Airport ground-handling and support staff at Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) staged a four-hour walkout on July 25 that slowed operations at Spain's third-busiest gateway just as Summer Travel peaks. Union leaders with FeSMC-UGT said 60 workers gathered in the departures hall between 8 a.m. and noon to protest "suffocating precariousness," warning they will paralyse parts of the airport in August if talks do not begin within 20 days. Travelers experienced longer security lines and minor flight delays, though most airlines kept skeleton crews in place to avoid large-scale cancellations.
Key Points
- Why it matters: Palma handles up to 1,000 daily movements in late July, so even brief stoppages ripple across European flight schedules.
- Walkout ran 8 a.m.-noon local time July 25, led by FeSMC-UGT.
- Workers demand realistic rosters, more staff, better hygiene and weather-safe gear.
- Union gave AENA and the Balearic government 20 days to form a dialogue table or face "escalated action" in August.
- Separate Volotea pilot-and-cabin-crew Strike is set for July 26, potentially affecting Spanish domestic links.
Snapshot
Palma de Mallorca Airport served 31 million passengers last year and routinely tops 200,000 per day in late July. Friday's four-hour stoppage forced airlines to consolidate check-in desks and slowed baggage delivery while police directed crowd flow in the public concourse. Most carriers maintained limited operations, but EasyJet and Ryanair warned of possible rolling delays into the evening. UGT officials said conditions have deteriorated as passenger volumes outpace staffing, citing forced overtime, 30-hour contracts stretched to 50-plus hours, and inadequate cooling equipment for ramp crews working in 90 °F heat. Management called the protest "limited" but confirmed talks are expected early next week.
Background
Spain avoided the nationwide airport strikes that crippled summer 2023, but localized unrest has intensified. EasyJet cabin crew staged spot walkouts in June, while Airport Security officers at Barcelona-El Prat threatened action earlier this month. Palma-Son Sant Joan's status as a leisure hub magnifies disruption; roughly 30 percent of Friday departures were bound for the UK and Germany, markets that rely heavily on fully booked charter operations. The airport is also undergoing terminal renovations after a glass-roof incident on July 18, adding pressure to ground teams juggling temporary layouts and record passenger numbers.
Latest Developments
Four-Hour Walkout Hits Palma de Mallorca
Protesters assembled at Gate C departures singing union hymns and holding banners reading "Dignidad para el handling." Inside, queues at security stretched nearly 650 feet as only four lanes operated. Jet2 suspended its in-house check-in for two rotations, bussing holidaymakers to a remote bay. By 1 p.m., airport authority AENA said 92 percent of scheduled flights had departed-but with average delays of 27 minutes. The union's immediate goal is a tripartite forum with AENA and the Balearic government to draft a binding agreement on staff ratios, vacation scheduling and equipment upgrades.
Ultimatum Could Trigger August Escalation
UGT's secretary-general José García set an August 14 deadline for concrete proposals, warning of rolling 24-hour stoppages if ignored. Such action would coincide with Balearic Assumption Day holidays and the start of La Mercè flight surges from Barcelona. Airlines have begun contingency planning: Iberia is drafting wet-lease agreements for Madrid crews, and TUI Fly has alerted tour operators of potential re-timing windows. Industry analysts note the union's relatively small membership-about 400 at PMI-limits its leverage, but even minor ground-handling gaps can snowball during peak days.
Analysis
Friday's walkout underscores the fragility of Spain's airport ecosystem, where multiple private subcontractors handle ramp, baggage and cabin cleaning functions under AENA's umbrella. Fragmented responsibility often leaves workers negotiating with companies that hold thin-margin deals, making wage and staffing improvements hard to secure. For travelers, Palma's brief Strike served as a stress test: while the system bent, it did not break. The bigger risk lies in August's threatened escalation, when tourist throughput peaks and weather-related disruptions increase. If unions coordinate with airline crews-Volotea's July 26 strike hints at wider unrest-parallel actions could overwhelm contingency rosters. Airlines may pass extra costs to passengers through surcharges or capacity caps, dampening Spain's post-pandemic tourism rebound. Authorities keen to protect a €180 billion industry will likely broker a face-saving compromise, but precedent from 2022's security-staff dispute shows deals often arrive hours before action, keeping travelers on edge.
Final Thoughts
Palma's four-hour stoppage delivered only modest pain, yet its symbolism is larger: frontline airport staff feel left behind in Spain's tourism boom. Travelers with August itineraries should monitor airline alerts, allow extra airport time and keep receipts for potential EU 261 claims. Unless AENA and unions reach swift common ground, Spain airport strikes could escalate and add another headache to Europe's already crowded summer skies. Stay informed and flexible to navigate any future Spain airport strike disruptions.
Sources
- Cadena SER - "Cerca de 60 trabajadores protestan en el Aeropuerto de Palma"
- The Olive Press - "Summer travel chaos to hit one of Spain's busiest airports as workers plan strike"
- Majorca Daily Bulletin - "Mallorca airport faces disruption as workers threaten to 'Paralyse' operations"
- Travel and Tour World - "Strikes in Italy, Spain, and Portugal Set to Disrupt Flights"