Travelers heading to or from Spain this week may face delays and disruptions as easyJet cabin crew based in Barcelona, Málaga, Alicante, and Palma de Mallorca prepare to strike for three consecutive days. The action, organized by Spain’s USO union, is scheduled for June 25th, 26th, and 27th—just as the summer travel season gets underway.
The strike involves 657 cabin crew members and is expected to impact hundreds of flights across the four airports. While it remains unclear how widespread the cancellations or delays will be, the industrial action stems from longstanding grievances over pay disparities and cost-of-living adjustments.
High Minimum Service Requirements Reduce Impact
Spain’s Ministry of Transport has announced that strict minimum service levels will be enforced to reduce travel chaos. These include:
- 86% of scheduled flights must operate in Barcelona
- 90% in Málaga
- 88% in Alicante
- 81% in Palma de Mallorca
These mandatory operating levels mean that many crew members may be legally barred from joining the strike, significantly weakening its overall impact. Still, passengers are advised to check their flight status in advance and prepare for potential disruptions.
Flights at Risk in Málaga
Málaga Airport could see 70 flights affected over the three-day period. On June 25th and 27th, 24 flights per day may face delays or cancellations, while 22 are at risk on June 26th. Destinations include:
- UK cities: London Gatwick, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Luton, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle
- European hubs: Milan, Amsterdam, Zurich, Paris, Berlin, Geneva, Basel, Lyon
- Other cities: Marrakech, Rabat, Athens, Nice, Nantes, Belfast, Glasgow
Palma de Mallorca Disruptions
In Mallorca, 280 crew members are called to strike. Flights on 28 routes could be affected on June 25th, with 27 more on June 26th and 27th. Key destinations include:
- Portugal: Porto, Lisbon
- France: Paris, Toulouse, Montpellier, Nice, Nantes, Lille, Strasbourg
- UK: Southampton, Newcastle, Manchester, London (Gatwick, Luton, Southend), Liverpool, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Edinburgh, Bristol
- Others: Palermo, Prague, Naples, Milan, Lyon, Amsterdam, Zurich, Geneva, Athens, Basel, Berlin
Uncertainty in Alicante
Although USO has not released route-specific impact details for Alicante, easyJet operates 23 routes from this base. These include:
- UK: Gatwick, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool, Luton, Belfast, Newcastle, Glasgow
- Europe: Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Prague, Amsterdam, Lyon, Lille, Nice, Naples, Athens, Southend
Travelers using Alicante Airport during the strike period should monitor real-time updates and check with easyJet before heading to the airport.
Barcelona Flight Disruptions
Barcelona, another major hub for easyJet, is expected to experience significant delays. Routes to and from 21 destinations are potentially at risk. These include:
- Italy: Milan (Malpensa and Linate), Pisa, Naples
- UK: Gatwick, Manchester, Luton, Birmingham, Liverpool, Bristol, Southend
- Europe: Lisbon, Berlin, Geneva, Lyon, Salzburg, Belfast, Glasgow, Strasbourg, Nice
With high volumes of summer tourists flying in and out of Barcelona, even a limited strike could have ripple effects across the region’s transport network.
Why Are easyJet Cabin Crew in Spain Striking?
The dispute centers on wage disparities between Spanish cabin crew and their counterparts in other European countries. USO claims that Spanish-based staff earn between 30% and 200% less than employees working for easyJet in other countries. In some cases, salaries are reported to be up to 93% lower than those earned in the Netherlands.
Union officials also highlight that salaries have failed to keep pace with Spain’s rising cost of living, prompting renewed calls for equal pay and better working conditions across European bases.
What Passengers Should Know
According to easyJet, all flights are currently scheduled to operate as planned. The airline has stated it will take all necessary steps to minimize the strike’s impact on passengers. However, travelers are encouraged to:
- Check flight status before heading to the airport
- Monitor email and SMS for schedule changes
- Contact easyJet directly in the event of a cancellation
Under EU regulations, travelers whose flights are canceled with less than 14 days’ notice may be entitled to compensation or a refund. Affected passengers should keep documentation and submit claims where applicable.
Although Spain’s government-mandated minimum service levels may soften the blow, the scale and timing of the strike could still affect thousands during one of the busiest weeks of the year for Spanish tourism. With airports already facing summer crowds, even modest disruptions could lead to longer wait times and altered plans.
