Full schedule of affected flights

The ATEPSA union announced staggered strikes starting December 17 that would impact domestic and international flights during the hottest time of the year

12/14/2025 – 4:47 p.m

Thousands of passengers who have chosen the aircraft for their travel during the upcoming holiday season and summer holidays need to check their itineraries with special attention. The Association of Air Traffic Control and Safety Technicians and Employees (ATEPSA), the union that brings together air traffic controllers, confirmed this will advance a battle plan that will disrupt the normal operations of transit services at major airports across the country. The decision, which deepens an already existing conflict, comes after the breakdown of negotiations with the Argentine Air Navigation Company (EANA), the state-owned company responsible for providing these essential services.

The protest program announced by the union, which had already carried out targeted disruptions in cargo aviation in November, is now escalating to a progressive modality will impact passenger flights domestically and internationally. The selected dates, which vary from next Wednesday, December 17th, until the end of the yearcoincide with the peak demand for tickets and flight movements on the airline network, meaning thousands of travelers looking to complete their end-of-year commitments or start their days will be affected by delays, cancellations and rescheduling. The unions’ demands point to urgent salary improvements and a “serious operational situation” that requires immediate solutions.

The escalation of the conflict comes at a critical time for tourism and is causing concern in the aviation sector. ATEPSA denounces a “brutal intransigence” on the part of the EANA authorities and a “lack of dialogue” that has made it impossible to reach agreement on key issues. The Ministry of Labor, which is monitoring the situation, has already scheduled a new conciliation hearing for Wednesday the 17th, the day the measures begin, in a last-minute attempt to break up the strike and prevent chaos at the airports.

Airplane attack: the axis of conflict that can create chaos

According to the air traffic controllers’ union, the decision to continue the strikes at the beginning of the peak season is a response to an accumulation of violations and a lack of response from the EANA leadership. In a statement, ATEPSA denounced that the problems were raised more than three months ago without the state-owned company offering concrete solutions, maintaining a rigid stance that accelerated the negotiations.

The most pressing points of the damage platform include:

• Refusal to rehire laid off workers: The union is calling for the reinstatement of workers it believes were unfairly dismissed at airports where there is already a staffing crisis that is putting strain on operational staff.

• Reopening of wage parity: A salary recomposition is required that compensates for the loss of purchasing power and adapts to the needs of the sector, together with the review of points in the collective agreement such as: B. the amount of refreshments and the concept of professional career.

• Operational problems: ATEPSA is also pressing for a response to more than 60 specific complaints of an operational nature, which it believes have a direct impact on the quality and safety of the air traffic control service, given the ever-increasing volume of traffic.

The Association of Air Traffic Control and Safety Technicians and Staff stresses that the salary situation is “worrying” and that the lack of attention to operational issues threatens the normal functioning of the service. The Ministry of Labor is closely monitoring the development of the conflict and is examining the possibility of such a conflict impose mandatory arbitration, a legal remedy that would temporarily suspend protests to make way for a new round of negotiations.

Air traffic controller strike schedule: days and times affecting passengers

The schedule of forceful measures is implemented through operational restrictions that limit air traffic management. This means that during the announced time slots air traffic controllers will reduce its activity, which will impact the approval of takeoffs and the receipt and transmission of flight plans.

Below are the details of the dates and times confirmed by ATEPSA:

Tips for air travelers: How to minimize the impact of protests

Given this uncertainty scenario, the most important recommendation for passengers is anticipation: the key to avoiding strandings is constant communication with the airline and regular checking of flight status.

1. Constant checking: Check the status of the flight through the airline’s mobile applications or official websites and do not rely only on the original schedules. Many companies send email or SMS notifications of changes.

2. Arrival at the airport: If the flight coincides with the stop time windows, it is recommended to arrive at the airport even earlier than usual. Although the delay is guaranteed, it is important to be present to accommodate last-minute rescheduling or gate change instructions.

3. Know your rights: In the event of a cancellation or significant delay (usually more than four hours), passengers in Argentina have regulated rights. The airline must offer options that include confirming the ticket with another airline, changing the date for the same destination or, if the passenger requests, a full refund of the ticket value. Retaining receipts and tickets is essential for making any claims.