The air traffic controllers' strike causes the biggest delays in Europe again in Lanzarote

The record, registered this Sunday, August 20, has already happened on at least three other occasions this summer: July 27, August 3, and August 17

August 21 2023 (11:25 WEST)
Updated in August 21 2023 (11:25 WEST)
Lanzarote Airport Control Tower
Lanzarote Airport Control Tower

The air traffic controllers' strike by the private company SAERCO, which manages the control tower at Lanzarote airport, continues relentlessly. This Sunday, August 20, flights from Lanzarote once again experienced the longest delays of all European airports.

A record that had already been registered on at least three other occasions this summer: July 27, August 3, and August 17, when César Manrique also experienced the longest delays in Europe due to the strike.

Saerco workers in Lanzarote have been on strike since February, but it has been in the summer when it is being noticed in the flights.

During the summer months there are more flights to Lanzarote, which implies that there are more controllers working at the same time and therefore, "more possibilities to exercise their right to strike", explained a source from The Air Traffic Controllers' Union (USCA), which called the strike.

SAERCO manages five of the eight control towers in the archipelago, except for those in Tenerife North and South and Gran Canaria airport.

The union is demanding a salary increase of 30%, while the company offers an increase of 6% in three years.

 

 

 

Lanzarote Airport Control Tower managed by SAERCO. Photo: José Luis Carrasco.
Lanzarote airport suffers the biggest delays in Europe due to the air traffic controllers' strike
Lanzarote Airport control tower. Photo: José Luis Carrasco
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