The second of four days of disruption this week saw Ryanair cabin crew in Spain, represented by the unions USO and Sitcpla, walk off the job. The action led to four canceled flights and about 30 delays, with six of those at Madrid Barajas Airport.
According to USO, the cancellations affected flights with departures or arrivals in Santiago de Compostela, as data were collected up to 9:00 am on Tuesday. The disruption extended beyond a single hub, hitting several corridors and forcing passengers to alter plans on short notice.
The impact on delays was most pronounced at Barcelona El Prat, where seven flights were delayed. Madrid followed with six delays, and additional disruptions touched destinations such as Palma de Mallorca and Malaga. Alicante recorded four delays, and Ibiza saw one delayed movement as part of the broader strike wave.
The strike extended to ten bases where Ryanair operates, including Madrid, Malaga, Seville, Alicante, Valencia, Barcelona, Girona, Santiago de Compostela, Ibiza, and Palma de Mallorca.
In the wake of actions in June and July, USO and Sitcpla conducted weekly strikes from Monday through Thursday, with a cadence that stretched toward January of the following year. An agreement reached between Ryanair and CCOO addressed salaries, staff scheduling, and supplements for Spanish cabin crew, introducing a pattern of four active days followed by three days off.
For their part, most unions that participated in these discussions characterized the agreement with CCOO as non-binding, noting that CCOO was not a representative union for the entire workforce. This highlighted ongoing tensions between management and a coalition of labor groups as they sought to secure better terms for flight staff.
The broader context saw aviation labor relations become a focal point in Spain, with unions emphasizing staffing levels, compensation, and predictable schedules as key drivers of service reliability. Passengers faced a mix of cancellations and delays across numerous routes, prompting airlines to coordinate rebooking options and customer communications in real time. The situation illustrated how labor actions can ripple through regional networks, affecting connectivity between major tourist hubs and business travel corridors alike.
Observers noted that the pattern of strikes reflected a ongoing push by cabin crew to secure terms aligned with industry benchmarks and local cost-of-living realities. Airlines responded by adjusting crew rosters where possible and prioritizing essential routes, while workers pressed for clarity on shift rotations, pay scales, and additional allowances that might ease the burden of irregular schedules.
Overall, the episodes underscored the delicate balance airlines must strike between operational continuity and the legitimate demands of staff. The outcome depended on bilateral dialogue, the willingness of multiple unions to engage collectively, and the evolution of national labor standards that govern aviation agreements across Spain.