Norwich Airport to Shut as Strike Grounds Every Flight

Norwich Airport will close to all air traffic for 24 hours on Friday, 28 August, after Prospect union air traffic controllers confirmed a full-day strike over pay, terms and conditions. The airport says no flights will operate in or out, forcing airlines to cancel or rearrange every scheduled service. The walkout follows industrial action that already caused a five-hour closure and cancellations on 21 August.

If You’re Booked From Norwich on Friday

• Airline update: Check your carrier’s app or website before leaving; Norwich Airport says airlines have been informed.
• Refund or rerouting: UK law gives a choice between a refund for the unused ticket or an alternative journey.
• Care costs: If rerouted, reasonable meals, hotel or transport may be covered; keep receipts.
• Compensation: Airport or air traffic control strikes are usually classed as extraordinary circumstances.

The dispute centres on pay, terms and conditions for Norwich Airport’s air traffic control staff. Prospect says the airport has not made an acceptable offer, so members began industrial action on 17 August. Instead of working beyond their contracts, they stopped taking voluntary overtime, swapping shifts and providing extra cover. With staffing already tight, Prospect says that loss of flexibility has been enough to disrupt airport operations.

Friday’s closure will affect Norwich services to Aberdeen, Amsterdam, Alicante, Corfu, Majorca and Dalaman. The Amsterdam route deserves extra attention because many passengers use Schiphol for onward connections. If that sector is cancelled or rerouted, the rest of the journey may also change. Check the full booking, including connecting flights, baggage arrangements and any revised arrival airport, before heading to Norwich.

Since no flights will operate during the closure, passengers should wait for their airline to confirm whether they will be rerouted or refunded before travelling to the airport. Those with separate hotel, car-hire or onward bookings may also need to make changes once new flight details are confirmed. As the wider industrial action is continuing, departures on nearby dates should also be checked in case further disruption is announced.