STRIKE ACTION IN SPAIN SET TO HIT 14 AIRPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY BRINGING TRAVEL CHAOS

Airports across Spain the popular holiday destination are set to be impacted by strike action later this month. 

A whopping 14 hubs in Spain and the Canary Islands will be hit by air traffic controller industrial action. 

The strikes are expected to begin at midnight on April 17 and have been arranged by Union Sindical de Reguladores Aereos and Comisiones Obreras.

The action is against SAERCO, a private firm that operates many control towers at airports across the country. 

Working conditions, stress and shift pattern changes have led to a point that 'aeronautical safety cannot be sustained,' according to a statement by the unions. 

The action is expected to continue indefinitely.

Hubs in busy holiday destinations including La Palma, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Madrid are set to be impacted. 

Various issues have been highlighted by the unions including failure to provide breaks and SAERCO cancelling previously approved holidays.

EuroWeekly reports the problems have been building up for several years.

The Daily Mail has contacted SAERCO for comment. 

It's not the only strike action happening in Spain however.

Several hubs including Barcelona-El Prat Airport, Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport and Palma de Mallorca Airport have been impacted since March 30. 

Other spots are Alicante, Malaga and the Canary Islands.

The strike action, involving Groundforce workers, is taking place indefinitely and stoppages are occurring in several intervals - from 5am to 7am, 11am to 5pm and 10pm to midnight - on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays.

The action could reportedly continue indefinitely and is over ongoing pay disagreements. 

The staggered timings are expected to create long queues, delayed luggage drop offs and boarding issues. 

Aena released a statement about the action and said: 'Indefinite strike called by Groundforce staff, a company providing services to various airlines, starting on Monday, March 30.

'Partial work stoppages have been called on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during three time slots: 5-7am, 11am-5pm, and 10pm-midnight.

'If you're planning to fly, check to see if your airport is affected. Contact your airline to find out the status of your flight.'

Travellers may be concerned over their right to a refund or compensation if their flight is impacted by the various strikes. 

Travel insurance expert Alicia Hempsted, from MoneySuperMarket, has urged families to check their policy documents to see whether they are eligible.

If a flight is cancelled or late due to the strikes, holidaymakers may be able to gain some money back, according to Alice. 

The expert explained: 'Under EU law, you may be entitled to a refund for your flight from the airline, but you may also be able to reclaim other costs, such as accommodation, on your travel insurance.

'If your flight is delayed, your airline has an obligation to offer you food, drink and accommodation depending on the length of the delay.'

However, travellers can only claim the additional compensation if they are told about the strikes less than 14 days before the flight, Alice added.  

She continued: 'Strikes are generally considered 'extraordinary circumstances,' meaning airlines aren't usually responsible, unless the disruption is caused by their own staff, such as pilots or airline employees.'

As for whether travel insurance specifically will cover the holidaymaker for any delays or cancellations experienced due to the action, Alice explained how it depends when you booked the break.

She said: 'As long as the airline strikes were announced after you booked your trip and your travel insurance, you may be able to claim through your insurer.

'Always check the terms and conditions of a policy before you buy, as not all travel insurance providers offer cover for airline strikes.

'If your policy includes travel disruption cover, it might be possible to claim for disruption or losses incurred as a result of your trip being delayed or cancelled.

'This may include alternative accommodation, or expenses incurred such as travel, food and drink, and can even stretch to covering the full cost of your holiday should you end up not being able to travel.

'However, it is worth noting that not all policies cover this as standard and cover levels, conditions, and exclusions can vary between providers, making it important to check with your insurer as your first port of call.'

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2026-04-08T08:55:47Z