City of Derry Airport looks set to close on July 16 and 17 following a pay dispute with firefighters, The Belfast Telegraph reports.
Talks are underway to prevent a shutdown of the Northern Irish gateway, but officials have made no indication they expect to reach a breakthrough in time to avert the strike.
Unions representing firefighters, baggage handlers and cleaners at the airport are among those urging Derry City Council to exclude their members from the nationwide strike.
But their request has so far been declined, prompting Joe Miller, chairman of the council’s Airport Committee, to warn that passengers will bear the brunt of any disruption.
“We have made a strong case to both unions for an exemption for staff and we will await a reply,” he said. “The impact of any closure will have significant disruption on passengers and through discussions we hope that an agreement can be reached.”
Last year, the Civil Aviation Authority closed Derry Airport for four days following what it described as “systematic failure of safety management”.
