Edinburgh Airport flights ‘set to be grounded’ this Christmas over tanker driver strike
‘North Air has no concern for their workers or the travelling public’ said Carrie Binnie, Unite industrial officer
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Fuel tanker drivers working for North Air at Edinburgh Airport will strike for 19 days over Christmas and New Year due to a pay dispute.
The Unite union says the walk-out will begin at 5am on Wednesday 18 December, a week before Christmas. It will end at the same time on Monday 6 January. This stretch takes in the expected busiest days of the winter at the capital’s airport.
The union says the firm’s “belligerence” will “ground domestic and international flights over the festive season”.
Unite says: “Prestigious routes including United Airlines to New York and Emirates to Dubai along with Loganair’s domestic routes to the islands could be directly impacted.”
A spokesperson for the airport said: “We are disappointed that the two parties cannot reach a solution and urge them to continue discussions.
“We’re working with our airlines to understand their contingencies to minimise passenger disruption.”
The Independent has asked North Air and all three airlines for a response. Loganair is likely to be largely unaffected, because pilots can load extra fuel at locations such as the Isle of Man, Stornoway, Orkney and Shetland. The link with Southampton, a distance of over 350 miles, could prove more difficult due to runway payload restrictions.
United and Emirates would not be able to land within normal parameters with enough fuel for a return flight to New York or Dubai respectively.
During previous events when fuel has not been available at an airport, long-haul carriers have flown short distances – such as London Heathrow to Stansted – to refuel.
The union says North Air has refused to re-enter negotiations with Unite after a 4.5 per cent pay offer by the company was rejected.
Carrie Binnie, Unite industrial officer, said: “North Air has no concern for their workers or the travelling public.
“The company’s belligerence is at serious risk of causing widespread travel disruption at Edinburgh Airport over the festive season.”
The union’s announcement says “North Air is the only fuel supply company providing services to domestic and long-haul flights from Edinburgh airport.”
According to the Capa Centre for Aviation, North Air is one of five refuelling companies at Edinburgh airport, alongside Air BP, Shell Aviation, Q8 Aviation and Skytanking. The leading airlines at the hub – easyJet, British Airways and Ryanair – will not be affected.
