Overview
- Controllers will stop work for three hours per day: Thu Feb 26 (15:00–18:00) all aviation; Fri 27 (19:00–22:00) all; Sat 28 (13:00–16:00) general and non‑regular; Sun Mar 1 (09:00–12:00) regular domestic; Mon Mar 2 (05:00–08:00) all.
- During those windows no takeoff authorizations will be issued and flight plans will not be received or transmitted, while airborne operations and emergency, sanitary, humanitarian, state, and search‑and‑rescue flights are excluded.
- Air navigation is classified as an essential service, which requires at least five days’ notice for labor actions and limits the portion of operations affected, widely cited as a 45% cap.
- ATEPSA scheduled a general assembly for Tuesday to brief members on implementation, and airlines are preparing for delays, reprogramming and possible cancellations pending final confirmation.
- The dispute stems from salary and working‑condition claims after talks stalled following a prior 15% deal and conciliation; EANA has alleged some past union actions compromised safety and filed a federal complaint.