Europe – Air Traffic Controllers Strike Jan 29

Leaders of air traffic controller (ATC) unions in Europe are calling on their members to participate in region-wide days of action Jan. 29-30. Individual unions will likely call on members to walk off the job for only a few hours per day, as most are legally obligated to provide minimum services. Prepare for severe flight disruptions in Europe Jan. 29-30. Delays may begin late Jan. 28 to ground aircraft at home airports and extend into Jan. 31 as airport workers clear a potential backlog in canceled flights. Countries may be affected by industrial actions even if their national unions do not participate due to delayed or canceled connecting flights. Travelers should reconfirm flights and allow extra travel time if travelling between January 29 and 30 in these countries: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, France (Jan 27-31), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Slovenia, and Switzerland. Announced actions so far include:

• Austria: 0900-1100 Jan. 30
• France: 5-day strike Jan. 27-31; exact time periods may vary by geographic sector; expect the greatest disruptions Jan. 29-30
• Germany: 1-hour action on Jan. 29; time not yet known
• Hungary: 2-hour strike between 0900-1700 Jan. 30; exact time not yet known
• Italy: 1300-1700 Jan. 29 and 1500-1515 Jan. 30
• Portugal: 0800-1000 and 1500-1700 Jan. 29
• Slovakia: 0900-1100 Jan. 30