Spanish Airport Strikes have started and one has ended

[laineylainey]

Hi, wondering if anyone flying over Easter has been able to find any advice from airlines about the proposed ground staff strike starting April 20th affecting all Spanish airports?
I was going to fly out tomorrow for a short 10 day walk returning Sevilla to Dublin 20th April (Easter Saturday), but now not sure.
Apparently the strike from the 20th could be indefinite. Anyone got any information?

 

[peregrina2000]

Thanks for the heads up! I am probably seeing the same news sources you are, but it looks like a complicated mess. Strikes by pilots, security personnel and ground crews all at once.

Las huelgas amenazan con una Semana Santa caliente en los aeropuertos españoles

Pilotos, personal de seguridad, trabajadores de los servicios de tierra de los aeropuertos... la sombra de la huelga amenaza con convertir la próxima Semana Santa en una procesión

www.elmundo.es

Pilot strike is apparently the most concrete, and has been announced for these days in April:
15, 16, 17, 22, 23 and 24. But it looks like only Air Nostrum, which I think is an Iberia subsidiary.

Ground crews’ union is announcing strikes from April 20 onward.

Security personnel in Barajas have announced an indefinite strike from April 12 onward.

This could really create a nightmare for a lot of peregrinos, so I will try to keep an eye out for updates.

 

[laineylainey]

I have just had a reply from Ryanair. No advice only, " we will email you of any changes", which I understand given the uncertainty of the situation, but I want advice!!
Now I have to decide whether to go tomorrow and try to forget about the potential possibility of not getting back on planned date or cancelling. Difficult one (for me!).

 

[t2andreo]

Whew! I arrive in Spain on 2 May...

 

[IngridF]

Oh oh... will have to swim then from Ireland. Hopefully things will be sorted by mid june

 

[peregrina2000]

Slight update:
Ground crews have anounced strikes for April 21 and 24.

RENFE will strike on April 23

I haven’t seen anything specific or definite on the security personnel strike, just that it’s from April 12 onward.

 

[laineylainey]

Ah well, I cancelled yesterday just in case I couldn't get home on the 20th. It's just one of those things, and tomorrow I will think about re-planning, I just wanted to see those Spring flowers but God willing there is next year!

 

[Former member 49149]

Ah well, I cancelled yesterday just in case I couldn't get home on the 20th. It's just one of those things, and tomorrow I will think about re-planning, I just wanted to see those Spring flowers but God willing there is next year!

Aw! So sorry, lainey lainey. I guess it was too much of an anxiety. I thought of suggesting you take a bus back, but thought that might give you a stroke! I just hope it will be all sorted before July. So you could do the Lough Derg one on another thread, posted today. Or head down along the Barrow Way...very contemplative. You just need to organise your bandb though, unless you are brave enough to do tenting.

 

[dgassa]

I bet won’t happen. They announce strikes every year, then they settle

 

[OzAnnie]

Just found your thread Elaine.
I know the planning you’ve put into this walk and now the cancellations you’ve got ahead of you.
You’ve chosen ‘peace of mind ‘ though . You would have wondered each day walking, whether you would have been stranded at the end.
Others might ‘wing it’ if they have different responsibilities waiting at home.
Maybe you might add to your upcoming ‘ September section’
Buen Camino
Annie

 

[Jerilyn]

Whew! I arrive in Spain on 2 May...

We arrive on May 3. I hope this does not continue into May.

 

[laineylainey]

Just found your thread Elaine.
I know the planning you’ve put into this walk and now the cancellations you’ve got ahead of you.
You’ve chosen ‘peace of mind ‘ though . You would have wondered each day walking, whether you would have been stranded at the end.
Others might ‘wing it’ if they have different responsibilities waiting at home.
Maybe you might add to your upcoming ‘ September section’
Buen Camino
Annie

Thanks Annie. Please keep in touch and let me know how your walk is going? It's sunny here in Fermanagh today so I hope the sun is shining on you today in Almaden?
Buen Camino xx

 

[laineylainey]

Aw! So sorry, lainey lainey. I guess it was too much of an anxiety. I thought of suggesting you take a bus back, but thought that might give you a stroke! I just hope it will be all sorted before July. So you could do the Lough Derg one on another thread, posted today. Or head down along the Barrow Way...very contemplative. You just need to organise your bandb though, unless you are brave enough to do tenting.

Thanks Kirkie.

 

[peregrina2000]

Security personnel in Barajas have started their indefinite strike. As I understand it, there will be some minimal service. If you will be flying out of Madrid, make sure to get there many hours ahead of time. Some pictures in these articles.

Colas interminables en Barajas en el comienzo de la huelga de los trabajadores de seguridad

Las primeras horas de la movilización coinciden con el comienzo de la operación salida de Semana Santa.

www.elespanol.com

Largas colas de pasajeros en el aeropuerto de Barajas por una huelga en los controles de seguridad

Colas y retrasos en el aeropuerto de Barajas, los viajeros han guardado esperas inusuales por la huelga de los trabajadores de los puntos de seguridad. Algunos han esperado hasta hora y media.

www.lasexta.com

 

[Drew1578]

Arriving in Barcelona on May 3rd. Prayers to St. James!

 

[alaskadiver]

We arrive this Sunday in Madrid, but don’t depart until May 7th out of Santiago to Dublin. So I assume arrivals aren’t as big of an issue. We’re connecting with ALSA to Ponferrada on Sunday. At least the bus company isn’t striking.

 

[Joodle]

Does France usually jump on board with these strikes? Canadian Katy and I are flying into Paris on April 26th and will train our way to SJPP. (We hope) We'll do a Camino version of the movie "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" before I miss this trek. I need this!!

 

[trecile]

This year I'm flying into Paris and home from Porto. Hopefully the French don't decide to have a train strike again this year.

 

[Lindie Namibia]

Oh gosh!
We fly in to Madrid from Johannesburg next Wednesday - with Iberia!
And have to get connecting flight to Vigo same day! I'm holding alllll my thumbs now!

 

[alaskadiver]

Just arrived in Madrid. No strike and no issues. Immigration took 15 seconds. Of course the walk to baggage claim is long and the wait for bags took forever. Now waiting for our ALSA bus to Ponferrada.

 

[peregrina2000]

Ground crew strike has been called off.

Desconvocan las dos jornadas de huelga del sector handling | RTVE

UGT y USO han decidido desconvocar las huelgas previstas para los próximos días 21 y 24 de servicios de asistencia en tierra a aeronaves y pasajeros.

www.rtve.es

But that still leaves the strike of security personnel in Madrid and the Air Nostrum strike.
I haven’t seen anything since a few days ago on those strikes, so maybe things are manageable. But anyone leaving from Madrid while the strike is ongoing should add several hours and bring a good book.

Normalidad en Madrid-Barajas en la cuarta jornada de huelga de trabajadores de seguridad

La cuarta jornada de huelga indefinida del personal de seguridad privada de Ilunion, empresa adjudicataria de los servicios de seguridad en los filtros del Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez

www.elmundo.es

Todo lo que debes saber para sobrevivir a la huelga de Barajas si viajas en Semana Santa

La mayor aglomeración de viajeros se registra a primera hora de la mañana en la sexta jornada consecutiva de paros de los trabajadores de seguridad

www.abc.es

 

[laineylainey]

Good news for all travelling this weekend.

 

[Glenshiro]

The threatened strikes of ground handling staff at Spanish airports, scheduled for 21 and 24 April, have been called off. So I can proceed as planned, after all!

 

[jony jony]

Glenshiro...........great news as i fly out on Tuesday to Seville .

 

[peregrina2000]

Security personnel in Madrid still on strike unless someone has more recent info.

The AENA website still lists an “important announcement” that you should plan for extended delays checking in due to the strike (AENA stands for Aeropuertos Españoles y Navigación Area, the national aviation agency, I think). Anyone transferring from outside of Spain to an internal flight will also have to go through security.

Pasajeros

www.aena.es

Luckily, there are probably more forum members arriving in Madrid than leaving these days.