Workers at Bournemouth Airport in the United Kingdom will be on strike for four days this autumn, likely causing at least some disruption for those travelling to and from the airport.
As a new pay offer has been rejected, 80 members of the Unite union have announced to go on strike for four days this autumn. On 30 September, 1 October, 16 October, and 17 October, disruption is to be expected as the workers are employed at several services across the airport, including baggage handling, check-in, flight dispatching, and plane fuelling. The fire service at the airport is part of a different union bargaining agreement and will not be going on strike, having accepted a new pay deal.
Initially, a strike was scheduled to take place in September. However, with a new pay offer on the table (a 5% rise for the lowest paid and 4.5% for higher paid members), the walk-out was postponed to allow all personnel to be balloted regarding the deal. With the new pay offer being rejected, some 70 to 80 workers are expected to go on strike, representing a considerable part of the airport’s 450 workforce.
🛑 STRIKES SUSPENDED AT BOURNEMOUTH AIRPORT 🛑
— Unite South West (@unitesouthwest) September 4, 2025
Strike action that would have shut down Bournemouth Airport this weekend has been suspended after a new pay offer was made.
Over 100 Unite members were set to strike from 5–7 and 14 Sept in a dispute over pay. pic.twitter.com/XekItq6ekH
“We are extremely disappointed industrial action has been threatened despite the airport having negotiated extensively and in good faith with Unite and having met all their previous demands in full. This included making significantly improved pay offers to staff in line with requests, which Unite recommended to their members for approval”, the airport said in a statement.
Disruptions ahead
While negotiations with the union continue, Bournemouth Airport has been working on contingency plans in order to reduce the impact of the strikes as much as possible. However, some disruption should be expected anyway, and passengers are asked to contact their carrier in the lead-up to their flight.
“This dispute will inevitably result in major disruption to passengers, but this dispute is entirely the fault of the employer. Offers so far have been rejected as they don’t go far enough to address years of low pay and the fact that workers are struggling financially. However, Bournemouth Airport can stop this highly disruptive strike action by coming back with a new, improved offer”, Unite regional officer Janet Wall stated.
UNITE INDUSTRIAL ACTION LATEST
— Bournemouth Airport (@BOHAirport) September 16, 2025
Full Statement: https://t.co/fdpB7OEzob#FlyBournemouth #Travel pic.twitter.com/0O5BTIYt6e
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham added that it is completely unacceptable for people working for a profitable employer to be struggling to afford the basics. According to Graham, Bournemouth Airport can afford to reward its hardworking staff by coming back with a fair offer. Until then, Unite members will have the full backing of the union during their industrial action.
Bournemouth Airport serves around 950,000 passengers a year, scheduling flights to 34 destinations across Europe and North Africa.
