New Spain airport strikes to disrupt easyJet and BA in August

(Spain) Spain is bracing for fresh airport disruption in August 2025 as ground‑handling staff from Menzies Aviation and Ryanair‑group handler Azul Handling stage separate, overlapping strikes across the country. The actions, announced by union UGT, target check‑in, baggage handling, and ramp operations at some of the busiest airports, raising the risk of long lines, delayed bags, and flight delays for passengers on easyJet, British Airways, and other carriers.

The most concentrated impact is expected on three weekends—August 16–17, August 23–24, and August 30–31—when Menzies workers plan walkouts at five key airports. Azul Handling stoppages begin on August 15 and then repeat in time bands every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through year‑end. EUclaim and Spanish media warn of broad effects, with Barcelona, Malaga, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca, and Tenerife Sur appearing most exposed.

Strike dates, airports and affected carriers

UGT has called a state‑wide strike at Azul Handling covering numerous airports, including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Malaga, Alicante, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Girona, Tenerife South, Lanzarote, and Santiago de Compostela.

• Azul Handling stoppage windows:
  • 05:00–09:00, 12:00–15:00, and 21:00–23:59 on August 15–17, then continuing every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until December 31, 2025 (per Euronews Travel and union notices).

Separately, UGT has announced coordinated weekend walkouts by Menzies Aviation at five major stations that serve both short‑haul and long‑haul airlines.

• Menzies Aviation strike weekends:
  1. August 16–17, 2025
  2. August 23–24, 2025
  3. August 30–31, 2025
• Airports targeted by Menzies walkouts:
  • Barcelona‑El Prat (BCN)
  • Malaga‑Costa del Sol (AGP)
  • Alicante‑Elche (ALC)
  • Palma de Mallorca (PMI)
  • Tenerife Sur (TFS)

Airlines likely to feel the most pressure on those weekends include easyJet and British Airways, which rely on Menzies at the listed airports. Other carriers named in coverage include Emirates, Norwegian, Wizz Air, and American Airlines. Azul Handling’s campaign primarily hits Ryanair group operations, but the time‑banded nature of its stoppages may strain shared facilities and airport flows on peak days, increasing the chance of knock‑on delays even for non‑Ryanair flights.

The calendar alignment matters. The first clash comes August 16–17, when Menzies’ weekend action coincides with Azul Handling’s initial time bands. Similar overlap is likely on August 23–24 and August 30–31 as Azul’s every‑Weds/Fri/Sat/Sun pattern continues. EUclaim highlights Barcelona, Alicante, Ibiza, Mallorca, and Malaga as hot spots for delays and baggage issues during these periods.

Union grievances and company response

UGT (FeSMC‑UGT Air Sector) states the Azul Handling strike arises from “continuous precariousness” and “constant breaches” of labor rights. The union cites several concerns:

• Lack of consolidation of hours for part‑time staff
• Imposed additional hours and excessive disciplinary measures
• Limits on return after medical leave
• Refusal of flexible schedules
• Demand for withdrawal of sanctions and compliance with sectoral rulings for more than 3,000 workers

For Menzies, UGT alleges:
– Pay‑slip errors and failure to honor salary progression
– Abusive split shifts and unfair rest‑day rotations
– Imposed holiday dates and chronic understaffing

Menzies Aviation says it is negotiating with UGT and regional leaders and has “robust contingency plans” to keep operations moving during the busy summer period.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, overlapping industrial actions at different handlers tend to slow airport recovery even when airlines bring in volunteers or managers, because ground services are highly interlinked and not easily replaced on short notice.

Operationally, passengers should expect:
– Longer check‑in and bag‑drop queues, with some airlines closing counters earlier to manage flow
– Delayed baggage delivery, increasing the chance of late‑loaded bags and missed connections
– Ground delays for turnarounds, pushing back departure times and creating ripple delays

Although Azul Handling’s time bands concentrate disruption in the early morning, midday, and late evening, recovery work between those windows often runs behind schedule. That means flights outside the exact strike hours can still be delayed as teams deal with backlog.

Key takeaway: overlapping handler strikes can cause delays that extend beyond declared strike windows because backlog and interdependencies slow recovery.

Passenger rights and practical steps

These are third‑party ground‑handler strikes, not airline staff strikes. Under European air passenger rules (EC 261, and mirrored in UK 261):

• Cash compensation usually does not apply when delays or cancellations are caused solely by such “extraordinary circumstances.”
• Airlines still owe a duty of care: meals and refreshments during long waits, hotel accommodation if an overnight stay is required, and rerouting or refunds when flights are canceled or heavily delayed.

For official guidance, review the European Commission’s air passenger rights page: https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/passenger-rights/air_en.

Practical steps before and during travel:
1. 48–72 hours before departure
– Check your booking and flight status in the airline app.
– Look for rebooking waivers.
– Repeat the check on the morning of travel.
2. Arrive early
– If checking bags at affected airports, arrive 3 hours before short‑haul and 4 hours before long‑haul flights on strike days.
3. Manage tight connections
– Call your airline to move to an earlier feeder flight or a later onward flight if the connection is risky during strike windows.
4. If canceled or badly delayed
– Use self‑service tools to rebook or request a refund.
– Keep receipts for meals and hotels to claim under duty‑of‑care rules.
5. If baggage is delayed
– File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) before leaving the arrivals hall.
– Keep your boarding pass and bag tags and track updates in the airline’s baggage tool.

Airlines usually publish travel advisories close to each strike date. easyJet and British Airways are expected to offer no‑fee changes or alternative flights where space allows, especially on the busiest weekends. Act fast—seats on earlier or later departures can go quickly when many travelers try to switch at once.

What to expect longer term

The Azul Handling pattern—every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through December 31, 2025—keeps a steady risk of delays at named airports well beyond August. Unless negotiations at the national mediation service (SIMA) or subsequent talks yield an agreement, that schedule remains in place.

For Menzies Aviation, only the three August weekends have been announced; talks with UGT continue and the company says it has contingency plans to reduce disruption.

The situation is fluid:
– There is no central list of flight cancellations; decisions are made by each airline closer to the date.
– EUclaim, Idealista, The Olive Press, and Simple Flying have outlined expected impacts, but final operational choices rest with carriers and may change if talks advance or if authorities set minimum service levels.

Practical alert for travelers

• If you’re booked on August 16–17, August 23–24, or August 30–31 from Barcelona, Malaga, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca, or Tenerife Sur, plan for crowds and allow extra time.
• If flying with Ryanair or traveling through the larger Azul Handling network, note the August 15–17 time bands and the repeating Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun pattern through year‑end.
• Keep your phone charged, enable app notifications, and have a backup route in case the original plan falls through.