Ground handling staff at 12 major airports in Spain are set to begin strike action from 27 March 2026, with walkouts expected to disrupt flights, baggage handling and passenger services during the Easter travel period.
The industrial action affects key hubs including Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca, Valencia and airports across the Canary and Balearic Islands.
The strikes are linked to labour disputes involving airport service providers, including Groundforce, and are scheduled to intensify during peak holiday travel days.
The planned action includes an indefinite strike beginning 27 March, recurring stoppages on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and full 24-hour strikes on 28–29 March and from 2 to 6 April, coinciding with the busiest Easter travel window.
Millions of passengers are expected to travel through Spanish airports during this period, raising the risk of widespread delays and cancellations. The disruption comes as Spain prepares for one of its highest seasonal passenger volumes of the year.
Strike schedule and scope
The strike action is structured in phases, starting with partial stoppages and escalating into full-day walkouts. Workers are expected to stop work multiple times per day during the recurring strike days, affecting airport ground operations such as baggage loading, aircraft turnaround and passenger assistance.
Full 24-hour strikes are planned for 28 and 29 March, followed by additional continuous strikes between 2 and 6 April. These dates align with peak travel demand around Semana Santa, when domestic and international passenger traffic increases significantly.
Impact on passengers and operations
The disruption is expected to affect airport operations across Spain’s main tourist gateways. Airlines may face delays in aircraft turnaround due to reduced ground handling capacity, while passengers could experience longer queues at check-in, security and baggage reclaim areas.
Airports serving popular holiday destinations, including the Balearic and Canary Islands, are likely to see the greatest impact due to high passenger volumes. Palma de Mallorca alone handles hundreds of thousands of passengers during the Easter period, making it particularly vulnerable to operational delays.
The strike action coincides with the ongoing rollout of the European Union’s Entry/Exit System, which has already contributed to longer passport control processing times at some airports. Combined pressures from staffing shortages and increased border checks are expected to create congestion across terminals during peak hours.
Authorities and airport operators continue to monitor the situation as negotiations between unions and service providers remain ongoing. The duration and intensity of the disruption may change depending on the outcome of these discussions.
