Ground handling staff at 12 Spanish airports began indefinite strike actions during the peak Easter travel period. Up to 1.34 million passengers face risks of delays, long queues, and baggage disruption at Madrid, Barcelona, Alicante, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Málaga, Las Palmas, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Bilbao, and Sevilla.
The strike is already affecting baggage loading and unloading, passenger transport, and aircraft assistance on the tarmac. Some flights are expected to depart without luggage as airlines adapt schedules and staffing plans. Flights will continue operating, but travelers are being warned to prepare for knock-on effects across check-in, baggage drop, boarding, and disembarkation during one of the year’s busiest weeks.
As of this morning, only slight delays were reported on some departures. Operators and unions anticipate intensified disruption as the day progresses and crowds build.
The strikes have been called by the trade unions CCOO, UGT, and USO. More than 5,500 workers at aviation service partners Groundforce and Menzies are involved.
Menzies Aviation Ibérica and Menzies Ground Services provide ground services for airlines including Emirates, British Airways, American Airlines, easyJet, Turkish Airlines, Norwegian, and Wizz Air. At Bilbao’s Loiu airport, these airlines represent roughly 30% of total traffic. With major airports such as Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat within the strike’s footprint, ripple effects could extend across domestic and international networks. Aircraft and crew rotations are tightly scheduled to accommodate Easter demand.
Union representatives cite disputes over wages and working conditions. They allege the companies failed to comply with salary commitments in the collective agreement. They also point to unilateral interpretations of specific articles and cuts to agreed salary increases that have eroded purchasing power during elevated inflation.
Check-in counters, baggage halls, boarding gates
The walkouts encompass staff at check-in counters, baggage halls, and boarding gates. A minimum service is guaranteed, according to El Pais. Passengers should anticipate delays and schedule changes, including longer queues at check-in and baggage drop. Hold-ups with luggage delivery, boarding, and disembarking are expected.
Groundforce staff have launched indefinite action in three daily time slots: 5:00 to 7:00, 11:00 to 17:00, and 22:00 to 24:00. The stoppages are scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Unions say the pattern will continue if talks do not yield an agreement. At Menzies full 24-hour strikes were declared from April 2 to April 6. The overlap is expected to push disruption to a peak on Good Friday, April 3, and Easter Monday, April 6, when both companies will be striking simultaneously.
Organizers have warned that if negotiations fail, coordinated protests will resume on Wednesdays and Fridays beyond the holiday period. They say the intention is to maintain pressure while ensuring essential services proceed. The cascading impact on baggage handling, passenger transport to aircraft stands, and other on-ramp activities is likely to create persistent delays throughout the day. Backlogs are expected to accumulate between strike windows.
“Extraordinary circumstance”
Airports operator Aena has advised passengers to check with their airlines for the latest flight status and to arrive with additional time for check-in and baggage processes. Standard European Union financial compensation for delays or cancellations is not applicable because the strikes are considered an “extraordinary circumstance” when carried out by airport ground staff rather than by the airlines. If a flight is canceled, passengers remain entitled to rebooking or a refund. Airlines must provide meals and accommodation where necessary. Operators are attempting to mitigate the impact by rerostering staff and prioritizing essential connections.