. As always, check your own flight with your airline before you leave home.

A new strike could not appear overnight. Since February 18, 2026, UK unions have had to give employers at least 10 days’ notice of industrial action, down from 14, under the Employment Rights Act 2025. The same change means a strike mandate now lasts 12 months, not six.

Acas describes collective conciliation as free, voluntary and confidential, so the detail of the talks may stay private. At the time of writing, neither side has given a date for the first meeting or a deadline for a deal.