Significant travel disruption is imminent across Spain as multiple airport strikes are set to impact holidaymakers and travellers later this month. Air traffic controllers at fourteen key airports in mainland Spain and the Canary Islands will commence indefinite industrial action from midnight on April 17, organised by the Union Sindical de Reguladores Aereos and Comisiones Obreras unions.
Widespread Airport Disruption
The strikes target SAERCO, a private company operating numerous control towers across the country. According to union statements, deteriorating working conditions, excessive stress, and problematic shift pattern changes have reached a critical point where "aeronautical safety cannot be sustained." The action is expected to continue indefinitely, potentially affecting peak holiday travel periods.
Affected Airports and Locations
The fourteen airports impacted by the air traffic controller strikes include major holiday destinations:
- Lanzarote, Canary Islands
- Fuerteventura, Canary Islands
- La Palma, Canary Islands
- El Hierro, Canary Islands
- La Gomera, Canary Islands
- Sevilla, Andalucia
- Jerez (Cadiz), Andalucia
- Cuatro Vientos, Madrid
- Vigo, Galicia
- A Coruña
- Castellón-Costa Azahar, Valencia
- Burgos
- Huesca
- Ciudad Real
Union representatives have highlighted specific grievances including SAERCO's failure to provide adequate breaks and the cancellation of previously approved holidays. Reports indicate these problems have been accumulating over several years.
Ongoing Ground Staff Strikes
Separately, Spain is already experiencing significant airport disruption from ongoing ground staff strikes that began on March 30. These indefinite industrial actions involve Groundforce workers at major hubs including Barcelona-El Prat Airport, Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport, Palma de Mallorca Airport, Alicante, Malaga, and several Canary Islands airports.
The ground staff strikes feature partial work stoppages on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during three specific time slots: 5am to 7am, 11am to 5pm, and 10pm to midnight. These staggered timings are creating extended queues, delayed luggage drop-offs, and boarding complications for travellers.
Compensation and Insurance Considerations
Travel insurance expert Alicia Hempsted from MoneySuperMarket advises affected passengers to carefully review their policy documents regarding potential compensation eligibility. "Under EU law, you may be entitled to a refund for your flight from the airline, but you may also be able to reclaim other costs, such as accommodation, on your travel insurance," she explained.
Hempsted clarified that airlines have obligations to provide food, drink, and accommodation during significant delays, but compensation claims typically depend on when travellers were notified about the strikes. "Travellers can only claim additional compensation if they are told about the strikes less than 14 days before their flight," she noted.
The insurance expert emphasised that strikes are generally considered "extraordinary circumstances," meaning airlines aren't usually responsible unless their own staff are involved. Regarding travel insurance coverage, she advised: "As long as the airline strikes were announced after you booked your trip and your travel insurance, you may be able to claim through your insurer."
Hempsted cautioned that coverage varies significantly between providers, with not all policies covering strikes as standard. She recommended checking terms and conditions carefully, noting that comprehensive travel disruption cover might include alternative accommodation, additional expenses, or even the full holiday cost if travel becomes impossible.
Spanish airport operator Aena has issued guidance for affected travellers, urging them to check whether their airport is impacted and contact their airline directly for flight status updates. The Daily Mail has contacted SAERCO for comment regarding the impending air traffic controller strikes.
