Cabin crew strikes are set to begin on Friday, June 24, and will run through the weekend, affecting several European hubs and prompting warnings of disrupted travel for travelers returning home. The protests come as workers from Ryanair have been summoned by the airline’s employees in multiple countries. The spread of action across Belgium, Portugal, France and Italy is anticipated to create a weekend of weather-related and travel delays in some regions.
What may be most affected is the major gateway flights departing from key European airports. In Majorca, for example, about 267 flights were planned to operate, with roughly 60,000 seats on the schedule. The airline had not publicly identified which routes would face reductions, and unions including USO described the minimum service framework set by national authorities as insufficient or exploitable. The unfolding events are drawing attention from travelers and industry observers, who are watching closely to see how many flights will be canceled or rescheduled and which cities will bear the brunt of disruption.
These are the scheduled flights to countries affected by the strike, according to Mabrian’s data. The information reflects Mabrian’s role as an intelligence and analytics firm focused on aviation and tourism markets, with offices in Menorca.
Ryanair’s strike across Europe represents a significant challenge to holiday travelers, with more than 600,000 travelers potentially impacted. That figure translates to over 3,000 flights across Belgium, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal over a compressed three-day window, according to Mabrian’s analysis published earlier in the week. The data underscore the scale of disruptions anticipated for a network that serves millions of passengers each year and that connects distant communities with major urban centers across Europe.
Ryanair has not released a complete list of flights expected to be affected for this period. The strike marks the first major industrial action in the European airline sector since the pre-pandemic era and highlights ongoing labor negotiations between carriers and crews. Some sources indicate that the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda in Spain has already mandated minimum services in the absence of an agreement between parties. The strike is expected to continue in Spain on Friday and extend through the 25th, 26th, 30th of June, and the 1st and 2nd of July. Ryanair remains the carrier with the largest passenger share in the Spanish market, operating a large number of routes historically and maintaining a substantial network.
Ryanair will operate 438 flights as a minimum service to Spain this Friday
Industry critics argue that the minimum service requirements can feel heavy-handed and blunt, arguing that they constrain labor rights rather than protect travelers. They point to prior court orders on the issue and dispute that such measures adequately reflect the needs and rights of workers who rely on collective bargaining with the carrier and its unions. Critics ask the government to engage more constructively, so both sides can negotiate in good faith and align with Spanish labor law and fair work standards without triggering unnecessary travel chaos.
The USO union notes it has submitted a request to protect certain flights under the official minimum service framework after learning about the emergency ordinance. It argues that the list of flights deemed necessary to shield operations should be clearly communicated to workers so they can plan and fulfill their roles without ambiguity. The union emphasizes that no crew member should be informed by a sudden notice or left uninformed about the flight assignments that may count toward minimum service.
In its broader analysis, Mabrian highlights that Spain is likely to face the most pronounced impact, with close to 300,000 seats scheduled on more than 1,500 flights. Mallorca’s airport stands out as the most affected within the country, with hundreds of flights and tens of thousands of seats slated for operations or adjustment.