Air traffic control strike Europe November 2026: dates

Air traffic control strikes in Europe in November 2026: Italian controllers strike on 6 November at Bari, nationwide on 21 November (1pm to 5pm) and on 22 November at Milan Malpensa, while in Spain controllers at nine airports run by a private provider remain on strike until 30 November and a 24-hour general strike is called for 11 November. Here is the calendar country by country and what to do if your flight is affected. Calendar updated on 22 October 2026: strikes can be called off or moved, so always check your flight the day before.

Free 2-minute check · Nothing to pay upfront · You only pay 25% + VAT if you get compensated

Air traffic control and airport strikes in Europe: November 2026 calendar

All times are local.

Italy: the key date is 21 November

Italy has the busiest strike calendar this month. Air transport strikes are not allowed until 5 November, so the first date is Friday 6 November, a four-hour controllers' strike at Bari. The big one is Saturday 21 November: a nationwide controllers' strike from 1pm to 5pm that can disrupt flights at every Italian airport, with knock-on delays into the evening. If you fly from Dublin, London or Manchester to Rome, Milan, Naples or Sicily that afternoon, expect changes. On Sunday 22 November controllers strike all day at Milan Malpensa and security staff strike all day at Venice, so allow extra time at the security check.

The general strike on Friday 20 November covers all sectors; any arrangements for air transport should be checked closer to the date. The good news: in Italy, flights departing between 7am and 10am and between 6pm and 9pm must operate during strikes, and the Italian civil aviation authority publishes a list of guaranteed flights.

Already called for later: a general strike on 4 December, a 24-hour ground handling strike at Rome Fiumicino and Ciampino on 14 December, a 24-hour controllers' strike at Bologna on 15 December and a nationwide 24-hour controllers' strike on 15 January 2027. From 18 December to 7 January no air transport strikes are allowed in Italy.

Spain, France and Portugal

• Spain: the 24-hour general strike on Wednesday 11 November affects all sectors, and the government sets minimum services at airports a few days beforehand. Until 30 November, controllers employed by the private provider SAERCO at nine airports, including Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Seville, Groundforce handling staff at Barcelona and baggage system staff at Madrid also remain on strike, with minimum services. At Madrid, check in early.
• France: no national air traffic control strike has been announced for November so far. French controllers must declare they are striking by noon two days before, so cancellations often come at short notice. A French strike can also hit flights overflying France, such as Ireland or the UK to Spain, Portugal or Italy.
• Portugal: no strikes at Portuguese airports have been confirmed for November so far.

What you are entitled to if a strike hits your flight

Your rights depend on who is striking, and we explain them in detail in our guide to airline strikes and passenger rights. In short:

A refund or alternative flight and care (meals, drinks, a hotel if you fly the next day) are owed in every case, even when compensation is not. The airline must also prove that the strike actually affected your flight: read our guide to extraordinary circumstances for the reasons airlines usually give.

What to do if your flight falls on a strike day

1. Check your flight status the day before and on the morning: see our guide to real-time flight status.
2. Check whether your flight is protected by guaranteed time slots or minimum services. If it is cancelled or arrives 3 hours or more late anyway, ask for the reason in writing: the strike may not be the cause, and then compensation is due.
3. If the airline offers to move you to another flight in advance, think it through: if you are told about the cancellation less than 14 days before, your rights stay the same.
4. Choose between a refund and an alternative flight, and ask for meals and, if needed, a hotel. Keep every receipt.
5. Note your actual arrival time: compensation depends on the arrival delay, as we explain in our guide flight delayed 3 hours: what am I entitled to.

If the cancellation comes on the day, follow the steps in our guide to a flight cancelled at the last minute.

How to claim compensation

It is not always easy to tell who really went on strike, or whether your flight was hit by the strike or by something else. With DelayFlight24 you can check for free in 2 minutes whether you are owed anything: if you go ahead, we check the real cause of the cancellation and handle the claim, the follow-ups and, if needed, court action. You pay nothing upfront and only pay 25% + VAT if you get compensated. The full rules are on our cancelled flight compensation page.

Frequently asked questions about air traffic control strikes in November 2026

Which is the biggest air strike in Europe in November 2026?

Italy's nationwide air traffic control strike on Saturday 21 November, from 1pm to 5pm local time, and Spain's general strike on Wednesday 11 November.

Is there a French air traffic control strike in November 2026?

None has been announced so far. Because French controllers only have to declare two days before, check your flight in the days before departure.

Do I get compensation if air traffic controllers strike?

Usually not, because it is outside the airline's control. You are still entitled to a refund or an alternative flight and to care at the airport.

My flight to Italy leaves at 8am on 21 November: will it be affected?

The nationwide strike runs from 1pm to 5pm, so an 8am flight is outside the strike hours. Still check your flight: the aircraft may arrive late from somewhere else.

Can a strike be called off?

Yes, strikes can be called off, postponed or shortened even a few days before. That is why you should check your flight the day before you travel.

Find out more

• Air passenger rights
• Delayed flight: when you can claim compensation
• Cancelled flight: refund and compensation
• Overbooking: what you are owed
• What our service costs

Article updated on 23/10/2026 by the DelayFlight24 editorial team.