Argentina Air Traffic Control strike August 30

Published on Aug 24, 2025, 11:27 am CDT

6 min read

Argentina's air traffic control union is pressing a rolling series of short work stoppages that continue through Saturday, August 30. The action is structured in defined local time windows that halt departures, while arrivals generally continue for safety. Flights to and from Buenos Aires, including Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) and Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE), face the most visible disruption, with knock-ons at major inland gateways. Airlines warn that day-of adjustments can extend beyond the published windows, so travelers should expect re-times and tactical cancellations as operations compress around each pause.

Key Points

Why it matters: Defined strike windows pause departures across Argentina, squeezing banks at AEP and EZE.
Travel impact: Expect cancellations, rolling delays, and gate holds during and after each window.
What's next: Additional windows are set through August 30, and day-of re-times are possible.
Essential operations, for example medical and SAR flights, remain protected under minimum service.
Airline waivers allow limited free date changes on select tickets this week.

Snapshot

Controllers represented by ATEPSA are staging hour-block stoppages after wage talks with state-run EANA stalled. The union's plan covers five days in late August, with two daily windows on several dates that restrict departures and suspend filing or transmission of flight plans. Arrivals continue for safety, which helps limit tarmac congestion, but banks rebuild unevenly when departures resume. Aerolíneas Argentinas, JetSMART, and others are trimming schedules, shifting slots, and offering limited flexibility. Buenos Aires heavy routes, for example Patagonia, northwest Argentina, and Mendoza, show the sharpest ripple effects. Airlines and airports caution that same-day re-times can occur, extending disruption outside the exact windows as rotations recover.

Background

ATEPSA announced the schedule after conciliations expired in mid-August. EANA acknowledged the action and published guidance indicating departure restrictions during the windows, with essential flights exempt. The pattern began on Friday, August 22, then repeats on alternating days through Saturday, August 30. Local reporting and airline advisories align on the broad structure, noting that arrivals are generally permitted and that post-window delays are common as crews, aircraft, and slots realign. Aerolíneas Argentinas, JetSMART, and Flybondi have each flagged cancellations or reprogramming. Travelers connecting at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) and Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) should pad connections, especially when linking domestic and long-haul flights.

Latest Developments

Argentina ATC strike schedule and time windows

The published windows are local time in Argentina, UTC minus three hours. Remaining dates and hours: Sunday, August 24, 100 p.m. to 400 p.m., and 700 p.m. to 1000 p.m. Tuesday, August 26, 700 a.m. to 1000 a.m., and 200 p.m. to 500 p.m. Thursday, August 28, 100 p.m. to 400 p.m. Saturday, August 30, 100 p.m. to 400 p.m., and 700 p.m. to 1000 p.m. During those windows, departures are paused and flight plan handling is curtailed, while arrivals generally continue. Airlines and the airport operator note that out-of-window adjustments are possible as crews and tails rotate, so check apps frequently.

What airlines are doing, and how to use waivers

Aerolíneas Argentinas announced targeted cancellations and reprogramming on strike days, and some tickets qualify for a free date change window. JetSMART has published a flexibility policy allowing date changes without fare difference on affected itineraries within a defined period. Expect additional re-times close to departure as carriers compress departures immediately before and after each window. If your flight is still scheduled, arrive earlier than usual, preload airline apps, and monitor gate screens for rapid gate or time changes. Save receipts for meals or hotels if care is delayed, and request written disruption notices for claims.

Where disruption concentrates, and which routes feel it

Banks at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) and Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) absorb the most stress, with queues and aircraft holds that can echo for several hours after windows close. Inland hubs including Ingeniero Aeronáutico Ambrosio L. V. Taravella International Airport (COR), Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport (MDZ), and San Carlos de Bariloche Teniente Luis Candelaria International Airport (BRC) experience secondary delays as rotations run late. Long-haul departures from EZE, especially overnight waves to North America and Europe, are vulnerable to crew and slot knock-ons when afternoon or evening windows compress departure banks.

Analysis

Hour-block stoppages punch holes in the schedule when banks are densest, then leave operators to rebuild in limited runway and gate capacity. The immediate effect is a stack of aircraft and passengers, followed by gate holds, slot swaps, and ad hoc block-time padding. Arrivals continuing during the windows preserve safety and keep stands occupied, but they also consume contact gates just as departures are restrained, a dynamic that lengthens turnarounds. Buenos Aires is the constraint focal point, because AEP concentrates domestic flows and EZE anchors long-haul. When afternoon banks are clipped, evening long-haul pushes risk missing their slot windows, which can cascade into day-two rotations. Domestic leisure routes to Patagonia and northwest Argentina, already frequency-limited in late summer, will feel outsized pain when one cancellation wipes out a connection opportunity. The traveler playbook is straightforward. Travel outside the published windows where possible, choose earlier feeders for long-hauls, and separate tickets with generous buffers. Watch for same-day re-times, since airlines have signaled they may adjust beyond the official schedule to stabilize rotations.

Final Thoughts

The remaining windows through Saturday, August 30, are clear on paper, but the real-world pattern includes same-day re-times and rolling delays as operations restart after each pause. If you are crossing banks at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) or connecting onward from Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE), build extra margin. Monitor airline apps and airport feeds every few hours, and use published waivers while options exist. The safest path this week is to avoid tight connections, accept earlier departures, and prepare for queues. With that plan, you can navigate the Argentina ATC strike with fewer surprises.

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