Holidaymakers driven 86 miles due to strike action

39 minutes ago

Debbie Tubby,at Norwich Airportand

Neve Gordon-Farleigh

News image — All flights, except those of the air ambulance, have been grounded from Norwich Airport following strike action by air traffic control members

Martin Giles/BBC A row of coaches outside Norwich Airport. There are a queue of holidaymakers with suitcases waiting in a queue next to the coaches. — All flights, except those of the air ambulance, have been grounded from Norwich Airport following strike action by air traffic control members

Disgruntled holidaymakers are having to be driven 86 miles (138km) to another airport, due to strike action.

Flight cancellations mean passengers have had to be taken by coach to London Stansted Airport in Essex.

Air traffic control staff at Norwich Airport who are members of the Prospect union, voted in favour of industrial action in relation to pay and conditions.

Richard Pace, managing director of Norwich Airport, said: "We've approached this whole process in good faith, we have negotiated in good faith, we have put a fair and reasonable offer to Prospect and we are very disappointed."

Malcolm and Dawn Holmes who are jetting off to Majorca to celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary, said it was a very "inconvenient" way to start their trip.

Malcolm, 67, said: "I wonder if it's completely necessary. The action they have taken so far seems to have had a good impact anyway, did they need a full strike today?"

However, he praised Tui, saying the company has "done a pretty good job" under "really difficult circumstances."

Martin Giles/BBC A composite image of Malcolm and Dawn Holmes. On the left, Malcolm Holmes, is sitting inside Norwich Airport. He is looking directly at the camera and smiling. He is wearing a blue quarter zip T-shirt. On the right Dawn Holmes is sitting inside Norwich Airport. She is looking directly at the camera and smiling. She is wearing a white and black zebra-patterned short-sleeved blouse, a necklace and glasses. — Malcolm Holmes (left) is not convinced a full day of strike action was necessary after industrial action had already taken place

The holiday was booked in April and Dawn said they chose Norwich Airport because it was more convenient as they live in nearby Drayton.

She said: "The thing is, we are still going. We weren't sure if we would even be going."

Prospect claims members are being paid "significantly less" and are demanding a 10% pay rise in line with the UK market rate, along with improved maternity and paternity leave.

Holidaymakers have already faced disruption at the airport this month after it was closed to air traffic between 08:00 and 13:00 BST on Friday 21 August.

David Avery, national secretary at Prospect, said it was disappointing it had come to strike action.

He said: "We are sorry they are having to go elsewhere but we are trying to do this to get a sustainable future for air traffic at this airport."

Martin Giles/BBC Richard Pace standing inside Norwich Airport. Behind him is an empty departures lounge. He is looking directly at the camera and is wearing a black suit blazer with a white shirt. He is also wearing a pair of black-framed glasses. — Richard Pace said flights to and from the airport were expected to operate as normal on Saturday

Pace said on Friday, out of 21 commercial flights, some had been cancelled and others had been re-routed to Stansted.

Thirty helicopter flights have also been grounded, however, the East Anglian Air Ambulance has been able to operate as normal.

He said 20 air traffic control staff had taken industrial action on the day.

Pace said: "We are happy to engage with them [Prospect] when they want to engage with us to get a resolution for this dispute, which is fair to the airport and our customers and the rest of the staff in the airport too."

He added "pretty much normal service" was expected after Friday.

'It's a holiday I desperately need'

Martin Giles/BBC Sarah Owen and Claire Minter sitting inside Norwich Airport. Behind them are wooden tables and chairs. Both women are looking directly at the camera and smiling. Sarah Owen, on the left, is wearing a pink-collared shirt and has a pair of silver hoop earrings on. On the right is Claire Minter who is wearing a pink long-sleeved blouse and dark-rimmed glasses. She has her arm round Sarah. — Claire Minter (right) was looking forward to a trip abroad before starting radiotherapy treatment for cancer

Claire Minter who is undergoing cancer treatment, was hoping to get some rest before starting radiotherapy. However, the strike action has caused "extra hassle".

The 57-year-old said: "[It's] not the best start to a holiday and a holiday I desperately needed.

"I have no choice to change the date as once my radiotherapy starts I can't fly and I can't go into the sun."

Minter said she did not support strike action.

The trip away was booked last minute with Sarah Owen who said they live walking distance from the airport and only found out on social media that they would be going to Stansted.