STRIKE DAY 1: No delays or flights cancelled on first day of air traffic controllers strike

The air traffic controllers strike at privatized airport control towers in Spain and the Canary Islands, had little or no impact on flight schedules yesterday (Monday), the first day of five 24-hour strikes between now and the end of February.

Sources from the two affected companies, Saerco and FerroNats, the USCA and CCOO unions, who have organised the strikes, and from AENA, who manage Spain’s airports, have all confirmed that the strike by 162 staff in control towers for higher wages, did not affect flights or passengers.

The strike, scheduled for every Monday between January 30th and February 27th, affects 12 control towers in mainland Spain, and four in the Canary Islands, which are: Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Palma, and El Hierro.

Saerco sources told the Efe news agency that all services have operated at the scheduled time and without any delays so that all was normal at the airports whose towers are operated by this company, while FerroNats also said that it had no impact on end users.

However, the unions are not so happy about the situation with the CCOO saying that “the strike has had no impact, which was not the objective of the protest, as the application of the minimum services that Saerco has made in particular is undermining the right to strike.”

Airlines are pleased that the strike had no effect, especially those travelling from international destinations including the UK, but the advice is still to check the status of your flight if you are flying on a Monday in February to Lanzarote or Fuerteventura, just in case.