Swissport baggage handlers at Palma airport walked out on July 28 and will strike again today (August 1), as well as on August 4 and August 8, disrupting travel for British holidaymakers heading to Majorca.
Staff will strike from 7am to midday and from 7pm to 10pm on each of those days. The industrial action followed the failure of talks between Swissport and union representatives on July 24. Employees are seeking a pay rise that matches inflation.
Anti-tourism protest preceded the strikes
The walkouts came two days after a large demonstration on Sunday July 26 organised by the group Menys Turisme, Més Vida (Less Tourism, More Life). Organisers told the Majorca Daily Bulletin that the Balearic island is “at breaking point” under the weight of mass tourism.
Palma airport is Spain’s third-busiest. Swissport baggage handlers process luggage for a large share of the flights that bring millions of visitors, many of them British, to the island every summer. Prolonged delays to baggage reclaim are expected on strike days, raising the prospect of missed connections and disrupted holiday schedules.
Majorca’s overtourism battle
Majorca has spent recent years trying to curb the effects of overtourism. Authorities have raised prices in an effort to reposition the island as a more exclusive destination, and last year invested €1.2million in technology designed to manage visitor crowds. Campaigners argue these measures have not gone far enough.
A central grievance raised by Sunday’s protesters is the ongoing redevelopment of Palma airport. Work began in late 2022 and is scheduled for completion by the end of this year. Critics say the expansion will only increase the island’s capacity to receive tourists rather than reduce pressure on local infrastructure and housing.
What passengers should know
Airlines and tour operators have not yet issued formal advice, but passengers flying on the designated strike days are being urged to allow extra time at the airport and to check the status of their flights and baggage arrangements before departure.
With further potential walkouts possible if pay talks remain unresolved, the disruption could extend beyond the currently announced dates, adding to the challenges already confronting one of Britain’s most popular Mediterranean destinations.
