Airline staff in Spain go on strike, disrupting Ryanair flights
Spain's Ongoing Airline Strikes Cause Flight Disruptions
Recurring strikes at two handling companies, Menzies and Azul Handling, are causing ongoing disruptions to flights across Spain. The strikes, driven by demands for better pay, improved working conditions, and respect for labor agreements, have resulted in delays, baggage handling issues, and uncertainty for passengers.
Impact on Flights
Azul Handling staff, who mainly support Ryanair flights, have been on strike since mid-August 2025 and plan to continue strikes every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through December 2025. Although no widespread flight cancellations have been reported due to legal minimum service requirements in Spain, baggage handling delays and longer processing times at airports are common.
Menzies Aviation, providing ground services for airlines including easyJet, British Airways, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, and American Airlines, faced strikes at key airports in August 2025. However, after prolonged negotiations, Menzies workers suspended their planned strikes for weekends, pending final agreements that promise better shift patterns, holiday allocations, and career progression recognition.
Airports affected include Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Alicante, Malaga, Tenerife South, Madrid, Seville, Ibiza, Girona, Lanzarote, and Santiago de Compostela.
Working Conditions and Wage Demands
Workers at both companies have reported issues such as unstable work schedules, pressure to work unpaid or additional hours, disciplinary action for refusals to work overtime, and unfair treatment related to sick leave and family absences. The unions accuse the companies of violating labor agreements and failing to pay wages correctly.
For Menzies, new agreements focus on controlling maximum hours, better holiday planning without imposition, shift equity, and official monthly shift publications. Azul Handling staff specifically demand improved pay and permanent contracts instead of temporary or unstable jobs.
Current Situation
A provisional agreement has been reached between Menzies and the UGT union, leading to a temporary suspension of strikes pending formal contract signing. However, unions remain cautious since past agreements had not been fully honored, and therefore strikes remain "on paper" until formalized in writing.
The Spanish airport operator Aena advises passengers to check flight statuses frequently due to ongoing potential disruptions.
In summary, these two simultaneous strike actions reflect serious labor disputes affecting Spain's ground handling services, causing operational challenges for airlines and inconvenience for passengers. While a resolution is more advanced at Menzies than at Azul Handling as of August 2025, passengers should still prepare for potential delays and longer processing times at airports.
Passengers may experience delays and longer processing times at airports in Spain due to ongoing strikes at Menzies and Azul Handling, as these companies' staff demand improved working conditions and better pay. Particularly for Ryanair flights, baggage handling delays are common due to the Azul Handling staff's strike.
