Flights to the islands should be unaffected by strikes at Edinburgh Airport over Christmas.
It comes as North Air fuel tanker drivers at Edinburgh Airport will take continuous strike action for more than 19 days in a dispute over pay.
North Air is the only fuel supply company providing services to domestic and long-haul flights from Edinburgh airport, including Loganair’s domestic routes to the islands.
However, according to Loganair’s chief operating officer Natalie Bush, the airline is planning to run all flights to Stornoway, Sumburgh and Kirkwall as normal.
Christmas and New Year flights between Edinburgh and the islands could be axed
Unite the Union, the UK’s leading aviation trade union, announced the strike action today, Tuesday, November 10.
According to Unite, the pay dispute relates to a rejected 4.5% pay offer by the company, following years of below inflation pay increases.
The strike action will begin at 5am on December 18 and continue each day until 4:59am on January 6.
Sharon Graham, Unite the Union general secretary, said: “North Air is a highly profitable company that can fully afford to make a fair offer to our members but has refused to do so.
“Unite will always support our members in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”
Carrie Binnie, the trade union industrial officer, said: “North Air has no concern for their workers or the travelling public.
“Unite has had no option but to confirm imminent industrial action. North Air now has very limited time to resolve this dispute.
“The company’s belligerence is at serious risk of causing widespread travel disruption at Edinburgh airport over the festive season.”
North Air ‘disappointed’ at Unite’s decision
A spokesperson for North Air said: “We are disappointed at Unite’s decision to proceed with industrial action at Edinburgh Airport.
“We successfully concluded negotiations with Unite at six other sites ahead of the annual review this summer, which has seen colleagues across the business receive a 4.5% increase in pay – significantly above current levels of inflation.
“We remain open to discussion and are committed to working with all parties to minimise the impact of any strike action over the festive period.”
A previous version of this story stated that islands flights could be grounded by the strike disruption. This was incorrect.
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