Airline workers at Ryanair in Spain go on strike
Strike at Azul Handling Disrupts Air Travel in Spain
A strike by ground staff at Azul Handling, a company affiliated with Ryanair, is causing disruptions to air travel in Spain. The strike began on 15 August 2025 and is ongoing with intermittent work stoppages planned through at least 31 December 2025.
The strike occurs during three daily periods: 05:00-09:00, 12:00-15:00, and 21:00-23:59, initially on 15, 16, and 17 August, then repeated every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday across multiple major Spanish airports including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Malaga, Alicante, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Girona, Tenerife South, Lanzarote, and Santiago de Compostela.
Effects on Air Travelers
Some delays are expected, mainly during strike periods when baggage handling and check-in processes slow down. Airport operator Aena has reported minor delays at larger airports but no large-scale disruptions; the situation in Mallorca remains near normal.
So far, no flight cancellations have been officially reported due to the strike, although cancellations are possible if the strike impacts escalate. Passengers are advised that baggage check-in and retrieval may take longer, leading to baggage delays or complications.
Since the strikes involve subcontracted ground staff (not airline employees), passengers are generally not entitled to EU compensation under EC Regulation 261/2004 for delays or cancellations caused solely by this industrial action.
Air travelers are advised to check with Ryanair for flight status updates before traveling and to arrive earlier than usual at airports to accommodate slower processing times.
The strike is a response to demands for better pay and working conditions, with union UGT highlighting ongoing labor rights breaches. While the strike is significant in scope and duration, its impact has been somewhat mitigated by legal minimum service requirements in Spain that limit strike effects.
In summary, the Azul Handling strike is active and will continue intermittently through December 2025, causing delays and baggage handling difficulties but, so far, only minor disruption to flight schedules at affected Spanish airports.
- Travelers should be aware that the ongoing Azul Handling strike, which primarily affects air travel in Spain, may influence their lifestyle as it could result in delays during check-in and baggage handling processes.
- The current industrial action, which began on 15 August 2025, also impacts the sports sector, as disruptions to air travel might affect the schedules and participation of athletes and teams traveling to Spain.
- Meanwhile, in the realm of general-news and politics, the strike has sparked debates on labor rights, wages, and working conditions within the travel industry, with the union UGT highlighting ongoing breaches in this area.
