(MADRID, SPAIN) An indefinite security strike is disrupting Madrid-Barajas Airport for a second day, with long queues, missed flights, and rising legal tensions after about 800 Trablisa security staff walked off the job early on September 14, 2025. The action, which union representatives describe as “indefinite and full-time,” has no announced end date as of September 15.
Aena, the airport operator, says operations continue, but passengers should expect extended waits of 60–90 minutes at security, especially in Terminal 4, and arrive much earlier than usual.
Cause of the dispute
The dispute centers on pay, working conditions, and heavy workloads. Workers argue their workload “far exceeds” that of other Spanish airports. The contractor, Trablisa, calls the strike “illegal and abusive,” citing failures to meet formal legal requirements and alleged breaches of earlier agreements.
- Trablisa has filed a lawsuit seeking to force employees back to work.
- It has requested action from the Regional Institute of Mediation and Arbitration of the Community of Madrid.
Spain’s central government has labeled Madrid-Barajas Airport “critical infrastructure,” issuing an order requiring 100% minimum service levels for security posts. That ruling effectively bars a full walkout, a decision unions view as unworkable given current staffing levels and the range of duties at Europe’s sixth-busiest hub.
Despite the legal standoff, the security strike continues, with impacts visible in jammed departure halls and reports of missed connections.
Mitigation efforts and airline responses
Aena has apologized and says the airport has brought in State Security Forces and handling agents to help keep passenger flows moving. Airlines have also adapted operations:
- Iberia and other carriers are allowing free checked baggage on some tickets to ease pressure at scanners and urging travelers to check in as early as possible.
- Airlines are adjusting check-in counter hours and warning of possible earlier gate closures to protect on-time departures.
- State Security Forces are present in terminals to manage queues and direct traffic through screening lanes.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the disruption highlights how sensitive airport operations become when private contractors and public service mandates collide, especially where minimum service rules meet front-line labor disputes.
How the disruption is affecting travelers
By Sunday, passengers and airlines reported security queues up to 90 minutes, with the worst delays in Terminal 4 during morning peaks. Aena confirms long waits and says delays are “unavoidable.” While flights continue to operate, crowding has spread from security to gate areas and airline service desks as travelers rebook missed connections.
Key on-the-ground measures and developments:
– Aena coordinating with airlines and security forces to maintain passenger flows, while warning of ongoing delays.
– Iberia advising early arrival and offering free checked baggage to reduce carry-on screening.
– Airlines adjusting check-in hours and potentially closing gates earlier than usual.
– State Security Forces deployed to assist with passenger movement and line control.
Special vulnerabilities:
– Families, elderly travelers, and people with disabilities face extra document checks and longer lines.
– Passengers connecting from long-haul flights are missing tight connections, causing overnight stays and extra costs.
– Students on Erasmus terms, seasonal workers, and travelers with time-limited permits risk losing prepaid housing or missed orientation/job start dates.
Recommendations to avoid missing flights
To reduce the risk of missed flights during the security strike, Aena and airlines recommend:
1. Arrive 3–4 hours before departure for both short- and long-haul flights.
2. Use free checked baggage offers to reduce carry-on screening.
3. Check airline apps for earlier opening times at check-in desks.
4. Go straight to security after check-in; avoid shopping or dining beforehand.
5. Have documents and liquids ready before reaching the screening belt to speed processing.
Refunds, compensation, and legal context for passengers
Compensation under EU rules depends on the cause of the disruption. If courts view the security strike as an “extraordinary circumstance,” airlines may not owe compensation, though they must still offer rerouting or refunds for cancellations.
- Passengers can review official guidance on EU air passenger rights at: EU air passenger rights (Regulation EC 261/2004).
- Lawyers expect case-by-case decisions in Spanish courts if the dispute continues.
The legal fight and next steps
The government’s critical infrastructure order demanding 100% service levels at security posts is a rarely used hard line in airport labor disputes. Trablisa argues the strike violates earlier agreements and formal notice standards and has gone to court to stop the action.
The Strike Committee, publicly represented by Alejandro Corredera Arriaga, maintains that workloads at Madrid-Barajas exceed those at other airports and that staff need higher pay and better compensation for duties at Spain’s busiest hub.
As of September 15:
– The strike is ongoing with no end date.
– The Regional Institute of Mediation and Arbitration is reviewing the dispute.
– Trablisa’s legal action seeks a court-ordered return to work.
– Aena continues mitigation coordination but warns of persistent queues.
Analysts note airport security teams are at a pressure point between public safety and private contracts. Staffing models must account for early banked departures, seasonal peaks, and high transfer volumes. When pay and workload negotiations fail, delays cascade: security backlogs affect check-in, squeeze boarding times, and cause missed slots across the network.
Wider impact and practical advice for affected travelers
For immigrants, foreign students, care workers, and seasonal staff, the consequences extend beyond inconvenience. Missing a flight can mean:
– Missing a visa activation window.
– Missing mandatory orientations or job start dates.
– Losing prepaid housing or essential appointments.
If your travel plans are disrupted, keep:
– Boarding passes
– Receipts
– Written airline notices
These records will help with later claims or appeals, even if compensation is uncertain during a third-party strike.
Practical tips:
– Plan for extra time and monitor airline messages closely.
– Consider travel insurance that covers third-party strikes.
– Keep medication, chargers, and a change of clothes in carry-on for potential overnight delays.
– If connecting, ask your airline to rebook onto flights with longer connection windows.
– Passengers flying with children or who have reduced mobility should contact their airline in advance to request assistance through security.
The situation can change quickly. A court order could compel Trablisa staff back to posts, or fresh negotiations could produce a deal on pay and workload. For now, the security strike remains in place, queues remain long, and both sides are holding firm while Madrid’s main airport strains to keep planes moving and passengers calm.
This Article in a Nutshell
An indefinite security strike by about 800 Trablisa staff began at Madrid-Barajas Airport on September 14, 2025, producing long queues, missed connections and mounting legal conflict. The workers cite low pay, poor conditions and heavy workloads; Trablisa calls the walkout illegal and has sued, while the government declared the airport critical infrastructure and ordered 100% minimum service levels. Aena deployed State Security Forces and handling agents; airlines such as Iberia are modifying check-in rules and offering free checked baggage. Passengers face 60–90 minute waits, especially in Terminal 4, and are advised to arrive 3–4 hours early, keep travel documents ready, and monitor airline communications as mediation and court actions unfold.
