Ryanair passengers warned as strikes loom at multiple holiday airports

Daily Record

7 hours ago

The action is expected to affect thousands of British holidaymakers, with travellers urged to check their insurance policies as they may not be covered for delays, cancellations or being stranded
With just a week left before widespread strikes kick off at 12 airports across Spain, British holidaymakers are being advised to review their insurance policies in light of potential delays, cancellations, or the risk of being stranded overseas. More than 3,000 baggage handlers from Azul Handling, which provides services for Ryanair flights, are set to strike at 12 of Spain's busiest airports starting from August 15, as highlighted by experts at Forum Insurance.
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The airports facing disruption include Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Alicante, Ibiza, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife South, Girona, Lanzarote, and Santiago de Compostela. The walkouts are planned for August 15, 16, and 17 during three critical time windows: 5am to 9am, 12pm to 3pm, and 9pm to 11.59pm.
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The industrial action is then slated to continue every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the remainder of the year. The union has cited poor working conditions and violations of labour rights as the reasons behind the strikes.
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This comes at a time when summer holidays are at their peak, potentially impacting thousands of Brits travelling to Spain.
José Manuel Pérez Grande, federal secretary of the FeSMC-UGT air union, said: "Azul Handling maintains a strategy of precariousness and pressure on the workforce that violates basic labour rights and systematically ignores union demands."
However, a spokesperson for Ryanair has downplayed concerns, stating: "Ryanair does not expect any disruption to our operation as a result of these third-party handling strikes in Spain."
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Advice for travellers affected by Spanish airport strikes
Niraj Mamtora, director at Forum Insurance, explained: "Standard travel insurance policies often exclude airspace disruptions, so you should never assume that you're covered for events like strikes, airport closures or air traffic control outages. To protect yourself, look for a policy that offers 'travel disruption' or 'airspace closure' as an optional extra or higher-tier feature."
He continued: "Travel disruption insurance can cover you if your flight is cancelled or delayed due to strikes or airspace closures, and may reimburse you for unused travel and accommodation, enforced stays abroad, or extra expenses if you're stranded and no suitable alternative transport is available for more than 24 hours."
The insurance expert added: "Even when the disruption is caused by ground staff, such as baggage handlers, it can still affect flights and fall under certain travel disruption or airspace closure clauses, depending on the policy wording."
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Mamtora cautioned: "Always check your policy wording carefully. Some insurers require that the disruption be unexpected and not known at the time you book or buy your policy. If you travel against official advice, or if the event was foreseeable, you may not be covered."
Already booked but unsure if you're covered?
Niraj added: "First, check your existing policy documents carefully. Some standard travel insurance plans may offer limited protection for delays or missed departures, even if they don't specifically mention airspace closure. Look for sections on 'travel disruption' or 'missed departure' to see if any cover applies.
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"If your policy doesn't include this, contact your airline or travel provider directly. Airlines are often obliged to offer rebooking, refunds, or care such as meals and accommodation. Package holiday providers may also be responsible for rearranging your travel or offering compensation.
"For future trips, consider adding 'travel disruption' or 'airspace closure' cover as an optional extra. It's a small investment that can save you significant stress and cost if the unexpected happens again."
Practical advice for holidaymakers
Niraj has also provided further guidance for those heading to Spain later this month:
Examine your policy paperwork immediately. Even if you believe you have coverage, the small print, exclusions and terms are crucial.
Those who have recently booked their getaway or insurance should note that insurers might refuse to cover disruption from industrial action that was already publicly announced. Verify whether the strike qualifies as a 'known event' according to your policy.
Get in touch with your airline or tour operator promptly if you're scheduled to fly during strike periods. Whilst many companies have contingency measures ready, swift action on your part is essential.
Hold on to receipts for any additional expenses incurred due to delays, as they may be required if you decide to make a claim.
If possible, try to plan your travel outside of the anticipated strike periods to minimise the risk of disruption.
In case your flight is delayed and you miss a subsequent journey or prepaid transfer, your insurance might only cover this if it includes missed connection or onward travel protection. It's always wise to read the small print.
Niraj advised: "Travel disruption cover usually doesn't allow you to cancel your holiday just because of expected delays. Claims are typically only accepted for specific costs you've incurred due to confirmed disruption."