Staff at a number of of Spain’s largest airports have begun strike motion this week, inflicting issues about journey disruption through the Easter holidays.
The industrial motion is affecting ground-handling providers throughout most of the nation’s main airports, together with Barcelona, Madrid, Ibiza and Palma. The strikes are operated by two corporations – Groundforce and Menzies – and are primarily a results of wage disagreements, with floor workers saying their pay has been frozen since 2022.
Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning to journey to or from Spain.
When are the Spain airport strikes happening?
The strikes have been initially deliberate for Friday twenty seventh March however have been delayed till Monday thirtieth March. Groundforce workers are placing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday from 5am-7am, 11am-5pm and 10pm-12am and are anticipated to final indefinitely. Meanwhile, Menzies staff will likely be placing every single day from April 2nd to April sixth between 12am and 12pm.
Union sources have warned that, if no settlement is reached, the strikes may very well be prolonged to weekends till the top of the 12 months.
Both strikes are happening over Easter Holy Week, one in all Spain’s busiest intervals, which sees tens of millions of vacationers flocking to see the Semana Santa processions. It is estimated that 1.34 million passengers may very well be affected, in accordance to Spanish media.
Travellers are being suggested that they are possible to expertise queues and slower processing, so to permit additional journey time every method, and are urged to examine their flight standing often.
Which airports will likely be affected?
According to Spanish retailers, the next airports throughout the nation will likely be affected:
Mainland Spain
- Madrid-Barajas
- Barcelona-El Prat
- Málaga-Costa del Sol
- Seville
- Alicante
- Valencia
- Bilbao
- Zaragoza
Canary Islands
- Gran Canaria
- Tenerife South
- Tenerife North
- Lanzarote
- Fuerteventura
Balearic Islands
What are my rights if my flights are disrupted?
If your flight is cancelled, you’re entitled to both a full refund of the ticket or another flight to your vacation spot on the earliest alternative.
If your flight is delayed for 3 hours or extra, you ought to obtain meals and drink vouchers and a refund for any important telephone calls. If your flight is delayed in a single day, airways should present resort lodging and transportation to and from the resort.
Delays of three hours or extra brought on by industrial motion inside an airline would usually qualify for compensation, however because the Spanish airport strikes are happening amongst floor workers, airways are unlikely to supply compensation, because the disruption is brought on by occasions exterior their management.