Ryanair downplays potential influence of strikes by Spanish baggage handlers on journeys of Irish passengers
Ryanair passengers traveling through Spain this summer may face operational delays as a result of a long-term strike by the baggage handlers and ground staff at Azul Handling, a third-party handler for the airline. The strike, which involves partial work stoppages from August 15 until the end of 2025, will occur every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during three daily time slots: 5-9 am, 12-3 pm, and 9 pm-midnight.
The strike affects 13 key Spanish airports where Azul Handling provides Ryanair ground services, including Madrid, Barcelona, Alicante, Seville, Malaga, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Girona, Tenerife South, Lanzarote, Santiago de Compostela, Valencia, and Girona. Passengers flying with Ryanair through these airports should expect delays, longer queues at bag drop, slower boarding, and increased risk of cancellations.
Even airports without Azul Handling staff, such as Almería, Asturias, Gran Canaria, or Tenerife North, may experience knock-on delays because Ryanair aircraft rotate through affected hubs. Critical disruption periods are expected around peak travel weekends (e.g., August 30–31), mid-October, and the Christmas/New Year's Eve holiday season.
The General Union of Workers (UGT) in Spain has called the strikes over claims of "continuous precariousness" and "constant breaches" of labour rights. The union represents about 20% of the staff at Azul Handling, but the spokeswoman for Ryanair stated that the UGT union represents less than 20% of Azul staff in their third-party handler in Spain.
Ryanair warns it does not expect disruption, but the union and travel advisories recommend passengers check flight status carefully and anticipate delays during strike periods. The strike action will continue every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until the end of the year, with the first stoppages taking place during the busiest periods of the airports in question.
Travelers are advised to plan accordingly and allow extra time for their journeys during the strike periods. Ryanair has not yet announced any contingency plans to mitigate the impact of the strike on its operations.
The industrial action by Azul Handling employees, including baggage handlers and ground staff, could affect business operations and travel plans, particularly for Ryanair passengers, as they may encounter delays, longer queues, slower boarding, and increased risk of cancellations in key Spanish airports like Madrid, Barcelona, and others. Furthermore, knock-on delays may also impact airports not serviced by Azul Handling due to aircraft rotations.
