Spain Airport Strikes Update for UK Travellers Over March and April Dates
Talks broke down this week that would have led to widespread disruption for travellers over Easter to airports in popular destinations like Mallorca and the Canary Islands. UK tourists have now been given a significant update regarding planned strike action at multiple airports across Spain.
Affected Airports and Initial Concerns
Airports set to be impacted by the industrial measures included major hubs such as Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Gran Canaria, Málaga, Alicante, and Tenerife (both South and North terminals). There had been considerable concerns about extensive travel chaos throughout Spain owing to this coordinated industrial action.
Partial Cancellations Reported
According to Spanish media reports, two sets of strikes at Spanish airports have now been partly cancelled. Spanish newspaper Larazon reports that trade unions have postponed imminent strikes that were due to start today. These would have seen staff at airport services operators Groundforce and Menzies walk out.
The update comes after advances in wage negotiations between unions and management. However, strikes planned for later dates have yet to be cancelled, according to local media sources.
Specific Strike Details
Spanish reports indicate that trade unions have called off the first day of strike action at Groundforce, which serves as Air Europa's ground handling company. Additionally, the first two days of strikes scheduled for this weekend at Menzies, another major airport ground handling operator, have been postponed.
This information comes from sources within the UGT trade union speaking to Spanish news agency Efe. The partial and indefinite strikes planned for Groundforce were set to begin this Friday, coinciding with the beginning of the Easter holiday exodus period.
Strike Schedule Details
Ultimahora reports that the industrial action at Groundforce had been scheduled across three shifts:
- Morning shift: 5am to 7am
- Afternoon shift: 11am to 5pm
- Night shift: 10pm to midnight
These strikes were planned to continue indefinitely. Additionally, the UGT has agreed to call off the first two days of industrial action at Menzies, which were planned for this Saturday and Sunday.
In Menzies' case, the strike had been called exclusively by UGT – the main union at the firm – for 28 and 29 March, and between 2 and 6 April.
Remaining Strike Threats
The English language Majorca Daily Bulletin reports that 24-hour strikes for Menzies staff from April 2 to April 6 have not yet been scrapped. The publication also reported that there is no sign of further suspensions to the other planned strike action for Groundforce staff.
Scale of Potential Disruption
The strike notice at the ground handling operator covered all businesses within the Menzies group (Menzies Aviation Ibérica and Menzies Ground Services) and approximately 3,000 employees. The union had previously cautioned that, should no deal be struck with the company, the strikes would be rolled out to every weekend until the end of the year.
Operator Coverage Areas
Groundforce operates at numerous Spanish airports including:
- Madrid
- Barcelona
- Palma de Mallorca
- Alicante
- Málaga
- Gran Canaria
- Valencia
- Ibiza
- Bilbao
- Lanzarote
- Fuerteventura
Menzies operates at key airports including:
- Barcelona
- Palma de Mallorca
- Málaga
- Alicante
- Gran Canaria
- Tenerife South
- Tenerife North
While some immediate strike action has been postponed, UK travellers planning Easter trips to Spain should remain vigilant about potential disruptions at these major airports throughout March and April.
