La Coruna, Spain. Photo: Shutterstock
Spain is heading into a difficult Easter travel season, with a series of strikes threatening to disrupt flights across the country just as millions prepare to travel for Semana Santa (the Holy Week), which runs from March 29 to April 6.
At the center of the concern is a growing staffing crisis. Air traffic controllers at A Coruña Airport have warned that a strike is now “all but inevitable” unless ongoing staffing and scheduling issues are resolved. While the warning is currently limited to one airport, there is real concern that it could spread nationwide, something that would have a far greater impact on airspace and flight schedules.
At the same time, ground operations are also under pressure, with staff at Groundforce, an important service provider for Air Europa with contracts at 12 Spanish airports, getting ready for an indefinite strike starting March 27 with walkouts planned every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, in three key time slots throughout the day: from 5 AM to 7 AM, from 11 AM to 5 PM, and from 10 PM to midnight.
Also, Menzies staff (3,000 workers across the country) are planning full 24-hour strikes on March 28 and 29, as well as from April 2 to April 6. These actions will affect major airports including Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Valencia, Ibiza, and several in the Canary Islands.
The timing could hardly be worse. Easter is one of the busiest travel periods in Spain, with a sharp increase in both domestic and international flights. Early signs already point to a fragile system. On a single day earlier this month, there were 21 cancellations and 447 delays across major hubs.
Airlines such as Ryanair, Vueling, Iberia, Air Europa, easyJet, and British Airways could all feel the impact. Low-cost carriers may be especially exposed, as their tight schedules leave little room for delays. Even a small reduction in staffing could trigger a chain reaction across routes in Spain and beyond.
Unions, including UGT (General Workers' Union), CCOO (Comisiones Obreras), and USO (Union Sindical Obrera), have argued that the strikes would stem from long-standing concerns about pay and working conditions. Without an agreement, disruptions could continue not only through Easter but potentially into the summer.
If you have a holiday scheduled during the affected period, be sure to check your flight status and arrive early, especially if you plan to check luggage.