AIR traffic control staff are to go on strike at Norwich airport on Friday after Prospect members “comprehensively” rejected its latest offer to resolve a pay and conditions row.

The union said that talks held on Wednesday resulted in an offer that “still fell well short of demands, making it impossible for a shift in its position.”

Airport closures have been “occurring regularly” due to “chronic” understaffing, which is a “direct result of the poor pay and conditions relative to the national norm,” added Prospect.

The union’s national secretary David Avery said: “We appreciate that this will cause disruption for some passengers but when an employer treats staff with so little respect they have no option but to stick to their guns.

“Norwich airport can avert further strike action, but they have to give us an offer which is competitive with the rest of the country.”

The airport was contacted for comment.