Norwich Airport Flights Cancelled as Air Traffic Controllers Strike

Air traffic control staff at Norwich Airport are conducting a 24-hour strike on Friday, August 28, 2026, resulting in the cancellation of all flights. The industrial action follows the rejection of a pay offer by members of the Prospect union, who are demanding a 10% pay increase to align salaries with industry standards and address chronic staff shortages. The union is also seeking pension improvements and enhanced maternity and paternity leave.

Airport management describes its offer as substantial and responsible, noting a cumulative increase of approximately 6.1% following a 3.5% raise in April 2026 and a 2% retention allowance. Management argues that employees have received total increases of roughly 25% over three years and maintains that providing benefits to a small group that are unavailable to the wider workforce would be financially unsustainable.

The strike disrupts commercial services from TUI, Loganair, KLM, and Ryanair, while also halting helicopter transport to North Sea gas platforms and drilling rigs. This action follows a series of previous disruptions, including work-to-rule actions that began on August 17 and a five-hour closure on August 21.