FÍF members have made their position clear: the ongoing overtime ban is the most measured step available to them right now. After months of stalled talks, they want a contract agreed with Isavia — and they want it soon.
Contracts collapsed at the close of last year, leaving air traffic controllers without one for over eleven months. The wage dispute itself goes back even further than that. Last month, FÍF attempted to launch five targeted work stoppages, but only one went ahead before faltering negotiations prompted the union to pull back on further action.
An Unacceptable Situation
The union’s announcement is blunt: it is untenable for FÍF members to remain contract-free at this stage. That situation puts both Isavia and the many air carriers operating in the Icelandic air traffic control sector at risk.
A meeting between FÍF, Isavia, and SA last Sunday came to nothing. With talks still technically ongoing, FÍF has pressed ahead with the overtime ban anyway — not to escalate, but to push for a resolution before things go further. The union points to a pattern that has been building for some time: Isavia’s ability to compete for skilled personnel has eroded, recruitment has fallen short, stress levels among staff have climbed, and experienced controllers have been leaving for comparable roles abroad. FÍF says it is acting now to protect Icelandic interests before the situation becomes harder to reverse.
The staffing picture is already having real consequences. Over a 19-week span in 2024, Isavia and its subsidiaries asked air traffic controllers to work overtime a total of 1,261 times. If staff can no longer cover those hours, services may have to be cut back — meaning more aircraft diverted away from the Icelandic air traffic control zone. That would chip away at Iceland’s role as a foreign currency earner, particularly if Isavia cannot keep staffing at the level the work demands.
Icelandic air traffic control is, in straightforward terms, an export industry. It brings in between 8 and 9 billion ISK in foreign exchange earnings each year. The salaries of air traffic controllers are funded largely by international revenues, not domestic tax income. A disruption caused by staffing problems would damage Iceland’s reputation as a dependable provider for global carriers — something Isavia has every reason to avoid.
Air traffic controllers here work in an environment where safety, trust, and reliability are non-negotiable. The Icelandic air traffic control area is one of the largest in the world, covering roughly 5.5 million square kilometres and handling an average of 540 aircraft a day. “Meeting the demands of air traffic controllers and alleviating their burdens is crucial for Isavia to ensure a consistent, high-quality, and safe service year-round,” concludes the announcement from the air traffic controllers.
