Air Traffic Control Industrial Action Commences at Nine Spanish Airports
Friday, April 17th, 2026
Starting Friday, 17th April, air traffic controllers at several Spanish airports have entered an indefinite strike period. The industrial action, spearheaded by the unions USCA and CCOO, involves staff at Saerco, a private company responsible for managing traffic at specific regional hubs. The dispute centres on concerns regarding staffing shortages, employee well-being, and the long-term impact of these factors on aviation safety.
Locations Impacted by the Strike
The walkout is concentrated at nine specific airports across the mainland and the Canary Islands:
- Spanish mainland: Seville, Jerez de la Frontera, Madrid-Cuatro Vientos, Vigo, and A Coruña.
- Canary Islands: Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, and El Hierro.
Status of Palma Airport and the Balearic Islands
It is important to note that Palma de Mallorca Airport, alongside all other Balearic gateways, is not included in this strike. While Saerco manages the towers at the locations listed above, air traffic control at Palma de Mallorca is handled by ENAIRE, the national navigation service provider. Because ENAIRE staff are not part of this specific labour dispute, the control tower at Palma remains fully operational.
Potential for Knock-on Delays
Although the strike is not taking place locally, passengers at Palma Airport may still experience minor disruptions. The interconnected nature of flight schedules means that if an aircraft is delayed departing from an affected airport, such as Seville or Fuerteventura, it will arrive late for its subsequent departure from Palma.
These “knock-on” effects can occasionally impact the wider network, even at airports where staff are not on strike. Travellers are advised to monitor flight status updates from their airline, particularly if their aircraft is arriving from the Spanish mainland or the Canary Islands.
Historical Context
Significant air traffic disruption in the Balearics is relatively uncommon. The last instance of a major air traffic control strike affecting Palma de Mallorca on a large scale was in 2010. By comparison, the current industrial action is far more limited in scope, affecting only a specific subset of privately managed towers rather than the national network.
