Will planes fly to and from the Canaries on 11 November?

Yes, a general strike does not close airports. Which flights are cancelled depends on turnout and on minimum services, which are not confirmed for the Canaries.

Should I cancel my flight myself?

No. If you cancel a flight that has not been scrapped, you usually lose your refund and rebooking rights. Wait for the airline to contact you.

Do I get my money back if a flight is cancelled?

Yes, the airline must refund the full price or rebook you. According to Consumo Responde, this applies whatever the cause, and the refund is due within 7 days.

When does the airline pay 250, 400 or 600 euros?

Only if there are no extraordinary circumstances. For a general strike this is a case-by-case question, and no ruling exists.

Where do I complain if the airline does not pay?

First to the airline, or to the agency for package holidays. After that you can take the complaint to the aviation safety agency AESA, and you should check its deadline there.

Canary Islands strike 11 November: your flight rights

What changes for air passengers on 11 November?

Your flight may be affected on Wednesday 11 November 2026, when CCOO and UGT strike for 24 hours, from 00:00 to 23:59. The call covers both the private and the public sector.

Airports do not close, and not every flight is cancelled. Reports say the number of departures depends on turnout and on minimum services, the mandatory emergency operation.

Aena, the airport operator, had published no strike notices by 2 November. Ground handling and baggage services could suffer if staff join the strike.

Check your flight status with the airline and in its app, the day before and on the morning of departure. Do not cancel yourself, because you usually lose your refund and rebooking rights if the airline has not scrapped the flight.

Are there minimum services for the Canary Islands?

As of 9 November, no order from the Transport Ministry for 11 November is on record. As of 4 November, talks with the ministry had not concluded.

CCOO and UGT propose the general strikes of 2010 and 2012 as the benchmark. According to reports, around 700 flights were cancelled in the 2012 strike.

In 2012, at least 50% of flights between the mainland and the islands, and between the islands, had to operate. Flights to other EU countries needed 20%, other international routes 40% and flights within the mainland 10%.

For 11 November, there are no percentages for Canary airports or for Binter, the inter-island airline. For the general strike in October 2025, minimum services were set five days ahead.

What rights do passengers have if a flight is cancelled or delayed?

If your flight is cancelled, EU Regulation 261/2004 gives you three options. You can claim the full ticket price back, rebook as soon as possible, or fly on a later date of your choosing.

According to Consumo Responde, the refund is due within 7 days, including the return flight if needed. The airline may offer vouchers only with your written consent.

While you wait, the airline must provide food, two calls or emails and, if you stay overnight, a hotel with transfer. This care applies whatever the cause, including a strike.

For long delays, the Spanish consumer report says you are owed this care after a three-hour wait. What counts is the length of the flight and the actual wait.

Is there compensation for a general strike?

Compensation depends on distance, says Consumo Responde: 250 euros up to 1,500 kilometres and 400 euros up to 3,500 kilometres. On longer routes, it is 400 euros within the EU and 600 euros outside it.

The airline can cut the amount by 50% if it rebooks you and you arrive with a limited delay. In some cases the payment lapses entirely if the airline informed you early, for example at least two weeks before departure.

Extraordinary circumstances free the airline from paying if it proves it could not have avoided the cancellation. According to AESA and EU Court of Justice guidance, strikes by third parties, such as air traffic controllers or airport staff, can count.

A strike by the airline's own staff usually does not count, according to the same guidance. No ruling exists on the 11 November strike, and whether a general strike counts as an extraordinary circumstance will probably be decided case by case.

How and where do you complain?

Start with the airline, using the form on its website or the desk. Attach your booking code, boarding pass and all receipts.

For a package holiday, contact the agency or operator that sold the trip. Keep receipts for taxi, hotel or meals if the airline provides nothing.

If the airline stays silent or its reply is unconvincing, AESA, the state aviation safety agency, handles the complaint. According to the sources, this is free for departures from Spanish airports, including the Canaries, via the official website.

The sources give no exact deadline, and it differs by country. Check the current deadline on the AESA website and file your complaint promptly.

What does the air traffic controllers' strike mean for the Canaries, and what comes next?

Separately from the general strike, USCA and CCOO have been on indefinite strike at the private tower operator Saerco since 17 April 2026. A Spanish report of 8 November also mentions an air traffic controllers' strike on 11 November, naming neither union nor employer.

Nine airports are affected, including El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Palma. Lanzarote has seen delays since the night of 4 November.

Eurocontrol recorded 2,225 delay minutes, just under 5% of delays in the European network. The report gave neither the period nor cancellations.

In October, the ministry set 76% of island flights at Lanzarote as the minimum, and 73% in November. For the mainland and international routes over five hours, the figures are 57% and 53%.