Travel warning issued as strikes erupt in popular destinations, here’s how it will affect your holiday
More under this adHolidays plans could take a major hit this spring as 17 popular airports across Europe plan major strikes. Find out what destinations are affected and when to avoid travelling.
After strikes caused disruption during the February school holidays, more industrial action is planned by transport workers in the run-up to Easter.
Discover our latest podcast
The walkouts will affect 17 airports including tourist hotspots like Madrid, Barcelona, Tenerife and Lanzarote in Spain and some destinations in France.
More under this adMore under this adLondon Heathrow and UK Border Force workers will add to the disruption.
Airport strikes in Spain
Some of Spain’s busiest airports are facing strikes by unionised workers at ground services and cargo handling company Swissport between now and Easter.
More under this adMore under this adFrom 27 February to 13 April, they called for a series of 24-hour walkouts every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday after negotiations ongoing since March of 2022 failed.
The unions say they are prepared to walk out on dozens of occasions and have been demanding better working conditions for more than eight years without success.
More under this adMore under this adSwissport Handling provides services at Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat, Reus, Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, Málaga, Almería, Salamanca, Valladolid, Burgos, Logroño, Zaragoza, Huesca, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife Sur airports.
By Spanish law, unions have to provide a minimum service set by the government so it remains to be seen what impact the walkouts will have on flights, and passengers arriving and departing from the airports involved.
More under this adMore under this adRead more:
⋙ Major UK supermarkets are rationing essential items, here's what you need to know
⋙ Thousands of Brits could be entitled to this £6k payment due to DWP mistake
Ongoing pension strikes in France
In the ongoing battle between unions and the government over pension reforms, industrial action has been planned for March in France. Unions battle against plans to increase the legal retirement age from 62 to 64.
More under this adMore under this adThe industrial action has previously included railway workers and airport staff with 30% of flights from Paris’s Orly airport cancelled on the last day of strikes.
On 7 March, unions are planning the biggest day of action yet and are promising to bring France to a complete standstill.
More under this adMore under this adAfter that, they are debating whether to switch to rolling strikes. Paris Metro workers are one group in favour of swapping to industrial action that can start and finish any time during a specific time period.
Industrial walkouts over Easter break in the UK
More than 3,000 security guards, engineers and firefighters who work at Heathrow Airport are currently voting on whether to strike over low pay.
More under this adMore under this adIf the workers, who are members of the Unite union, vote in favour of the industrial action, it could coincide with the busy Easter holiday period.
A series of targeted strikes is being organised by the Public and Commercial Services union in the UK. This includes Border Force staff who will be taking part in a day of mass action where 100,000 civil service workers plan to walk out on 15 March.
More under this adMore under this adThe walkout will coincide with the government’s Spring Budget and could affect airports and seaports across the country.
Read more:
⋙ Brits warned of major passport shake-up that could change travel in the UK
⋙ UK travellers warned of major changes to tourism in Spain, here’s how it could affect your holiday
Sources used:
- Euronews Travel: 'Where are airport and transport strikes happening between now and Easter?'
- Mirror: 'Spain holidays could be hit as 17 airports set to face months of strikes'