Six Ryanair flights were canceled this Wednesday as a workers’ action expanded across Spain, with about 20 delays reported on the third day of a strike by cabin crew organized by the USO and Sitcpla unions. The disruption involved crews operating from passenger cabins, touching multiple airports and several bases where Ryanair runs regular services.
Information from USO indicates that by 09:00 the six flights still suspended were all departures from Barcelona El Prat or destined to leave from there. The pattern showed that three services originated in the city and three more were scheduled to arrive or depart from international hubs including London, Brussels, and Milan. This disruption rippled through the day, with Malaga bearing the heaviest burden of delays, followed by Seville, Barcelona, and Madrid each recording several affected flights. Valencia and Mallorca saw delays on two flights in total, Ibiza saw one flight delayed, while Alicante, Girona, and Santiago de Compostela experienced no cancellations reported at that moment.
The strikes touched all ten Ryanair bases in Spain, spanning Madrid, Malaga, Seville, Alicante, Valencia, Barcelona, Girona, Santiago de Compostela, Ibiza, and Palma de Mallorca. The breadth of bases involved underscores the scale of the labor action and its potential to affect schedules across the country. These movements have prompted airlines and unions to engage in negotiations aimed at minimizing further disruption while balancing crew rest and service commitments to travelers.
Two flights canceled and 223 delays on day two of Ryanair strike
USO reported cancellations in Barcelona that applied only to services not covered by minimum service requirements set by decree. The union noted that Ryanair had decided to pre-emptively cancel certain routes from El Prat given the anticipated participation in the industrial action. Barcelona, as a major hub, faced the immediate impact of the strike on a swath of planned operations.
The airline issued a brief statement indicating that the overall effect on operations was limited, citing low turnout among two of the unions involved. Despite the perceived strength of the action, the company asserted that essential services would continue uninterrupted, helping to shield a portion of the network from the disruptions seen elsewhere.
Ryanair highlighted that it had already entered into a framework agreement with staff representatives to regularize pay, working patterns, and allowances. This agreement, described as a lasting arrangement with the main Spanish cabin crew union CCOO, included provisions for four active days followed by three days off, with additional supplements for Spanish crews. The deal was framed as part of a broader effort to stabilize labor relations across the fleet and ensure consistent service levels going forward. The company also recalled that a prior series of strikes in June and July had led to weeks of pauses scheduled from Monday to Thursday on a temporary basis, with the period extending to January 7 of the following year under the collective agreement.
Observers note that the employment terms, rest periods, and compensation structures discussed in the Spanish context reflect a wider European trend where unions push for clearer scheduling, predictable rosters, and better work-life balance for flight crews. While some travelers faced inconveniences, many travelers benefited from a more predictable pattern in the long run as the parties work toward a durable resolution. Industry analysts suggest that morale and engagement among cabin crews are central to maintaining punctual operations and passenger satisfaction across seasonal peaks and business travel cycles.
In summary, the current wave of Irish and Spanish cabin crew action, supported by unions including USO and Sitcpla, has produced a measurable but constrained impact on Spain’s domestic aviation landscape. The disruptions have been concentrated in certain bases and routes, with some days showing higher levels of delays and isolated cancellations. The dialogue between Ryanair and its Spanish workforce continues to focus on core issues around scheduling, pay, and working conditions, while the network seeks to minimize traveler disruption through robust contingency planning and proactive communication. Travelers are advised to monitor flight statuses closely and rely on official airline updates for the latest information, bearing in mind that labor actions can evolve over time and may influence services at short notice. [USO, Sitcpla]