UK airport could 'shutdown' next month with all flights grounded

British holidaygoers could face mayhem next month as a UK airport faces a total shutdown – with almost 80 key workers threatening to walk out over a pay dispute.

The development follows news that Bournemouth Airport's operator was sold to a global investment firm. Members of Unite, one of the UK's largest unions, are now being balloted for strike action. The workers include include key members of staff, like aircraft fuellers, baggage handlers, security and check-in staff and flight dispatchers.

Therefore, if the strike goes ahead, it could lead to every flight being grounded and incoming planes delayed or diverted – leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers affected.

Union bosses say workers were insulted by a below-inflation pay offer. The increase came at just a 4.5 per cent rise for the lowest-paid, bringing them to just £12.22 an hour. Meanwhile, 3 per cent was offered to higher-paid staff, which they said come close to covering the cost of living.

However, Bournemouth Airport has increased its own charges by 5 per cent and pumped over £50 million into airport upgrades, to accommodate a rise in passenger numbers, reports The Sun.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Bournemouth Airport is putting its own interests over those of the workers. We appreciate it is investing in its future, but members must not be left behind in the pursuit of that.”

She added that their “hardworking members” deserved a fair pay increase and emphasised that Unite will continue to back them. The ballot closes on August 20, and strikes could begin as soon as the first week of September.

Unite’s regional officer Janet Wall warned: "We recognise that any flight cancellations and delays would be extremely disruptive and frustrating for travellers, but our members feel they’ve had no choice. This is entirely the fault of the employer, who is financially prospering while our members struggle to afford the basics."

The airport handles over 950,000 passengers a year and runs flights to 34 destinations across Europe and North Africa, mainly via TUI and Ryanair. It has insisted it’s still negotiating.

A spokesperson for Bournemouth Airport said: “We are in ongoing negotiations in good faith with Unite and remain hopeful that we can work constructively with them to reach agreement.

They added that they remain “committed to keeping Bournemouth Airport as a vital economic asset for the region, our customers and for the people who work there now and in the future.”

Bournemouth Airport was sold alongside Exeter and Norwich in a £200million deal to the investment group ICG. The three regional airports are operated by Regional and City Airports (RCA) which is entering a new partnership.