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Spain’s Easter Air Travel Plan Faces Handling Strikes as Aena Schedules 70,505 Flights

Government-ordered minimum service levels aim to contain disruption from new handling strikes.

Overview

  • Airlines plan 70,505 takeoffs and landings across Aena’s airports for the Easter period, about 0.9% fewer than in 2025.
  • Groundforce workers began an open-ended strike with partial stoppages on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in three windows from 5–7, 11–17 and 22–24 hours.
  • UGT also called walkouts at Menzies on March 28–29 and April 2–6, which could slow baggage, boarding and turnarounds even if runways remain open.
  • The Transport Ministry set minimum service levels that protect key links, including up to 80% on routes to Spain’s islands and thresholds of 76% in Madrid, 71% in Barcelona and 70% in Palma.
  • Aena forecasts the network’s busiest days on April 5 and 6, with Madrid at 12,933 and Barcelona at 11,339 operations for the period, while the Canaries rise to 15,019 flights and reports diverge on Palma’s year-on-year change.