Airport strikes to disrupt holiday flights

Travellers using the north’s airports this festive period are being warned to expect disruption after the latest strike dates were announced.

Unite, the union which represents workers across 11 airports in the Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (Hial) group, will take action on December 19 and 22.

The 11 affected airports are Inverness, Wick, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree, Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Islay and Dundee.

The action comes after 73.5% of Unite members voted in favour of taking strike action last week, with 92.8% in favour of taking action short of strike in a bid to improve pay for rural communities amid the cost-of-living crisis.

So far, the Hial workforce has already rejected a 5% offer which they deemed unacceptable due to inflation rising to 11%.

Unite industrial officer Shauna Wright said: “Unite does not accept that Hial, a private limited company wholly owned by the Scottish Government, does not have the ability to increase the offer.

“Claims previously made that it is bound by funding obligations set by the Scottish Government will not placate our members or settle this dispute.”

Inglis Lyon, Hial’s managing director, said: “We apologise in advance for the inevitable disruption this action by Unite colleagues will cause for our airlines and passengers.

“Whilst recognising the financial challenges our colleagues face, we are disheartened that they will be taking strike action which will greatly inconvenience our passengers and local communities so close to the festive holiday period.”