Strikes at Barcelona, Alicante, Ibiza, Mallorca and Malaga airports from 15 August

Travellers flying to and from Spain in August face significant disruption, as strikes by baggage handling and ground services staff are set to impact major airports. The walkouts will affect multiple airlines, including Ryanair, easyJet, and British Airways, during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

The industrial action begins on 15 August 2025 and will continue on select days through the summer, with the potential to extend into the end of the year.

Who is striking?

The strikes involve subcontracted ground handling staff, not airline employees. This distinction is important: these workers are employed by handling companies such as Menzies and Azul Handling (Ryanair’s ground services subsidiary), rather than by the airlines themselves.

They are responsible for tasks like loading and unloading baggage, check-in services, and other airport ground operations.

Because the strikes are carried out by third-party contractors rather than the airlines, passengers will not be entitled to EC Regulation 261/2004 compensation for delays or cancellations caused solely by this industrial action.

When and where will the strikes happen?

Two major ground handling groups are taking action:

• Azul Handling (Ryanair): Strikes on 15, 16, 17 August, then every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until at least 31 December. The action will affect Ryanair’s bases in Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Malaga, Palma, Valencia, Ibiza, Girona, Tenerife South, Lanzarote, and Santiago.
• Menzies Aviation: Strikes on 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, and 31 August at key airports: Barcelona-El Prat, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, and Tenerife South.

Airlines affected

• Ryanair: significant baggage handling delays expected at its major Spanish bases.
• easyJet & British Airways: both rely on Menzies for ground services at several Spanish airports.
• Other carriers potentially affected include Wizz Air, Turkish Airlines, American Airlines, Emirates, and Norwegian.

Why are the workers striking?

The strikes are the result of a long-running dispute between ground handling companies and their employees over working conditions and contract breaches. Unions representing the staff have accused employers of failing to honour labour agreements, not paying wages correctly, and creating disorganised and unstable work schedules.

Workers say they are routinely pressured into working additional hours, sometimes against their will, and face disciplinary action if they refuse. Staff shortages have made workloads heavier, and there are also claims of unfair treatment around sick leave and family-related absences.

In the case of Menzies, unions argue that the company is violating both sector-wide agreements and its own internal commitments, despite having resolved a similar dispute last year to avoid strikes.

The frustration has built up again, leading to a renewed push for industrial action during the peak holiday period.

For Ryanair’s Azul Handling staff, the situation is similar, with employees pointing to excessive overtime demands and a lack of stable, permanent jobs.

How will passengers be affected?

The impact of these strikes on travellers could be significant, especially during peak summer travel days. Passengers may experience long delays in checking in, boarding, and collecting their luggage.

With fewer staff available to handle baggage and assist at the gates, queues are likely to be longer and turnaround times slower. In some cases, the disruption could be severe enough to cause flight cancellations, particularly if delays build up throughout the day.

Airports such as Barcelona, Madrid, Palma, Malaga, and Alicante are expected to be the hardest hit, but the effects may ripple out to other destinations if flights are delayed departing from Spain.

The reduced staffing levels mean that even if flights do depart, luggage may take considerably longer to arrive at the carousel upon landing, and in the worst cases, bags could be left behind and sent on later flights.

No right to compensation

While the strikes will cause inconvenience for many, passengers should be aware that these disruptions are the result of disputes between airport ground handling contractors and their employees, not the airlines.

Under EU law, this means no right to EC 261 compensation for delays or cancellations arising solely from the strikes.

However, airlines are still obliged to provide care and assistance, which can include an alternative flight or a refund, as well as covering reasonable expenses for meals, refreshments, and hotel accommodation if required.