Ground handling workers at Barcelona El Prat Airport in Spain have launched an indefinite strike that threatens to disrupt travel schedules through the end of September.
The walkout began on August 4 among staff at Groundforce, a major ground handling service provider at Spain's second busiest airport. The industrial action affects passenger check-in, boarding procedures, ramp operations, and flight coordination for 20 airlines, including major international carriers such as Lufthansa, Air France/KLM, Turkish Airlines, and Finnair.
Trade union CGT reported that the first two weeks of action between August 4 and August 18 resulted in 250 cancelled flights and delayed nearly 6,000 pieces of luggage. Estimates published by British newspaper The Sun suggest that the ongoing strike could affect approximately 11,600 flights and nearly two million passengers across August and September.
Airline operations and passenger advice
Direct flights between the United Kingdom and Barcelona are operated by airlines including Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet, and Vueling. While these specific carriers do not contract Groundforce for ground handling at El Prat, their passengers are still expected to face broader airport delays and longer queues as terminal operations slow down.
Global Work&Travel co-founder Jurgen Himmelmann said that the strike has no fixed end date and advised tourists planning September trips not to assume the dispute will resolve quickly. He noted that while flight delays are not guaranteed for every passenger, travellers should verify their airline, monitor booking statuses, and carry essential items in hand luggage in case checked baggage is delayed.
Broader European airport disruptions
The unrest in Barcelona follows several other disruptions across European tourist destinations this summer. At Palma Airport on the Spanish island of Mallorca, airport staff represented by multiple trade unions scheduled a series of walkouts running through the end of summer, creating additional delays for visitors to the Balearic Islands.
European travel hubs have also faced operational strains following the introduction of the European Union Entry/Exit System (EES) passport control scheme in April. The automated border checking system was introduced to register non-EU travellers entering the Schengen zone, but several major airports experienced severe congestion when peak summer holiday traffic overwhelmed new control procedures.
