Lorraine Williamson
Spain’s airports face disruption this weekend as two separate ground-handling strikes coincide with the peak Assumption Day holiday rush.
On Friday, 15 August, Azul Handling staff — who manage services for Ryanair — began their walkout. The following day, workers from Menzies Aviation join the action, escalating pressure on airports already stretched by record summer traffic.
Limited impact on Ryanair flights
Union leaders admitted Friday’s strike had only a “limited impact” overall, although airports in Palma, Madrid, Barcelona and Seville saw more visible disruption. Despite this, Ryanair confirmed all flights operated as scheduled, citing government-mandated minimum service levels. The airline also stressed that the largest union, CCOO, had not backed the strike, leaving UGT representing fewer than one in five employees.
Accusations of strike suppression
UGT’s aviation secretary, Chema Pérez, accused Azul Handling of attempting to weaken the strike. He claimed staff received duty letters too late to know whether they were obliged to work, while strike committee members were reportedly blocked from certain facilities. The union argues such tactics breach Spanish labour law and undermine workers’ rights.
Menzies joins the action
From Saturday 16 August, ground staff at Menzies Aviation — which services major carriers including Emirates, British Airways, EasyJet, Turkish Airlines, Norwegian and Wizz Air — began their own strike. This action covers five major hubs: Barcelona-El Prat, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga and Tenerife South.
Strike timetable and airports affected
Azul Handling stoppages will repeat every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until December, in three daily blocks: 5.00 am–9.00 am, 12 noon–3.00 pm and 9.00 pm–11.59pm. More than twenty airports are affected, from Málaga and Alicante to Valencia, Ibiza and Tenerife. The Menzies strike will run on overlapping days, increasing the likelihood of bottlenecks at key gateways.
Extra pressure on holiday travellers
The walkouts could hardly come at a worse moment. Spain’s Assumption Day weekend is traditionally one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with millions heading to the coast or flying abroad. Travellers are being warned of potential delays at check-in, baggage handling and boarding. Unions continue to call for serious negotiations with both companies, demanding structural improvements to working conditions.
With strike dates stretching into December, Spain’s airports risk months of recurring disruption. While airlines insist flights will go ahead, passengers should be prepared for slower ground operations — especially during peak holiday weekends. Unless fresh talks break the deadlock, the Spanish airport strike of August 2025 could mark the start of a turbulent autumn for air travel.
Source: Telecinco.es