Latest news with #Aena
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Brit tourists warned of travel chaos on Spanish island with union set to bring airport 'to a standstill' as summer holidays get underway
British holidaymakers flying in or out of Majorca this Friday are being urged to brace for travel disruption as furious ground staff threaten to ' paralyse' Palma's airport during the busy summer getaway. The protest, scheduled for July 25 between 8am and 12pm, coincides with the start of a Bank Holiday weekend in Spain and could spark chaos for thousands of passengers. Union leaders say they are fed up with poor working conditions and claim they are being 'suffocated' by a crisis gripping the aviation sector in the Balearic Islands. In a fiery statement, workers warned that unless Spanish airport authority Aena steps in immediately, they will 'raise the tone of the protest' with industrial action designed to bring Son Sant Joan airport to a 'standstill'. Their key demand is the creation of a joint task force made up of Aena, the regional government and union representatives to find solutions to what they describe as years of abuse and neglect. The UGT union has accused airport service firms of breaching labour rights and creating 'inhumane' shifts that make work-life balance impossible. They say many staff are forced to accept 'basic contracts of less than 30 hours' while being expected to do 'countless hours of overtime without any control.' Their demands include the proper scheduling of holidays, clearer pathways for professional development, and the employment of qualified staff for supervisory and driving duties so others are not pushed to breaking point. The union has also asked for improved working equipment to protect staff from the scorching heat, new uniforms, and raincoats for when there's a downpour. Additionally, they want free parking for employees and a canteen with affordable food. UGT has accused Swissport, Groundforce, Menzies, easyJet, Pasarelas, Eurowings, PMR's, Jet2, Ryanair and South of 'exploitation.' Bosses have also been condemned over 'endless and painful' construction work at the airport, which union officials say is 'damaging' workers' health and putting their safety at risk. They have warned that companies are refusing to engage with their concerns and are 'undermining' the union's ability to represent staff.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Exact date tourists face Majorca chaos as airport comes to 'total standstill'
Striking workers say they will paralyse the airport for at least three hours after accusing bosses of failing to respect their rights and provide adequate equipment Mallorca airport facing "total standstill" as a protest is expected to bring services to a halt on Friday. Furious staff have called for the major protest and intend to paralyse the airport for at least three hours on July 25th. The disruption could lead to cancellations, massive queues and delays on domestic and international flights. The union recommends that passengers go to the airport earlier and check the status of their flights with their respective airlines. The workers are banded together under the UGT trade union, which is demonstrating against "suffocating" working conditions. Among their demands is the creation of a negotiation group including Spain's airport authority, Aena, the government and employee representatives. UGT has called for a rally at Palma airport on July 25 to denounce what it describes as a "situation of unsustainable precariousness" in the Balearic air sector. The protest will last for about three hours and aims to make visible the working conditions which they claim are deplorable. The unions say companies contracted in to carry out various services are "abusing" their rights. They claim staff aren't treated properly, holiday allocations are incorrect and there is no career progression. The unions are also demanding the addition of qualified personnel in supervisory and management roles, as well as the provision of adequate vehicles and work tools, especially in light of the high temperatures. They say staff need uniforms which "respect their dignity", with clothing adapted to adverse weather conditions, such as raincoats for days of heavy rain. UGT has directly accused companies such as Swissport, Groundforce, Menzies, Easyjet, Pasarelas, Eurowings, Jet2, Ryanair and South, among others, of labour practices which it considers "close to exploitation". The improvements being carried out at the airport also come under fire, with the unions saying construction work appears to be endless and is having a negative impact on the health and safety of staff. The union is also demanding free parking for the workers and the opening of a new cafeteria for staff with affordable prices. The UGT says it holds the airport authority AENA responsible for all the shortcomings and warns that unless it steps up talks to resolve the issues, the protests will continue. The union has already found an ally in the Balearic government which last week demanded urgent action over the airport after admitting "the accumulation of incidents" is doing nothing for its tourism reputation. Officials say delays, cancellations and overbooking at Palma airport in Mallorca are causing a growing volume of complaints and "generate widespread discomfort and project a very negative image of the islands." They have also complained about long waits at security controls and the continuing works at the airport, together with the "collapse in accesses and transit areas." The consumer affairs department of the Government of the Balearic Islands has told the Directorate General of Civil Aviation its concern about the situation that Palma airport is going through in the middle of the high season, as well as the accumulation of incidents in air traffic that directly affect residents and tourists. "From Consumer Affairs, it is stressed that air traffic in the Balearic Islands is not only key for tourism but also an essential public service for the connectivity of citizens, especially in an island territory such as the Balearic Islands. However, delays, cancellations and overbooking cause a growing volume of complaints, generate widespread discomfort and project a very negative image of the islands," said a spokesperson for the government. "The Consumer Affairs Department of the Ministry of Health considers it essential that the competent aviation authorities are extremely vigilant and control during the high season and ensure compliance with European Regulation 261/2004, which protects the rights of passengers in the event of service interruptions." "Likewise, the General Directorate denounces that the execution of works at Palma airport in the middle of high season generates a context of general discomfort, collapse in accesses and transit areas, and long waits at security controls, with direct damage to both passengers and staff working in the facilities." "For all these reasons, Consumer Affairs calls on the central government to adopt measures to guarantee the proper functioning of air traffic in the Balearic Islands and protect the rights of passengers and the safety of users."
Scottish Sun
7 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Spain holiday airport to FINALLY clear out crime-riddled homeless camp after tourists forced to dodge drugs and bedbugs
Prostitution, violence and public urination have all been linked to the rough sleepers SCARE-PORT CRACKDOWN Spain holiday airport to FINALLY clear out crime-riddled homeless camp after tourists forced to dodge drugs and bedbugs Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SPANISH airport is finally flushing out a crime-riddled homeless camp - but only after tourists were forced to dodge drugs and bedbugs. Barajas Airport in Madrid has been overrun by rough sleepers who gather en masse every night, plaguing the building and travellers with problems. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 A rough sleeper eats sitting on the floor of Terminal 4 at Barajas Airport in Madrid Credit: AP 6 Around 400 people hunker down on the airport floor each night Credit: Solarpix 6 The crowds of homeless are finally to be evicted from the airport Credit: AP An estimated 400 rough sleepers pile into Spain's largest airport each night - but will now all be evicted, the Spanish airport authority Aena said. The gatherings of people, often with drug and alcohol problems, earned Barajas the nickname "zombie city" - amid reports of violence and looting. Drug use, public urination and even prostitution are also said to be common - as reported by local tradespeople and the rough sleepers themselves. Spanish media reported in May that some of the occupants have been found with knives, machetes and other homemade weapons. Officials warned the nuisance residents to move on after a reception centre was set up to accommodate them. As the airport enforces the new rule against overnight stays, Madrid City Council has created 150 emergency places in the Latina district of the city. The Pinar de San José centre is equipped with beds, hygiene services, food and social care. An Aena spokesperson said: "The decision to act on the situation in Barajas responds to a reality that has been visible for months: the stay of dozens of homeless people, mostly migrants or asylum seekers, who had begun to use the airport facilities as a night shelter, especially during waves of extreme cold and heat. "This situation generated both humanitarian concern and operational problems for the proper functioning of the airport." Aena says the airport cannot and should not become an overnight space for vulnerable people, as it does not have the resources or capacity to do so. Major Brit holiday airport fumigated after infestation of BEDBUGS with passengers & airline staff reporting itchy bites The statement continued: "The objective is to avoid situations of risk, lack of protection and chronification, through direct intervention, social monitoring and orientation to stable resources of the social services system". The authority will soon begin to officially warn any stragglers in Barajas that they must leave. They will be directed to the new homeless centre in the city. The eviction process will be conducted in collaboration with social professionals to "ensure empathetic and effective communication, in accordance with the vulnerability of the group", Aena said. Rough sleeps can be found occupying mattresses and cardboard beds onto the hard floor, while others simply curl up next to the walls surrounded by their belongings. Many of the inhabitants can also be seen sprawled across the chairs in the waiting areas of the terminal. 6 The rough sleepers will be directed to a new homeless shelter set up in the city Credit: Solarpix 6 Bed bugs - which leave itchy red marks like this - were reported at Madrid airport and it was fumigated Credit: Getty One shocking video clip even showed that a homeless man had occupied an airport lift and turned it into his bedroom. Barajas had to be fumigated in May after a outbreak of bedbugs, possibly linked to the homeless population. Footage showed various bugs - including cockroaches, ticks and fleas - crawling around the airport, and workers posted evidence of the bites. Aena was forced to call in the pest-control team to blast several zones including hallways, furniture, and even check-in belts. A similar situation affects other Spanish airports - including Malaga and Tenerife south.
The Sun
7 days ago
- The Sun
Spain holiday airport to FINALLY clear out crime-riddled homeless camp after tourists forced to dodge drugs and bedbugs
A SPANISH airport is finally flushing out a crime-riddled homeless camp - but only after tourists were forced to dodge drugs and bedbugs. Barajas Airport in Madrid has been overrun by rough sleepers who gather en masse every night, plaguing the building and travellers with problems. 6 6 6 An estimated 400 rough sleepers pile into Spain's largest airport each night - but will now all be evicted, the Spanish airport authority Aena said. The gatherings of people, often with drug and alcohol problems, earned Barajas the nickname "zombie city" - amid reports of violence and looting. Drug use, public urination and even prostitution are also said to be common - as reported by local tradespeople and the rough sleepers themselves. Spanish media reported in May that some of the occupants have been found with knives, machetes and other homemade weapons. Officials warned the nuisance residents to move on after a reception centre was set up to accommodate them. As the airport enforces the new rule against overnight stays, Madrid City Council has created 150 emergency places in the Latina district of the city. The Pinar de San José centre is equipped with beds, hygiene services, food and social care. An Aena spokesperson said: "The decision to act on the situation in Barajas responds to a reality that has been visible for months: the stay of dozens of homeless people, mostly migrants or asylum seekers, who had begun to use the airport facilities as a night shelter, especially during waves of extreme cold and heat. "This situation generated both humanitarian concern and operational problems for the proper functioning of the airport." Aena says the airport cannot and should not become an overnight space for vulnerable people, as it does not have the resources or capacity to do so. Major Brit holiday airport fumigated after infestation of BEDBUGS with passengers & airline staff reporting itchy bites The statement continued: "The objective is to avoid situations of risk, lack of protection and chronification, through direct intervention, social monitoring and orientation to stable resources of the social services system". The authority will soon begin to officially warn any stragglers in Barajas that they must leave. They will be directed to the new homeless centre in the city. The eviction process will be conducted in collaboration with social professionals to "ensure empathetic and effective communication, in accordance with the vulnerability of the group", Aena said. Rough sleeps can be found occupying mattresses and cardboard beds onto the hard floor, while others simply curl up next to the walls surrounded by their belongings. Many of the inhabitants can also be seen sprawled across the chairs in the waiting areas of the terminal. 6 6 One shocking video clip even showed that a homeless man had occupied an airport lift and turned it into his bedroom. Barajas had to be fumigated in May after a outbreak of bedbugs, possibly linked to the homeless population. Footage showed various bugs - including cockroaches, ticks and fleas - crawling around the airport, and workers posted evidence of the bites. Aena was forced to call in the pest-control team to blast several zones including hallways, furniture, and even check-in belts. A similar situation affects other Spanish airports - including Malaga and Tenerife south. 6
Local Spain
7 days ago
- Business
- Local Spain
Ryanair's exit leaves two Spanish airports in the doldrums
Ryanair's withdrawal from two smaller regional Spanish airports has already hit operations, with passenger numbers falling drastically this year. The Irish budget airline cut 800,000 seats across Spain and cancelled 12 routes earlier this year, ceasing entirely with operations at smaller airports like Jerez and Valladolid. The low-cost carrier has cited Spanish airport operator Aena's high airport fees as the main reason why these smaller airports and not competitive enough for them. As The Local has previously reported, routes have also been cut at other regional airports such as Santiago de Compostela, Asturias, Cantabria, and Zaragoza. But now the impact of Ryanair's total withdrawals from Jerez (down south in Andalusia) and Valladolid (up north in Castilla y León) have been laid bare in new figures. Valladolid in the first half of 2024 had just 41,725 passengers between January and June, some 56,000 fewer than in the same period in 2024. Local media reports that the nearby León Airport has recorded its highest passenger numbers in 14 years as a result of attracting flyers who might've previously used Valladolid. The occupancy figures at Jerez airport are also worrying when compared to previous years. The provincial terminal had 96,638 passengers in June, which represents a fall of 7.6 percent compared to the same month last year. The longer-term numbers also show a downward trend. Between January and June this year, Jerez airport recorded 385,549 passengers, a decrease of 11.6 percent compared to last year, when 436,282 passengers passed through the terminal. However, the withdrawal from airports like Jerez and Valladolid does not mean Ryanair is pivoting away from the Spanish market. To the contrary, the airline is not cutting routes throughout the rest of the country but actually adding to passenger numbers. The airline added 1.5 million seats to larger and more popular airports such as Madrid, Málaga, and Alicante this year, further solidifying travel inequality between urban and rural Spain as the big cities get more overcrowded and emptier parts of the country have less tourism and worse transport links. A recent tourism campaign by the Spanish government promoting inland Spain clashed with the scale backs at regional airports. The campaign, reported here by The Local, was clearly well-intentioned but contradicts (or ignores) the glaring shortage in international flights arriving at smaller airports in Spain's interior. Zaragoza for example, which is now Spain's fourth most populous city with 691,000 inhabitants, only has regular international flights to and from London, Milan, Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca, as well as seasonal flights to Paris, Marrakech and Fez. Therefore, the best way for most international tourists to reach the capital of Aragón is flying to either Madrid or Barcelona and catching a train that lasts around one hour and 30 minutes. Ryanair, along with other low-cost carriers like EasyJet and Vueling, carry a large bulk of these passengers so travellers go where the flights are. In the first half of 2025, Ryanair carried a staggering 32.64 million passengers in Spain, 6.6 percent higher than in the same period last year, when it carried 30.63 million passengers. It is the airline that carries by far the most traffic in Spain, according to data from Aena, Spain's airports operator. The cuts at Jerez and Valladolid follow a long-running dispute over airport fees between Ryanair and Aena. Ryanair has stuck to its guns and carried out the threats about reducing its flight routes in Spain due to what it called Aena's excessive fees, which are to be hiked as part of a new investment plan. Aena will outline a new fee structure for the 2027-2031 period and introduce a programme of investment worth billions of euros to expand Barcelona El Prat and Madrid's Barajas airports, which will be financed primarily by the fees it charges airlines. Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary claims that Aena will 'waste' billions of euros by 'building facilities that airlines do not want or need as a way to increase fares.'
