Why European Holidaymakers Face Major Disruption from Spain’s Ryanair Airport Strikes
European holidaymakers are being advised to prepare for significant summer travel disruption as more than 3,000 baggage handlers at Spanish airports prepare to strike.
The walkouts, involving staff employed by Azul Handling, a company servicing Ryanair and its subsidiaries, are expected to impact major tourist destinations across Spain from mid-August through the end of the year.
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Following this, weekly walkouts are scheduled to continue every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until December 31.
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Trusted local Spanish media reported that operations at key airports including Madrid, Barcelona, Alicante, Ibiza, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Seville, Girona, Tenerife South, Lanzarote, and Santiago de Compostela will be affected.
These airports are among the busiest in Spain and serve as key gateways for millions of European tourists, particularly those from the UK, France, Germany, and Italy.
The dispute is tied to long-standing tensions between Azul Handling and its workforce. According to union officials, the strikes stem from unresolved grievances over overtime practices, unstable job contracts, and punitive measures taken against part-time staff.
The union alleges that the company has failed to adequately address calls for regularised working hours and fair bonus arrangements, contributing to what it describes as a deteriorating labour environment.
Despite reassurances from airline representatives that operations will continue without major disruptions, unions have indicated that the scale and frequency of the strikes could severely affect passenger experience during the peak summer period.
The August bank holiday weekend and early September period, particularly busy for British and French families returning from vacation, fall within the disruption window.
Spain welcomed over 18 million British tourists last year, with Ryanair operating a large portion of short-haul flights between the UK and Spanish destinations.
The walkouts could affect not only outbound travel but also return journeys for hundreds of thousands of European travelers at the close of the summer season.
Travellers whose flights are delayed or cancelled due to strike action may be entitled to compensation or assistance depending on the nature and duration of the delay.
Under EU air passenger rights regulations, airlines must provide care, such as meals, refreshments, and accommodation, if the disruption exceeds certain thresholds.
These obligations vary depending on the flight distance and the extent of the delay. While some carriers fulfill these obligations proactively, it is common for passengers to be asked to make arrangements independently and seek reimbursement later.
In the event of a cancellation, passengers are entitled to a full refund within seven days. Alternatively, some airlines may offer travel vouchers, occasionally with added value incentives.
If the voucher comes with an increase in value and the traveler expects to fly with the same carrier again, it may be worth accepting. However, this is a personal decision that should be weighed against flexibility and timing.
With industrial action expected to stretch into the Christmas travel period, travelers across Europe, especially from the UK, France, and Italy, are being urged to monitor their flight status closely, confirm arrangements with airlines in advance, and prepare for delays and diversions throughout the remainder of 2025.