Over the last four days, Ryanair cabin crew across Spain, represented by the USO and Sitcpla unions, have been in motion. The ongoing actions began with a wave of delays rather than outright cancellations, a pattern that continued as the situation evolved. Reports from USO indicate that the impact was felt most strongly at certain hubs, showing how disruption can ripple through a busy low-cost network across multiple bases. By the early hours of the morning, the data pointed to a city-by-city picture: Palma de Mallorca experienced the greatest share of delays, followed closely by Barcelona, Madrid, and Alicante. The airport system in southern Spain, including Malaga, Seville, and Valencia, also reported disruptions, with several departures or arrivals delayed as crews and operations navigated the protest activity and related scheduling challenges.
Across the country, there were five to six incidents of delayed flights logged in a single day at key gateways, underscoring how flexible scheduling and contingency plans are tested when labor actions unfold. Seville, Malaga, and Valencia each recorded delays, while Malaga and Seville continued to show a pattern of disrupted departures that affected travelers choosing from a dense network of domestic routes. The Valencia situation was noted on the ground, highlighting how passenger experience can shift quickly when disruptions cascade through a busy airport environment. In total, ten Spanish bases where Ryanair operates were touched by the strike activity, spanning Madrid, Malaga, Seville, Alicante, Valencia, Barcelona, Girona, Santiago de Compostela, Ibiza, and Palma de Mallorca. The breadth of these bases illustrates the scale of the labor action and its potential to influence schedules across the entire operation in Spain.
At the airport level, passengers encountered a mix of late departures and late arrivals, with some airports experiencing delays in both directions. The real-world effect for travelers ranged from minor schedule shifts to more substantial adjustments that required rebooking plans, especially for those with tight connections or onward travel commitments. The disruption also highlighted how crews and ground teams coordinate under pressure, and how airlines balance service commitments with labor actions and regulatory considerations. The overall takeaway is that even when flights are not canceled, the cadence of travel can be notably altered, prompting travelers to check updated itineraries close to departure times and to allow for extra travel time when planning trips in the affected corridors.
USO calls for 10-day strike on Iberia Express
In the wake of earlier rounds of action in June and July, USO and Sitcpla have continued a pattern of weekly work actions, primarily spanning Monday through Thursday, with a pause occurring on certain days. This rhythm is maintained through early January, with unions calling for a renewal of a collective agreement under Spanish law as negotiations unfold. The current stance comes after a period in which the company reportedly reached a salary agreement with another union, CCOO, while crews and unions continue to push for broader terms to cover compensation, workload, and working conditions across the Iberia Express fleet. The ongoing cycle of work actions is part of a broader strategy to secure better terms for cabin crew, with some schedules reflecting four active days followed by three days off and additional charges for Spanish staff, as described by union representatives and stakeholders involved in the talks.
Industry watchers note that the agreement between CCOO and the airline group is not universally binding for all unions, with some observers cautioning that the representation of certain associations may be non-representative in the current negotiations. This dynamic adds a layer of complexity to the bargaining landscape, as unions pursue a cohesive framework that can command broad support and ensure enforceable terms for crews across the board. The situation remains a focal point for labor relations in Spain’s aviation sector, illustrating how union strategy, regulatory context, and company management interlock to shape flight operations and passenger experiences during periods of industrial action.