Strikes and delays: the latest news from the world of flying

Where to really monitor the situation

Eurocontrol, the organization coordinating European air traffic, manages over 96,000 operational messages every day and monitors more than 10 million flights a year: its public bulletins (Network Operations Portal and weekly Flash Briefing) are the most direct source to understand, before you depart, if there are strikes or expected disruptions on your route, far more reliable than a piece of news you read by chance.

Why it matters who strikes, not just that there is a strike

A strike by air traffic controllers potentially blocks all airspace in a country, even for flights that fly over it without landing there; a strike by personnel of a single airline remains confined to that carrier. This is a distinction that radically changes your concrete options for rebooking.

What the law says about your refund

If your flight departs from an EU airport and is cancelled with less than 14 days notice due to a strike, you are entitled to compensation of 250 to 600 euros — unless it is extraordinary circumstances truly beyond the airline's control (strikes by air traffic control among these). Pay attention to a detail often overlooked: a strike by staff of the same airline is NOT considered an extraordinary circumstance, so it does not exempt you from paying the compensation. You will find all the details on amounts and assistance in our in-depth article on rights in case of flight cancellation.

Checking Eurocontrol bulletins in the days before departure, especially during peak season, takes less than a minute and allows you to assess in good time a free flight change, often possible already with the 24-48 hours notice with which strikes are announced.