Passengers flying through Auckland on 24 and 27 November can keep their travel plans after airport firefighters withdrew two planned strikes.
Passengers flying through Auckland on 24 and 27 November can keep their travel plans after airport firefighters withdrew two planned strikes. The dispute is not over yet, with union members set to vote on a revised offer next week.
By Sandy | Webfit News | 14 November 2026
AUCKLAND: Travellers who were facing the prospect of cancelled flights and disrupted holiday plans later this month have received some welcome news. Two planned strikes by Auckland Airport’s firefighters and emergency responders have been called off.
The breakthrough came on Friday after Auckland Airport made an improved offer to E tū union members, prompting the union to withdraw strike notices for 24 and 27 November.
The decision removes the immediate threat of widespread disruption at New Zealand’s busiest international airport, where the proposed stoppages had raised concerns about flight cancellations, diversions and missed connections.
For passengers who have been anxiously watching developments, the message is reassuring: flights are expected to operate normally on both dates.
The agreement itself, however, is not yet settled.
Union members will consider the revised offer and vote on it next week.
A welcome change for passengers
Just days ago, travellers were being warned that two 24-hour stoppages could affect tens of thousands of people.
The first strike was due to begin at 6am on Tuesday, 24 November, and continue until 6am the following morning. The second was scheduled to follow the same pattern from Friday, 27 November, into Saturday, 28 November.
That meant even passengers booked on the mornings of 25 and 28 November faced uncertainty.
Now, those strike notices have been withdrawn.
Auckland Airport Chief Operations Officer Chloe Surridge welcomed the development, saying it was good news for the thousands of travellers booked to fly during the affected periods.
The airport’s priority, she said, had been to avoid disruption while maintaining safe operations.
For families preparing for holidays, people travelling for work and those returning home, the announcement removes a significant worry.
There is no need to change an existing booking because of the withdrawn strikes, although passengers should continue checking their airline’s usual flight updates.
What brought the two sides back from strike action?
At the centre of the dispute are 69 members of Auckland Airport’s Airport Emergency Services team.
These are not ordinary airport ground staff. They are specialist firefighters and emergency responders whose presence is essential to aviation safety.
Their responsibilities include aircraft rescue and firefighting, along with other emergency duties across the airport.
E tū members had raised concerns about pay and compensation for mandatory specialist training undertaken overseas.
The union previously said firefighters were required to travel to Singapore for training following the closure of the airport’s local live-fire training facility.
For workers, the issue was not simply the training itself, but the time spent away from their families and whether that commitment was being fairly recognised.
Negotiations had reached the point where formal strike notices were issued.
But further discussions this week produced an improved offer from Auckland Airport.
E tū Assistant National Secretary Mat Danaher confirmed the union would now take that proposal back to its members.
The decision to withdraw the strikes allows workers to consider the offer without the immediate pressure of industrial action.
Neither side has publicly disclosed the full terms of the revised proposal, so it remains unclear how the outstanding concerns have been addressed.
Why 69 workers could affect thousands of flights and passengers
The threatened disruption highlighted how heavily a major international airport depends on a relatively small team of specialist emergency personnel.
Airports must maintain appropriate rescue and firefighting capability to support aircraft operations.
If the required level of qualified emergency cover cannot be maintained, airlines may face restrictions, cancellations or diversions.
That was the concern at Auckland Airport.
A 24-hour stoppage could have affected far more than the flights scheduled during the strike itself.
An aircraft unable to arrive in Auckland might also be unavailable for its next journey. Passengers could miss onward connections, while freight shipments and time-sensitive deliveries might face delays.
The consequences could have spread across domestic and international networks.
It was this potential knock-on effect that made the proposed strikes particularly concerning for travellers.
With the notices now withdrawn, the airport and airlines can continue planning their operations without those two stoppages hanging over them.
The dispute is not finished
While the immediate threat of disruption has passed, the improved offer still needs the support of union members.
E tū is expected to hold meetings next week, when workers will have an opportunity to consider the proposal and vote.
That distinction matters.
Calling off a strike does not necessarily mean an employment agreement has been finalised.
If members accept the offer, it could clear the way for a settlement. If they reject it, further negotiations may be needed.
For now, both Auckland Airport and E tū have indicated their intention to continue working towards a negotiated resolution.
No replacement strike dates have been announced.
What if you’re flying on 24 or 27 November?
The latest development means passengers can continue with their existing travel arrangements.
The planned industrial action is no longer expected to affect flights on those dates.
Travellers should still keep an eye on airline notifications, particularly if they have connecting flights or are travelling internationally.
Normal operational disruptions, including weather and other airline-related issues, remain possible, as they would on any travel day.
Anyone who has already changed a booking because of the earlier strike warning should contact their airline or travel agent to discuss their options.
For those who had been holding off making travel plans, the withdrawal of the notices provides greater certainty.
A good outcome for travellers, with one decision still to come
The past few days have been unsettling for passengers who had little control over whether their flights might operate.
Many were left wondering whether to change plans, allow extra time or wait for their airline to make a decision.
That uncertainty has now eased.
The withdrawal of the strike notices is a positive development for travellers, airlines and businesses that rely on Auckland Airport.
It also gives the firefighters an opportunity to consider an improved offer without proceeding with the planned stoppages.
The next important development will be the outcome of the union vote.
Until then, the immediate news for passengers is simple.
The planned Auckland Airport strikes on 24 and 27 November are off, and flights are expected to operate as normal.
Webfit News previously reported on the proposed stoppages and their potential impact on passengers. This article updates that coverage following the withdrawal of the strike notices.
Sources: E tū and Auckland Airport announcements, 13 November 2026; earlier reporting on the proposed industrial action.
Webfit News | New Zealand News | Aviation & Transport
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