With all the travel disruption already caused by the conflict in the Middle East and the continually problematic new EES entry/exit system at border controls, British passengers heading to and from Spain over the coming weeks face potential delays, as two major ground handling companies have announced strike action across the country’s airports.
Nicole Kerr, CEO at airport transfer platform Mozio, has revealed everything travellers need to know about the upcoming Spanish airport strikes: “It has been announced that ground handling staff at Groundforce and Menzies will strike over busy travel periods, including Easter weekend in the UK and Semana Santa, one of the busiest periods for air travel in Spain.
The strike action is centred around pay and working conditions and will affect major airports across Spain. If no agreement is reached soon, unions have warned that the strike action could last until the end of the year.”
Which airports will be affected by the strikes, and on what dates is the action taking place?
Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat, Palma, Málaga Costa del Sol, Alicante Elche, Gran Canaria, Tenerife Sur (Tenerife South), Tenerife Norte (Tenerife North), Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Valencia, Ibiza, Bilbao.
Groundforce strikes will begin on March 27, 2026, with industrial action on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 5am-7am, 11am-5pm and 10pm-12am until an agreement is reached. Menzies strikes will take place between 28th-29 March and 2-6 April on consecutive calendar days. On the outlined days, strike action will take place between 12am-12pm and will run until 31 December 2026 if no deal is agreed.
What do the strikes mean for travellers?
As strike action is being taken by ground handling staff, passengers travelling with the affected airlines will likely encounter longer wait times at luggage drop-off points. During the affected strike times, travellers boarding and disembarking their aircraft could face delays, as ground handling staff play a vital role in this process. Travellers are likely to encounter longer departure and arrival wait times, as the strikes will have an impact on baggage loading and unloading times.
What measures should travellers take during strike action?
“While strike action at airports is never welcome news for people travelling abroad, it’s important to understand that these events happen across the world each year and flights still operate with little to no disruption. Whether you’re travelling to the airport by public transport or a private airport transfer, for any passengers flying to and from Spanish airports over the coming weeks, it’s advised to arrive at the hub 2-3 hours before departure, to avoid queues at baggage drop-off.
During strike action, there is very little travellers can do to reduce delays, but arriving at the airport in plenty of time will give you the best opportunity of dropping your luggage off and making your way through security and passport control with plenty of time before your flight departs.
Nicole finishes: “Before heading to the airport, it’s advised to check updates with your airline, the websites of the affected airports, and official advice from Aena, Spain’s airport operator. Doing this means you will have a clear picture of any potential delays you may encounter or of any important information you need to be aware of before arriving at the airport.”