Fuerteventura airport faces delays as air traffic controllers’ strike continues
First published
The indefinite strike has passed 200 days. Minimum service rules for November protect specified proportions of flights at Fuerteventura airport.
Fuerteventura airport is experiencing delays associated with an indefinite strike by air traffic controllers employed by Saerco, the private company that operates its control tower. The stoppage began on 17 April 2026 and has now passed 200 days.
The dispute concerns staffing and working conditions rather than pay. The unions that called the strike say outsourced control towers lack sufficient staff and are calling for adequate staffing, compliance with legal rest periods, guaranteed holidays and an end to on-call activations they consider abusive.
Minimum services in November
A minimum service resolution covering the strike runs from 1 October to 30 November 2026. For Fuerteventura, it protects 73% of November flights to and from non-mainland territories and routes subject to public service obligations, which are requirements intended to maintain specified air links.
It also protects 55% of mainland connections without an alternative taking less than five hours, or connections with foreign cities. The equivalent figures for October were 76% and 59% respectively.
The resolution was signed on 28 September by José Antonio Santano Clavero, Secretary of State for Transport and Sustainable Mobility. It lists 108 workers called to strike across nine control towers: Jerez de la Frontera, A Coruña, Madrid-Cuatro Vientos, Sevilla, Vigo, El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Palma.
Wider dispute over control towers
The unions are also calling for ENAIRE to take over liberalised control towers currently operated by private providers Saerco and Skyway. Their demand extends beyond working conditions at Saerco to the wider model for providing aerodrome control services.