Madrid Airport Ground Handlers Commence Strikes Amidst Holiday Travel Rush

Industrial Action Begins at Madrid-Barajas

Ground handling staff at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) have commenced a series of strikes, impacting air travel during the busy Christmas and New Year period. The industrial action, called by the USO and CGT workers' unions, began on December 23, 2025, and is scheduled to continue on December 26, 30, 2025, and January 2 and 7, 2026. These partial walkouts are set to occur in two four-hour blocks each day: from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 18:00 to 22:00 local time.

Dispute Over Working Conditions and Pay

The strikes target South Europe Ground Services (South), the ground handling subsidiary of International Airlines Group (IAG). Unions accuse the company of 'low-costisation,' citing rapid hiring practices with low salaries (sub-€18,000), high staff turnover, payroll errors, under-maintained equipment, and insufficient training. Key grievances include:

• Concerns over excessive workloads and job security.
• Demands for the correction of payrolls and schedules.
• A call for better work-life balance for employees.
• Equal treatment for part-time staff regarding rest days and holidays.

Union representatives state that the strike is a response to these issues and the way handling contracts and staffing are organized under IAG's new structures.

Potential Impact on Travelers and Airlines

The industrial action is expected to primarily affect flights operated by IAG airlines, including Iberia, British Airways, Aer Lingus, Vueling, and LEVEL, as well as their partners. Passengers traveling through Madrid-Barajas Airport during the strike days are likely to experience:

• Flight delays and potential cancellations.
• Longer queues at check-in and bag drop.
• Slower boarding processes.
• Extended waits at baggage reclaim.
• Reduced or delayed baggage loading.

Despite Spain's minimum-service legislation, which mandates a baseline level of operations, significant disruptions are anticipated. Iberia has already offered passengers on affected flights (Iberia, Iberia Express, and Iberia Regional Air Nostrum) the option to change their travel dates free of charge until January 15, 2026, for tickets purchased before December 20. Travelers are advised to frequently check their flight status 24 to 48 hours before departure, arrive at the airport earlier than usual, and consider traveling with hand luggage only where possible.

Broader Context of Spanish Airport Disruptions

This strike at Madrid-Barajas occurs amidst a broader period of industrial unrest affecting Spanish airports. Separately, ground handling staff for Azul Handling (serving Ryanair) have been conducting ongoing walkouts at multiple Spanish airports, including Madrid, since August 2025, scheduled to continue until December 31, 2025. These actions highlight wider tensions over wages and working conditions within the European aviation sector during a peak travel season.