Raquel Sánchez, minister of Mitma, highlighted that the new agreement will strengthen the efficiency, quality, flexibility, and resilience of Enaire’s services. She noted that it removes uncertainties within a group that plays a vital role in aviation, a cornerstone of the country’s economy.
The contract runs for five years and may be extended for a further five years after regulatory steps are completed and the text is published in the Official State Gazette.
The board received a briefing from David Lucas, minister of foreign affairs within the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and the Urban Agenda, and the head of Enaire, during a meeting at the Torrejón de Ardoz Air Control Center.
Increase competitiveness and reduce costs
During the session, Lucas explained that the new agreement aligns with the 2018 Core Agreement and will enable Enaire to sharpen its competitive edge, reduce operating costs, and meet the European Commission’s performance targets for Spain. He emphasized that the pact also sets working conditions designed to lift Enaire’s efficiency and productivity, while upholding high standards of service quality, flexibility, and resilience. It supports the professional development of supervisors and improves work-life balance for staff.
Specifically, the arrangement aims to boost service efficiency by gradually reducing the unit cost per controller, while maintaining a total annual work time of eleven hundred sixty-five hours. Lucas expressed appreciation to the unions for their constructive stance and thanked company management for their cooperation.
Votes in favor and against
The collective agreement was approved with ten votes in favor from the USCA and OCCA unions, which together represent more than eighty percent of Enaire’s air traffic controllers, and two votes against from the SPICA and SNCA unions. The agreement harmonizes the wage bill with the established public sector model and introduces an annual productivity benchmark tied to meeting targets and the growth of air traffic volumes.
This marks the third formal agreement covering Enaire air traffic controllers. The process reflects a long history, with the first accord signed twenty-four years ago and a breakup in working relations settled by arbitration in twenty-eleven. The current accord aligns with that long arc of bargaining while aiming to stabilize operations and improve service delivery for airlines and passengers alike.