Fuel tanker drivers working for North Air at Edinburgh Airport are on strike for 19 days over Christmas and New Year over a pay dispute.
The Unite union says the walkout will start at 5am on Wednesday December 18, a week before Christmas. It will end at the same time on Monday 6th January. This section occupies the expected busiest days of winter at the capital’s airport.
The union says the firm’s “militancy” will “end domestic and international flights during the festive season”.
Unite says: “Prestige routes including United Airlines to New York and Emirates to Dubai, along with Loganair’s domestic routes to the islands, could be directly affected.”
The Independent asked North Air and all three airlines for a response. Loganair is unlikely to be largely affected as pilots can refuel in places such as the Isle of Man, Stornoway, Orkney and Shetland. The connection to Southampton, a distance of more than 350 miles, could prove more difficult due to runway payload limitations.
United and Emirates would not be able to land within normal parameters with enough fuel for a return flight to New York or Dubai.
During previous events when fuel was not available at the airport, air carriers flew short distances – such as London Heathrow to Stansted – to refuel.
The union says North Air has refused to re-enter negotiations with Unite after rejecting a 4.5 per cent pay offer from the company.
Carrie Binnie, Unite’s industrial director, said: “North Air does not care about its workers or the traveling public.
“The company’s belligerence is at serious risk of causing widespread travel disruption at Edinburgh Airport over the festive season.”
The airline’s announcement said that “North Air is the only fueling company serving domestic and long-haul flights from Edinburgh Airport.”
According to the Capa Center for Aviation, North Air is one of five refueling companies at Edinburgh Airport, along with Air BP, Shell Aviation, Q8 Aviation and Skytanking. The leading airlines at the airport – easyJet, British Airways and Ryanair – will not be affected.