Air Traffic Control Strikes and Flight Disruptions: What You Should Know
Wednesday, July 12th, 2023
July 2023: Recent developments regarding air traffic control strikes at Eurocontrol and flight cancellations have become a topic of concern for travellers flying to and from Alicante and other European destinations. Here’s the latest information on the situation.
Busy skies over Europe
Over the next eight weeks, approximately 33,000 flights are scheduled to traverse European airspace on a daily basis. On busy travel days, such as Fridays, this number may even exceed 34,000 flights.
The role of Eurocontrol
Eurocontrol is the European organisation responsible for ensuring air navigation safety. It coordinates air traffic control operations across Europe, facilitating seamless travel across different countries’ airspace.
The current dispute affects Eurocontrol’s network manager operations centre (NMOC), which plays a vital role in streamlining air traffic control operations throughout the continent. The NMOC aids traffic flow, validates flight plans, and optimises airspace utilisation.
Status of strike action and potential impact
At present, no strikes have been confirmed. The Union Syndicale Bruxelles (USB), a union representing employees at the Eurocontrol operations centre, has issued a “pre-warning” about potential strike action in the coming six months. Negotiations are ongoing, and specific strike dates have yet to be disclosed.
While various headlines are predicting significant disruptions to air travel in the event of a strike, it is not yet clear how far-reaching the effects of a walkout would be. Although a USB strike would present challenges to Eurocontrol’s operations management, airspace is anticipated to remain open. It may therefore be possible to limit the impact of an NMOC strike on passengers.
Flight cancellations by airlines
EasyJet recently made an announcement regarding the cancellation of 1,700 flights, accounting for approximately 2% of their total flights scheduled for July and August. The airline attributed this pre-emptive adjustment to the “challenging air traffic environment.” The majority of affected passengers have already been rebooked on alternative flights. In June, Ryanair also had to cancel over 900 flights primarily due to air traffic controller strikes in France.
Staying well-informed
While the situation may raise concerns, it is important to avoid undue alarm caused by attention-grabbing headlines. As negotiations and discussions continue, the best advice for travellers is to stay informed through official announcements from airlines, air traffic control authorities, and reliable news sources. Do also check with your airline for any updates, as they will be able to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding your flight.