Major strike action to hit 12 Spanish airports that have Ryanair flights

Scottish Sun

2 days ago

Plus, what you need to know about flight compensation rules
GROUNDED Major strike action to hit 12 Spanish airports that have Ryanair flights
BRITS heading to Spain this month are being warned of chaos as baggage handlers are to strike at 12 Spanish airports.
More than 3,000 workers are set to strike between August 15 and 17 and then will continue to strike every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at a number of Spanish airports.
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Strikes are expected to hit 12 Spanish airport and impact Ryanair
Credit: Alamy
The strikes are set to continue through to the end of December.
Organised by the union UGT, the repeated walk-outs by Azul Handling - Ryanair's handling subsidiary - are expected to impact the airline's operations.
Ryanair's bases located in Valencia, Alicante, Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Malaga, Ibiza, Palma, Girona, Tenerife South, Lanzarote and Santiago, are expected to be impacted.
The strike will affect all bases and work centres in Spain and will take place between 5am and 9am, noon and 3pm and 9pm to 11.59pm.
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By law, the workers have to provide a "minimum service", however this is yet to be specified.
The protests are "against the sanctions imposed on workers and the abuse of hours".
The FeSMC-UGT airline sector is requesting mediation before the Interconfederal Mediation and Arbitration Service (SIMA).
According to the union, the strikes are being called for various reasons including a lack of stable job creation, restrictions on medical leave and the consolidation of part-time staff's working hours.
"UGT regrets having to go to these extremes and all the damages that may occur, for which the direct responsibility will be solely and exclusively the company and its reckless action with the workforce," the union commented.
Jose Manuel Perez Grande, federal secretary of the FeSMC-UGT Air Union, claimed Azul Handling has "a strategy of precariousness and pressure on the workforce that violates basic labour rights and systematically ignores union demands".
Flight cancelled or delayed? Top tips for handling travel disruptions
The FeSMC-UGT Air Sector is now demanding that the company withdraw the sanctions, comply with the opinions of the Joint Commission and immediately open a real negotiation process.
This would improve the working conditions of the more than 3,000 workers affected.
A number of baggage handlers also went on strike at several Spanish airports for the same reasons last year.
A Ryanair spokesperson told The Sun Travel: "Ryanair does not expect any disruption to our operation as a result of these third-party handling strikes in Spain."
Back in June, Ryanair also revealed Europe's worst air traffic control centres (ATCs) for delays.
This included 1,642 of the airlines' flights to/from the UK being delayed, impacting nearly 300,000 British passengers.
Ryanair commented that the European Commission and European governments "have taken no action to fix their shoddy ATC services and ATC delays will now be even worse in summer 2025".
Micheal O'Leary, the airline's CEO, added that if staff shortages and ATC issues are not sorted, there will be "record ATC flight delays this summer".
Flight compensation rules
A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.
If you're flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.
You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven't used yet.
So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.
But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.
When am I not entitled to compensation?
The airline doesn't have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.
Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation.
Some airlines may stretch the definition of "extraordinary circumstances" but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?
If you can't claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.
Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.
Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.
If your flight is cancelled entirely, you're unlikely to be covered by your insurance.
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