British travellers embarking on Easter getaways to Spain are being warned to brace for significant disruption, as a major strike by ground handling staff threatens to cause chaos at several of the country's busiest airports. The industrial action, involving over 3,000 workers from the company Groundforce, commenced on March 30 and could continue indefinitely amid ongoing pay disputes.
Spanish Airport Strikes Set to Disrupt Key Hubs
The strike is impacting critical travel hubs including Barcelona-El Prat Airport, Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport, and Palma de Mallorca Airport. Additional affected locations are Alicante, Malaga, and the Canary Islands. The walkouts are strategically timed during peak travel periods: from 5am to 7am, 11am to 5pm, and 10pm to midnight. These staggered intervals are expected to result in extensive queues, delayed luggage drop-offs, and boarding issues for passengers.
UK Roads Face Busiest Easter Weekend in Four Years
Meanwhile, closer to home, the UK is preparing for what could be its busiest Easter on the roads since the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions in 2022. The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) anticipates around 22 million leisure journeys over the Bank Holiday weekend, with traffic on motorways predicted to peak on Thursday. According to the AA, routes to coastal destinations are likely to experience severe congestion, particularly on the M4, M25, M5, M40, and M1.
This surge in travel comes despite soaring fuel prices, driven by geopolitical tensions. With Iran's influence over the Strait of Hormuz tightening, oil prices have climbed to a four-year high, reaching approximately £90 per barrel. Consequently, filling a typical 55-litre family car with diesel now costs about £19 more than on Good Friday last year, while petrol is £8 pricier per tank. In response to the expected gridlock, National Highways has announced it will suspend 1,500 miles of roadworks between Thursday and Monday to alleviate congestion.
New EU Border System Threatens Lengthy Airport Queues
Compounding the travel woes, holidaymakers flying to Europe may encounter further delays due to the phased implementation of the EU's new Entry Exit System (EES). Since its initial rollout in October 2025, this biometric border control process has been adopted by 29 countries, requiring non-EU nationals, including UK citizens, to register fingerprints and photographs in person upon arrival in the Schengen Area.
Originally slated for full implementation by April 10, the EU has granted 'certain flexibilities' over the summer to avoid excessive queues. However, industry bodies such as the International Air Transport Association, ACI Europe, and Airlines for Europe have reported that the EES has already caused 'significant delays,' increasing border waiting times by up to 70%. In a joint letter to the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs, they warned that queues could extend to four hours or more during peak travel periods if the system is fully enforced.
The combination of Spanish strikes, congested UK roads, and the new biometric checks creates a perfect storm for Easter travellers, underscoring the need for careful planning and patience during what is traditionally one of the busiest holiday seasons.
