At national airports, approximately 200 flights were disrupted, including delays and cancellations, with 82 of these incidents occurring at Lisbon Airport alone. In total, 24% of flights departing from Portugal were impacted.

The data is contained in Eurocontrol's Aviation Trends Report, which also reveals that, across Europe, more than one million passengers were directly affected, of which approximately 200,000 were unable to travel as scheduled due to the cancellations.

Spain and France led the list of departure flight delays. Spanish airports recorded a daily average of 978 delayed flights, while in France the number was 819, corresponding to 27% and 39% of flights originating in those countries, respectively. Next came the United Kingdom, with 401 daily delays, and Italy, with 319.

AirAdvisor founder and aviation law expert Anton Radchenko says the disruption was systemic, affecting punctuality, aircraft rotation, crew shifts, and passenger connectivity for several days. According to him, in addition to the operational impact, the strike caused financial and environmental losses. The Eurocontrol report estimates that the strike generated €47 million in costs due to delays and €73 million in losses due to cancellations across Europe.

Furthermore, a massive rerouting to avoid French airspace resulted in an additional 6 million kilometers flown, resulting in the consumption of 18,000 tons of extra fuel and the emission of over 60,000 tons of additional CO₂ in just two days. Given its geographic location and the volume of tourist traffic, Spain absorbed a significant proportion of this impact.

Anton Radchenko assesses that, beyond the numbers, this episode raises urgent questions about the governance of European airspace and passenger protection. According to Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, air traffic controller strikes are considered "extraordinary circumstances," which exempts airlines from paying financial compensation for delays or cancellations. However, the founder of AirAdvisor explains that airlines are legally obligated to provide assistance, such as meals, accommodation, and flight transfers. "Air traffic controller strikes are beyond the airlines' control, but that doesn't mean passengers are unprotected. Airlines still have a legal duty to assist stranded travelers by offering transfers, refunds, and ground support. The problem is that most passengers are unaware of their rights, and many airlines are slow to react or fail to comply adequately," points out Anton Radchenko, who created a free guide that explains the compensation provided for in EU Regulation 261 according to the types of disruptions.

According to him, what happened demonstrates the fragility of the European air network. "Respecting the right to strike is essential, but so is protecting the stability of European air transport in the face of predictable and recurring crises." Therefore, Radchenko highlights the urgent need for structural change. "France doesn't protect overflights during strikes. Spain and Italy do. We need a harmonized framework at the European level. Without common minimum service levels across the EU, every strike becomes a continental disruption."