National strike could paralyze Ryanair flights to Spain

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 08. 13. 09:05

The strike announced by the Spanish General Workers’ Union (UGT) at the ground handling company Azul Handling, which is part of the Ryanair group, could last from August 15th until the end of the year. The strike affects several Spanish airports, so Hungarian passengers can also expect disruptions, especially those who would travel to Spain or plan to transfer here to other destinations.

Dozens of Spanish airports may be disrupted

Azul Handling provides ground handling services at several airports in Spain, including Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Alicante, Seville, Ibiza, Mallorca, Girona, southern Tenerife, Lanzarote and Santiago de Compostela. The first phase of the strike will be from August 15th to 17th. will take place between 5:00 and 9:00 a.m., in three time slots per day: 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. After that, the work stoppage will continue every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until December 31, 2025.

Labor disputes in the background

The union is demanding, among other things, the regularization of working hours for part-time permanent employees, the elimination of forced overtime and the abolition of excessive disciplinary measures. They are also complaining about the violation of the economic guarantees and wage supplements of the sectoral agreement. The UGT also accuses the company of illegally restricting the return to work after sick leave and of not providing flexible working hours, which hinders family-friendly working hours.

According to José Manuel Pérez Grande, federal secretary of the aviation union FeSMC-UGT, Azul Handling is pursuing a “strategy of uncertainty and pressure on workers” that violates fundamental labor rights and ignores union demands.