ENAIRE is working to minimise the impact of the air traffic control strike in France

French air traffic control personnel have confirmed they are taking part in the general strike in France, providing minimum services from 6 pm today, Monday until 6 am on 1 February.

This strike is expected to have a significant impact on both the European and ENAIRE network, and more specifically in the areas of responsibility of ENAIRE's Madrid, Barcelona, Palma and Levante control centres.

The measures that the French Air Navigation Service Provider (DSNA) is taking with EUROCONTROL and with collateral service providers, such as ENAIRE in the case of Spain, are based primarily on the recommendation given to airspace users to re-plan routes to avoid flying through French airspace.

As a result of the minimum services provided by DSNA, the capacity to open airspace sectors and the demand it will be able to accept may be limited.  The impact of the reduced control services in French airspace during this period could cause traffic to be re-routed to avoid French airspace, as well as delays due to the lower capacity resulting from the diminished control staff.

Airlines will be able to assess the alternatives available through the various updates and publications of the European network manager to minimise, to the extent possible, the impact on their flights. Passengers are asked to check the status of their flight with their airline.

In an effort to be proactive, ENAIRE is in constant contact with its French counterpart and the European Network Manager (EUROCONROL) to help reduce the impact on airlines and passengers. It is participating with EUROCONTROL in all its mitigation activities and making available to airlines and associations all the information on the measures and/or any changes as soon as it is published. ENAIRE has also activated its incident management procedures and reinforced services at its air control centres, especially in the North Central, East and Balearic Regions.

About ENAIRE

ENAIRE is the air navigation service provider in Spain.

As a company of the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and the Urban Agenda, it provides en route control services for all flights and overflights from five control centres in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Gran Canaria and Palma, as well as approach services to every airport in the country.

In addition, 45 control towers receive ENAIRE's communication, navigation and surveillance services, and 21 airports, including the country's busiest, rely on its aerodrome control services.

ENAIRE is Europe's fourth largest air traffic manager. Since 1 January 2022, it has chaired the A6 Alliance, a coalition of air navigation providers responsible for over 80% of European air traffic, and which is seeking to modernise the air traffic management system. It is also a member of other international alliances promoting the Single European sky, such as SESAR Joint Undertaking, SESAR Deployment Manager, iTEC, CANSO and ICAO.

ENAIRE, as the agency designated by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda to implement the U-Space system in Spain will, through its digital platform, provide the Common Information Services (CIS), which are essential to facilitate U-space services to drones and Urban Air Mobility in cooperation with local air traffic services, so that all types of aircraft can fly safely in the same airspace.

ENAIRE has received the highest score in Europe on the aviation safety key performance indicator. It has also been awarded the EFQM 500 Seal for its safe, efficient, innovative and sustainable management of air navigation services.