A PLANNED strike over Christmas and New Year by fuel tanker drivers at Edinburgh Airport has been called off, their employer has said.
Unite the union announced last week that tanker drivers from plane refuelling-firm North Air would start a 19-day strike on December 18.
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On Monday, North Air said the strike has been called off following a pay deal.
A North Air spokesperson said: “We are pleased to confirm that we have reached an agreement with Unite on pay and that the planned strike at Edinburgh Airport has been called off.”
Unite had previously said members had “overwhelmingly backed strike action” over the festive period as North Air had failed to provide an improved pay deal, after an offer of a 4.5% rise was rejected.
The union warned of possible disruption to flights as the company is the sole fuel supply firm servicing domestic and long-haul routes from the airport.
North Air said it employs 57 people at the airport and of these, 46 are operational workers who deal with refuelling and vehicle movements.
An Edinburgh Airport spokesman said: “We’re pleased that Unite and North Air have reached an agreement.”
Unite was contacted for comment.
We previously told how thousands of holidaymakers could have faced some disruption during their winter break.
Unite claimed popular routes including United Airlines to New York and Emirates to Dubai along with Loganair’s domestic routes to the islands could be directly impacted.
North Air provides refuelling services for domestic and international airlines who fly into and out of Scotland’s largest airport.
It employs 57 people at the airport and of these, 46 are operational workers who deal with refuelling and vehicle movements and could strike.
S&JD Robertson North Air Limited iregistered an increase in pre-tax profits up from £1.1m in 2022 to £1.9m in 2023 in the latest accounts.
Turnover similarly increased by £33.2m to £40.4m over the same time period.
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