On the sixth day of a Ryanair cabin crew strike, unions USO and Sitcpla reported multiple disruptions on Tuesday, including three flight cancellations and a delay of 239 minutes at the peak. The most affected hub was Barcelona-El Prat Airport.
Reports from USO late this afternoon confirmed the cancellations of a Valencia to London Stansted service, a Madrid to Palma de Mallorca flight, and a Palma de Mallorca to Madrid service.
Delays were most acute at Barcelona, with 61 departures or arrivals delayed, followed by Palma de Mallorca with 46 delayed operations. Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez was hit by 30 delays, and Malaga by 26. Alicante saw 23 planes either take off late or arrive late, Ibiza 16, Valencia 14, Santiago de Compostela 12, Girona 7, and Seville 4.
The Tuesday disruption marked a “limited” instance of the strike, described by Ryanair employees as a tactic in which crews are brought in from Portugal, England, Italy, and France to exercise their right to protest. This description was shared by union representative Raquel Bautista of USO Ryanair division.
Unions indicated they would continue pauses on July 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, and 28 at a dozen Spanish airports where Ryanair operates. The affected airports include Madrid, Malaga, Seville, Santander, Alicante, Valencia, Barcelona, Girona, Santiago de Compostela, Ibiza, and Palma de Mallorca. The disruptions are part of ongoing negotiations over pay, working conditions, and scheduling for Ryanair crews across Europe.
In recent hours, union leaders criticized what they described as the indifference of the Spanish Ministry of Labor and Social Economy, together with the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, for failing to address crew concerns. They have signaled that they will seek independent oversight from the Ombudsman to ensure fair treatment for workers and a transparent process in resolving the dispute. The strikes are expected to continue to shape flight schedules in the coming days as talks continue with Ryanair management and the unions involved. The situation underscores the broader tension between low-cost carriers and cabin crew in Europe, where wage stagnation, staffing levels, and scheduling demands often collide with rapid growth and aggressive route expansion.
Observers note that while disruptions pose immediate travel challenges for passengers, they also highlight the potential for lasting changes in how carriers manage staffing and industrial relations across key markets. Travel planners are advised to monitor flight status closely, confirm bookings directly with airlines, and consider flexible itineraries in light of pending strike activity. The current round of actions reflects a broader pattern seen across multiple European carriers, where workers leverage collective bargaining to push for improvements that affect daily operations and customer experiences. The unfolding events are being tracked by labor organizations and transportation authorities as stakeholders seek a balanced resolution that respects workers’ rights while maintaining service levels for travelers. (Source attribution: union statements and regional transport reports)