Travel plans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States—and for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow—face fresh uncertainty after Unite the Union opened strike ballots on 6 May 2026 covering almost 900 workers at Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports. The ballots close on 21 and 28 May, teeing up potential walk-outs during the July-August peak. Those voting include ICTS security screeners, Edinburgh Airport ‘ambassadors’ and ground-handling crews employed by Menzies Aviation. Unite says each employer is “highly profitable” yet offering below-inflation pay. If members back action, strikes could start just as thousands of World Cup charter flights depart Scotland for group-stage matches in Dallas and Miami. Business-travel analysts note that Scotland’s three main airports handle a growing share of UK long-haul connections thanks to Scandinavian and US airline expansion. Corporate travel managers may need to reroute itineraries through Manchester or Heathrow or plan overnight layovers if security queues lengthen.
Amid this uncertainty, VisaHQ’s UK team (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) can fast-track ETA applications, secure last-minute U.S. visa appointments and advise on any additional documentation required when itineraries change, giving mobility managers one less headache while strike dates remain fluid.
HR teams moving assignees in or out of North Sea energy projects should prepare contingency accommodation and review time-sensitive visa appointments. Negotiations are ongoing, but recent UK aviation disputes show talks often go to the wire. Companies with critical movements in July should monitor Unite updates and consider buying flexible or dual-protected tickets that allow last-minute airport switches. From a compliance angle, remember that the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme will already be mandatory for many World-Cup-bound fans transiting via London. Layering industrial action on top of new border checks could amplify disruption for mobile staff and VIP travellers alike.
