British tourists heading to Majorca face major travel disruption from next week as ground handling workers at Palma Airport prepare for an indefinite strike starting August 4. The industrial action, called by the UGT union at Swissport, the airport's ground handling company, is set to affect hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers during one of the busiest periods of the year.
Industrial Action at Palma Airport
The strike, approved by Swissport's works council where UGT holds a majority, involves around 600 employees. The union claims workers are operating under precarious conditions and is demanding improved contracts, including increased hours for part-time staff working fewer than 40 per week. It also calls for better shift patterns for older employees, reduced reliance on overtime, and the introduction of a compensation allowance for excessive workloads and stress. Other demands include guaranteed two consecutive days off each week and air conditioning in all staff vehicles.
Passenger Impact and Advice
Airlines likely to experience operational disruption include Condor, Sunclass, TUI Group, Air Canada, Etihad Airways, Alba Star, and TAP Air Portugal. However, Palma Airport said in a statement: "Thanks to the minimum service decrees, widespread cancellations are unlikely. The most realistic impact for passengers will be longer waiting times and potential operational bottlenecks." Passengers may face delays at check-in, bag-drop, boarding gates, and baggage reclaim. Air passenger rights organisation AirHelp advised travellers to prepare for disruption, noting that nearly two in five passengers using the airport between 1 May and 23 July were already affected by flight delays or cancellations. It said the strain on infrastructure "highlighted the potential impact further disruption could have as schools break up and peak holiday travel gets underway." Unless an agreement is reached, the strike will continue indefinitely from August 4.
