Employees of the ground handling company “Groundforce” are on strike at Barcelona El Prat Airport. The protest began on August 4, and its end date has not yet been determined.
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“Groundforce” employees handle passenger check-in and boarding, coordinate aircraft movement on the ground, manage baggage, and perform other tasks necessary for flights.
Barcelona El Prat Airport is the second busiest in Spain by passenger numbers, so a prolonged strike could disrupt thousands of flights. It is estimated that about 11,600 flights and nearly two million passengers could be affected during August and September.
Hundreds of flights already canceled
According to the CGT trade union, about 250 flights may have been canceled due to the strike from August 4 to 18, and disruptions affected approximately 6,000 pieces of baggage.
“Groundforce” provides services at Barcelona Airport for 20 airlines. Among them are “Lufthansa,” “Air France,” KLM, “Turkish Airlines,” and “Finnair.”
“Ryanair,” “Wizz Air,” “easyJet,” and “Vueling” do not use this company’s services. However, passengers of these airlines may also face longer queues or delays due to overall tension at the airport.
Travel expert Jürgen Himmelmann warned that people traveling to Barcelona in September should not expect the problem to resolve itself before their trip.
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“Currently, the strike has no set end date. This does not mean that your flight will necessarily be disrupted, but it is worth preparing for possible inconveniences now,” he said.
Keep essential items with you
Passengers are advised to regularly check flight information in the airline app or website and monitor for any changes in departure times.
It is also worth finding out whether the chosen airline uses “Groundforce” services. However, even if it is not directly involved in the strike, queues may form at the airport and other processes may be delayed.
Travelers checking in baggage are advised to pack essential items in a carry-on bag. It is advisable to have medications, documents, phone charger, essential hygiene products, and one set of clothes with you in case the suitcase is delivered late.
The Spanish Ministry of Transport has set a minimum mandatory service level for August and September. This aims to reduce the strike’s impact on passengers, but it may not be possible to completely avoid flight and baggage disruptions.
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