Ryanair Cabin Crew Strike Updates Across Spain
Over the recent four days, Ryanair cabin crew operations in Spain faced industrial action led by unions USO and Sitcpla. The week’s action caused a significant disruption, with 273 delays reported on Thursday alone and no flights canceled on that day.
According to USO, delays were heavily concentrated at Palma de Mallorca, where 67 departures or arrivals were delayed. Madrid saw 37 delays, followed by Barcelona with 35 and Malaga with 34. Other affected hubs included Alicante with 30 delays, Valencia at 22, Ibiza with 17, Seville at 15, Girona with 10, and Santiago de Compostela with 6 disruptions.
The strikes impacted Ryanair’s operations across ten Spanish bases where the airline maintains a presence: Madrid, Malaga, Seville, Alicante, Valencia, Barcelona, Girona, Santiago de Compostela, Ibiza, and Palma de Mallorca. These disruptions reflect the broader pattern of renewed labor action during the summer months, which has periodically challenged the schedule for several European carriers (labor unions, Spain, 2022-2023).
Following strikes in June and July, USO and Sitcpla continued weekly walkouts from Monday through Thursday, extending into January of the following year. The unions cited the ongoing pursuit of favorable terms for the cabin crew, framing the action as a response to negotiations over wages, working hours, rest days, and allowances within the framework of a collective agreement under Spanish law. The airline reportedly concluded an agreement with another union, CCOO, on several compensation aspects, which the unions described as non-representative and not binding for the wider workforce (collective bargaining context, Spain, 2022-2023).
Industry observers note that the presence of multiple unions in the dispute complicates the bargaining dynamics. While CCOO reached a separate agreement with Ryanair, the four active days followed by three days off schedule and related allowances remain a point of contention for USO and Sitcpla. The situation underscores how labor dynamics can influence scheduling, passenger experience, and the broader operational planning of a low-cost carrier operating across Spain and adjacent markets (labor relations in aviation, Spain, 2022-2023).