Grounded: Air control pay spat leaves planes on runway at Inverness

INVERNESS Airport was set to be at a standstill today as air traffic controllers went on strike over a pay dispute.

Airlines operating from Inverness were offering passengers refunds or the chance to re-book on other flights ahead of today’s planned action.

EasyJet laid on additional flights for both yesterday and tomorrow as the strike was set to affect six airports run by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (Hial) – Benbecula, Dundee, Kirkwall, Stornoway and Sumburgh, as well as Inverness. Loganair, Flybe and British Airways all confirmed their flights were among a total of 22 from Inverness cancelled as a result of today’s action.

All airlines offered customers a range of options to minimise disruption, including refunds or free transfers to alternative flights. The increasingly bitter pay row has rumbled on between Hial and the Prospect union for months, with efforts to reach an agreement through conciliation service Acas failing earlier this month.

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