Travellers heading to Europe over the next fortnight are being urged to check their flight itineraries and stay alert to potential delays, as several countries prepare for air traffic control (ATC) strikes that could disrupt travel plans across the continent.

The French rail union Sud Rail has also filed strike notices for multiple dates between April 17 and June 2, which will involve train controllers working for SNCF, the French national rail company. If they go ahead, there could be limited or no rail services on selected routes. 

Disruption is expected at Gatwick between Friday 18 April until Tuesday 22 April. Over 100 airport workers, including baggage handlers and flight dispatchers, employed by ground handling firm Red Handling, will join the industrial action.

Jessie Chambers, senior travel adviser at Global Work & Travel, said: “We’re seeing coordinated air traffic control strikes announced in France, Italy, and parts of Spain over the next two weeks, with further possible disruption in Germany and Belgium.

“This is likely to have a ripple effect across much of European airspace – even flights not landing in those countries could be delayed due to rerouting and congestion.

“Our advice to travellers is simple: double check your flight status before heading to the airport, allow extra time for connections, and consider travel insurance with disruption cover if you haven’t already.”

According to recent notices from EU aviation unions, key dates to watch include:

• France: Nationwide ATC strike planned on April 18–19 and April 25, with possible extensions.

• Italy: 24-hour national strike scheduled for April 19, affecting all major airports.
  
• Spain: Rolling strikes by air traffic controllers in Madrid and Barcelona from April 20–30.
  
• Germany & Belgium: Industrial action under discussion, no confirmed dates yet but disruptions are possible with short notice.

“These disruptions can be frustrating, but they don’t have to derail your entire trip. A few simple steps can make all the difference: download your airline’s app for real-time alerts, avoid tight layovers where possible, and always pack essentials in your carry-on in case of long delays,” added Chambers.

“If you’re travelling in or through Europe during the next two weeks, stay flexible, keep an eye on official updates, and have a backup plan, especially if your journey includes France, Italy, or Spain.”

Gatwick Airport has attempted to ease travellers concerns by saying the effect industrial action by baggage handlers will affect only a small number of airlines.

Members of the Unite union working for ground handling firm Red Handling have rejected a last-minute deal to call off the strikes.

It means some baggage handlers, check-in staff and flight dispatchers at the airport will strike from today until Tuesday morning.

But Nick Williams, head of passenger operations at Gatwick, said only a small number of airlines would be affected.

“It’s a very small number of airlines who don’t operate a huge number of flights, so we’re not talking about big-scale impact,” he said.

“We’re working really closely with those airlines to try and mitigate that impact and hope that as many of those flights operate as close to schedule as possible.

“We’d advise passengers to check their airline of the weekend.”

Unite said more than a hundred workers at the airport are striking over a number of issues, including pensions not being paid.

he union said there would be “major disruption” for passengers flying with Norwegian, Delta, TAP and Air Peace airlines. Roughly 50 flights will be affected each day.