Spain air traffic strike affects 14 airports through June 30

What the Saerco strike covers

Air traffic controllers employed by private tower operator Saerco began an indefinite strike at 14 Spanish airport towers at midnight on April 17, 2026, called by unions USCA and CCOO over staff shortages, workload and shift changes. The walkout remains legally active with no end date announced.

The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility imposed minimum-service rules requiring close to 100% of scheduled flights to operate, an order in force through June 30, 2026. Practical disruption is concentrated at the nine airports where Saerco currently holds active tower contracts, though the strike notice covers all 14 sites.

Affected airports include:

• Canary Islands: Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera
• Andalusia: Seville, Jerez de la Frontera
• Galicia: Vigo, A Coruña
• Smaller regional fields: Madrid-Cuatro Vientos, Castellón, Burgos, Huesca, Ciudad Real

Who's feeling it

Canary Islands traffic is taking the hardest hit. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura sit on heavy tourist rotations and La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera have no land alternative to the mainland, making residents fully dependent on the affected towers.

Digital nomads basing in the Canaries face the most concrete planning risk: Schengen visa runs, conference travel and client meetings tied to fixed dates can be pushed by rolling delays. Mainland regional travelers using Seville, Vigo, Jerez or A Coruña should expect delays and gate changes rather than outright cancellations.

Self-connect itineraries carry the sharpest exposure. A cheap flight into Lanzarote paired with a separate long-haul out of Madrid or Barcelona means a delayed first leg can trigger a missed onward flight with no airline protection.

How to plan around it

Treat all departure times at the 14 listed airports as live and check airline apps the morning of travel. Build longer layovers between separate tickets and avoid booking same-day connections through Madrid or Barcelona out of a Canary departure when possible.

Travelers with EU-departing flights still hold EU261 rights to rerouting, meals and accommodation when delays cross the qualifying thresholds, though strike-related cancellations often fall outside compensation. Keep receipts for any out-of-pocket costs.

Read our full Spain guide for the complete picture.