21 August 2026Strike outside the airline (ATC, airport, security staff)

Norway air traffic controllers' strike, 21-24 August

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Air traffic controllers represented by the NFF union began strike action on 21 August 2026 in a dispute with the employers' organisation Spekter and airport operator Avinor over pay, rest breaks and instructor arrangements.
Bergen Flesland and Oslo Gardermoen were worst affected. Oslo Gardermoen closed for five hours on the morning of Sunday 23 August, and passengers were stranded overnight at Bergen.
More than 150 flights were cancelled nationwide over the four days, with further delays as aircraft ended up out of position.
The NFF and Spekter reached an agreement after mediation on the afternoon of Monday 24 August 2026. Avinor said the strike was called off and air traffic could proceed as normal.

Sources: newsinenglish.no · The Local Norway · Aviation24.be

WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUR CLAIM

COMPENSATION: UNLIKELY — CARE STILL OWED

A strike by air traffic control, airport, or security staff is outside the airline's control and normally counts as an extraordinary circumstance, so compensation is usually not owed. Care and rerouting duties still apply in full — the airline must feed you, house you if necessary, and get you to your destination or refund you.

Basis: Recital 14, Regulation 261/2004

WHATEVER THE CAUSE, YOU'RE OWED

Meals and refreshments after 2–4 hours' wait (by flight distance), plus hotel and transfers if you are delayed overnight.
On cancellation: the choice between rerouting as soon as possible, rerouting at a later date, or a full refund within 7 days.
If the airline provides no care, keep receipts — reasonable expenses are reimbursable.
These duties apply even when the disruption itself is extraordinary.

CAUGHT IN THIS RIGHT NOW?

Open the Black Box and record what the airline tells you — especially the reason. The exact wording decides the extraordinary-circumstances question later.
Ask for rerouting in writing (app chat or email), and keep every receipt.
Once you know your final delay, check your flight and generate the letter.
Airline already replied with an excuse? Decode it.

This page explains the rules that generally apply to this type of disruption. Airlines assess each claim on its own facts; eligibility for a specific flight depends on its circumstances.