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Wales Online
3 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Ryanair flights to Alicante, Ibiza, Mallorca and Tenerife cancelled
Ryanair flights to Alicante, Ibiza, Mallorca and Tenerife cancelled The airline have cancelled flights to key Spanish destinations amid prolonged baggage handler strike The budget airline has already scrapped services to and from Alicante, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, and Tenerife South from its timetables. (Image: Birmingham Live) Ryanair has axed flights to beloved Spanish holiday hotspots during the summer holidays as an extended baggage handler strike threatens to wreak havoc on operations through to the year's end. The budget airline has already scrapped services to and from Alicante, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, and Tenerife South from its timetables. Additional chaos was anticipated throughout Ryanair's entire Spanish operation - despite the carrier insisting disruption would be kept to a minimum. The news follows the airline's cancellation of over 800 flights due to 'conflict' last month. The industrial dispute has been orchestrated by Spain's UGT union, involving workers from Azul Handling - Ryanair's own ground handling division - who are employed at 12 of the airline's Spanish hubs. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . The initial walkout is scheduled for Friday, August 15, with subsequent strikes planned for every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through to Wednesday, December 31. Three busy periods will be hit by the action - 5am to 9am, noon to 3pm, and 9pm to midnight. The ongoing stoppages will impact services at Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Malaga, Seville, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Girona, Tenerife South, Lanzarote, and Santiago de Compostela. The union states the strikes are a response to what it characterises as "exploitative working conditions". Union representatives alleged that Azul Handling had consistently disregarded their demands. Jose Manuel Perez Grande, federal secretary of the FeSMC-UGT Air Union, slammed the company for pursuing "a strategy of precariousness and pressure on the workforce that violates basic labour rights and systematically ignores union demands". Travellers have already begun receiving alerts about alterations to their travel plans. (Image: Tang Ming Tung via Getty Images) While Spanish legislation requires minimum service levels during strike action, the practical implications of this requirement remain unclear. A Ryanair spokesperson insisted: "Ryanair does not expect any disruption to our operation as a result of these third-party handling strikes in Spain." Article continues below However, travellers have already begun receiving alerts about alterations to their travel plans. The carrier has informed impacted passengers they can choose between full refunds, travel vouchers, or rebooking onto different flights.
Edinburgh Live
4 days ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Ryanair cancels flights to popular holiday destinations ahead of baggage handler strikes
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Thousands of Ryanair passengers are facing potential holiday disruption as the airline starts cancelling flights to key Spanish destinations in anticipation of a prolonged baggage handler strike that could disrupt operations until the end of the year. Flights to and from Alicante, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, and Tenerife South have already been removed from schedules, with further disruption expected across the entire Spanish network, despite the company's claims that the impact will be minimal. The industrial action, organised by Spain's UGT union, involves staff from Azul Handling - Ryanair's own ground services subsidiary - who operate across 12 of the airline's Spanish bases. The strike is set to commence on August 15 and will continue every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until December 31. Walkouts are planned during three peak periods: 5am to 9am, noon to 3pm, and 9pm to midnight. These repeated disruptions will affect operations at Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Malaga, Seville, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Girona, Tenerife South, Lanzarote, and Santiago de Compostela - essentially covering all of Ryanair's major Spanish traffic hubs. The union has stated that the strikes are being held in protest against what it describes as exploitative working conditions. Complaints include sanctions imposed on workers, excessive and mandatory overtime, restrictions on taking medical leave, and the persistent failure to convert part-time contracts into stable jobs, reports the Express. UGT has criticised Azul Handling for consistently disregarding union demands and infringing on the rights of over 3,000 employees. Jose Manuel Perez Grande, federal secretary of the FeSMC-UGT Air Union, which represents airport workers, has slammed the company for adopting "a strategy of precariousness and pressure on the workforce that violates basic labour rights and systematically ignores union demands". Spanish law requires a minimum service level during strikes, but the specifics are yet to be determined. The union has sought formal mediation via Spain's Interconfederal Mediation and Arbitration Service (SIMA), but with no resolution in sight, the industrial action could continue for months. A Ryanair spokesperson commented: "Ryanair does not expect any disruption to our operation as a result of these third-party handling strikes in Spain." However, passengers are starting to receive notifications about changes to their travel plans, and Ryanair is informing those affected about their options, including refunds, vouchers, or alternative flights. In previous disputes, Ryanair has temporarily prohibited checked luggage on certain routes, compelling travellers to only use cabin bags to circumvent issues with unmanned baggage belts. This situation could be particularly distressing for holidaymakers. August marks the height of the travel season to the Balearic and Canary Islands, with disruptions anticipated to carry on into the autumn half-term and potentially affect the Christmas holiday period. The recent strike action echoes last year's disturbances at Spanish airports and coincides with Ryanair's ongoing alerts about broader systemic issues plaguing European travel. In June, the airline levelled accusations at EU governments for not tackling persistent staff shortages in air traffic control centres, with CEO Michael O'Leary cautioning of "record ATC delays" unless measures are taken before summer's end. With ground services and air traffic systems both experiencing pressure, Ryanair passengers heading to or from Spain in the upcoming months should brace themselves for possible upheaval – and keep an eye on their emails.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Major warning for Irish holidaygoers as Ryanair staff across sunshine spot to strike in DAYS after union pleas ‘ignored'
ACTION PLAN Major warning for Irish holidaygoers as Ryanair staff across sunshine spot to strike in DAYS after union pleas 'ignored' A MAJOR travel alert has be issued for Irish holidaymakers as Ryanair handling workers at airports across Spain are set to strike. The scheduled industrial action will take place from August 15. Advertisement 3 Ryanair staff are set to strike across 27 Spanish airports Credit: Getty 3 The Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas was the first airport where strike action was planned Credit: EPA The strikes were initially expected to affect Madrid-Barajas Airport only. But overnight Spanish union UGT announced its extension to the rest of the airports where Azul Handling operates - 27 airports including Barcelona's El Prat and Malaga. The union said that failing a mediation talks breakthrough, the strike over working conditions would start over three days on August 15, 16 and 17 and continue four days a week until the end of the year - from 5am to 9am, midday to 3pm and 9pm to midnight. In a statement released late yesterday UGT raged: 'The protests at Azul Handling are the result of ongoing precarious working conditions and constant violations of labour rights, with which the Ryanair group company punishes its staff." Advertisement Saying it had requested mediation as a 'preliminary step' to going ahead with the industrial action, it added: 'The strike, which will begin on 15 August 2025, will affect all the company's bases and work centres in Spain and will take place during the following time slots: 05:00 to 09:00;12:00 to 15:00 and 9:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. 'After the first three days on August 15, 16 and 17, it will continue every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 31 December 2025. "The reasons for the strike announcement are the lack of stable job creation and consolidation of working hours for permanent part-time staff; imposition and coercion in the performance of additional hours, both ordinary and voluntary, with disproportionate penalties being applied in some cases; repeated failure to comply with the rulings of the Joint Committee of the Sectoral Agreement on guarantees and bonuses; and illegal restrictions on returning to work after medical discharge and on adapting working hours to exercise the right to work-life balance." Jose Manuel Perez Grande, Federal Secretary of the FeSMC-UGT Airline Union, said: 'Azul Handling maintains a strategy of precariousness and pressure on the workforce that violates basic labour rights and systematically ignores union demands." Advertisement The UGT was one of two Spanish unions threatening to cause chaos for holidaymakers in the Balearic Islands last month with a damaging hotel strike. Militants vowed to blockade Majorca's Palma Airport with demonstrations coinciding with the start of the planned walkout by 180,000 hotel and catering sector workers from July 10. Shocking moment Ryanair passenger sobs & hits door after being stopped from boarding as her 'hand luggage was too big' The strike was called off after UGT Balears announced a pre-agreement with hotel bosses which included a salary increase of 13.5 per cent over three years it described at the time as 'the largest increase in the history of the Balearic Islands.' Azul Handling was created in 2019 as a ground handling company primarily serving Ryanair and its subsidiaries like Buzz and Malta Air. Advertisement It says on its websites it operates at 27 airports in Spain, covers 500 flights a day and employs 3,000 'qualified professionals.'
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Major strike action to hit 12 Spanish airports that have Ryanair flights
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. 2 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. 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. A European airport is at risk of closure as Ryanair is set to scrap all flights. Plus, Ryanair warns of record flight delays this summer.
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Major strike action to hit 12 Spanish airports that have Ryanair flights
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. 2 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. Read more on travel tips STAY IN Take a family hol EVERY MONTH for under £2k a year… including tip to bag free stays 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. A European airport is at risk of closure as Ryanair is set to scrap all flights. Plus, Ryanair warns of record flight delays this summer.
