Ryanair ground staff in Spain initiate strike action from the second half of August this week
Strike Action Affects Spanish Airports and Ryanair Flights
A series of strikes by various unions, including the General Union of Workers (UGT) and the Menzies Group ground staff, has been causing disruptions at several Spanish airports. The strikes, which began in August, are set to continue until the end of the year.
UGT's Concerns
UGT has criticized the adaptation of the schedule to exercise the right to family reconciliation and accused Azul Handling, a subsidiary of Irish airline Ryanair, of imposing sanctions on workers who refuse non-obligatory hours, with penalties up to 36 days without work or pay. UGT also denounces the lack of creation of stable employment and consolidation of the schedule for part-time fixed personnel, as well as the "illegal restrictions" on reincorporation after medical leave.
Menzies Group Strike
The Menzies Group ground staff strike, which is also promoted by UGT, is in response to alleged sanctions against workers and abuse of overtime hours. The strike will affect five Spanish airports - Barcelona-El Prat, Alicante, Palma, Malaga, and Tenerife Sur - on specific days in August. The ground staff of the Menzies Group, serving airlines such as Emirates, British Airways, American Airlines, EasyJet, Turkish Airlines, Norwegian, and Wizz Air, have joined the strike.
Minimum Services Established
To mitigate the impact of the strikes, the Ministry of Transport has established minimum services. For flights dedicated to emergency tasks, including ambulance services, firefighting, organ transportation, surveillance, civil protection, transfer of foreign citizens, and police officers in charge of their custody, the minimum services will reach 100%. For services connecting peninsular Spanish cities where the alternative means of transport takes more than five hours, the minimum service percentage will vary between 54% and 63% during August, September, and October.
Ryanair Flights Affected
The Azul Handling strike, called by the UGT, began on August 15, 2025, and is set to continue until December 31, 2025. The strike impacts Ryanair's 12 operational bases in Spain, including Alicante, Barcelona, Girona, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Madrid, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, Santiago de Compostela, Sevilla, Tenerife South, and Valencia. Despite warnings of disruptions, Ryanair announced that none of its flights to or from Spain over the initial strike period (August 15-17) were affected, as the strikes were poorly supported by Azul Handling staff. However, the prolonged strike action until the end of 2025 may still cause potential delays and cancellations due to the partial work stoppages, particularly during peak operational hours.
Passenger Advice
Passengers are advised to check with Ryanair for any updates on their flights, as the situation may evolve over time. The strikes are part of a broader dispute over labor rights and working conditions, which may lead to further disruptions if not resolved.
