ClaimableApril–Summer
🇩🇪 Lufthansa Summer Strike Threat
Two April–May strike waves cancelled 3,200+ flights (incl. an 8-hour cabin-crew walkout April 30 and a 48-hour pilot strike May 4–5). The VC pilots’ union holds a 96% strike mandate and can call fresh action on 48 hours’ notice through the summer. Frankfurt & Munich highest risk.
Own-staff strikes are NOT extraordinary circumstances (Krüsemann v TUIfly). Claim €250–€600 per passenger.
Know Your RightsFrom April 17
🇪🇸 Spain Indefinite ATC Walkout
An indefinite air traffic control strike began April 17 at towers run by private contractor SAERCO, extended under minimum-service rules through at least May 31. Hits 14 airports including five Canary Islands hubs (Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera).
ATC strikes don’t qualify for cash, but rebooking, refunds, meals & hotels are still owed.
Strike RiskMid-June–August
🇬🇧 Heathrow Security Weekend Strikes
Unite announced ~1,400 Heathrow security screeners will stage weekend walkouts from mid-June through late August after rejecting the airport’s pay offer. Covers Terminal 5 and central search — threatens long queues across the UK school-holiday peak.
Queues from airport-side staff may not trigger cash, but if your flight is cancelled the airline must rebook & cover care.
Disruption RiskFrom April 10
🇪🇺 EU Entry/Exit System (EES) Now Live
EES is fully operational across the Schengen area. Biometric checks for all non-EU nationals have pushed processing times up ~70% at some airports, with summer queues warned to hit several hours. Member states can partially suspend checks for up to 90 days to ease peak congestion.
Long queues often signal wider airport disruption — and if your airline delayed or cancelled your flight, you may be owed compensation. Check in 60 seconds.
ClaimableMarch–April
🇸🇪 SAS 1,200+ Flight Cancellations
SAS scrapping ~1,200 flights after jet fuel prices doubled. Mostly short-haul Norway, Sweden & Denmark. Rising fuel costs are a commercial decision, not extraordinary circumstances.
Airline chose to cancel — EU261 compensation €250–€600 applies. Don’t accept a voucher.
Duty of CareOngoing
🌍 Middle East Airspace Crisis
Iran, Iraq, Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar & UAE airspace closed or restricted. Europe–Asia routes severely disrupted. Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi on reduced schedules. 450,000+ passengers affected.
Airlines must provide hotels, meals & rebooking — even during airspace closures.
Know Your RightsSummer
🇫🇷 France ATC Summer Congestion
French ATC remains a top summer disruption risk: France controls a large share of European overflights, so any walkout or staffing shortfall ripples Europe-wide. Paris CDG & Orly flagged as high-exposure hubs for ATC-driven delays this summer.
ATC strikes don’t qualify for cash, but rebooking, refunds, meals & hotels are still owed.
Strike RiskApril–Summer
🇮🇹 Italy Ongoing Strike Wave
Repeated aviation disruptions through 2026 over below-inflation pay, spanning ENAV air-navigation staff, ground handlers and airline crews. Walkouts often avoid early-morning windows — book the first flight of the day where you can.
Rebooking is free. Do not pay for a new flight yourself.
Strike RiskFrom May 19
🇵🇹 Portugal Airport Strike Risk
Ground-handling licences at Lisbon, Porto & Faro expire May 19. If SPdH/Menzies loses the tender, unions warn 3,700+ jobs at risk — further strike action highly likely into the summer.
Even during ground handling strikes, airlines must rebook you and cover meals & hotels.
✕Airline claim: “Strikes & airspace closures mean no compensation.”
✓The truth: Own-staff strikes (pilots, cabin crew) DO qualify for cash. For ATC/airport-staff strikes you still get all expenses (hotels, meals, transport). Keep your receipts.
✓Advance cancellations: Airlines cancelling 14+ days ahead dodge EU261 cash — but the Montreal Convention still lets you claim proven losses (up to ~€5,800).
No insurance needed — International Law (EU261/UK261) protects you automatically.