Passengers checking in at Barcelona’s Terminal 1 on Monday October 19 could find themselves walking past an angry protest, as ground staff hit back at the company that sacked members of their own strike committee. The dispute’s been rumbling on since August, and the Spanish government has already drawn up strike rules running to the end of November.

Sacked strike leaders spark weekly protests at T1

Ground staff working for Groundforce, the company that handles check-in, boarding and baggage for more than 12 airlines at Barcelona-El Prat, are taking their fight into the terminal itself. The CGT union has called protests in the T1 departures area from 11am to 2pm on Monday October 19, Monday October 26 and Monday November 2.

The trigger is a round of sackings. According to the union, Groundforce has dismissed three workers, two of whom sat on the strike committee and also served as health and safety representatives, with safety being the exact issue at the heart of the whole dispute, which the union says is no coincidence.

Strike committee member Juan Navarro said the company flatly refused when the union asked for all three to be reinstated. So the union now plans to protest every Monday, making sure Aena (the state-owned company that runs Spain’s main airports) can’t ignore that the conflict is still going on. No statement from Groundforce on the dismissals has been reported, while the CGT has said it will take every legal step available to defend the sacked workers. 

The strike never really went away

Plenty of travellers could be forgiven for thinking the summer’s baggage chaos was behind them. Groundforce’s Barcelona staff, more than 1,200 people, first walked out on Tuesday August 4 in a dispute about understaffing, heavy workloads, high staff turnover and safety, rather than pay.

By the second week, 3,000 bags were stranded and 170 flights cancelled, and by the third, 270 flights had been axed and around 6,000 bags were stuck, with families describing entire holidays spent without their luggage.

The union then briefly paused the strike to give talks a chance. However, those talks went nowhere, the first strike committee members were sacked, and the indefinite strike was back on from September 17. Now, with the latest dismissals, the union said an already bad situation has got even worse.

Which airlines use Groundforce in Barcelona

Spain’s Transport Ministry names Air France-KLM, Lufthansa and Air Europa as the main airlines Groundforce handles at Barcelona, while Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, United, ITA Airways and Finnair have also been reported among those exposed.

Over the summer, Lufthansa Group airlines, including SWISS, Austrian and Eurowings, were among the hardest hit. However, British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, easyJet and Ryanair weren’t caught up in it, as they use different ground handling companies.

Up to 1.8 million passengers on flights covered by the strike rules

Spain’s Transport Ministry has already signed off a new minimum services order covering October 1 to November 30. That alone shows nobody’s expecting this to be settled quickly.

Under the order, 77 per cent of flights to and from the Balearic and Canary Islands must run, along with 57 per cent of international flights and long domestic routes in October, dropping to 55 per cent in November. Short domestic routes, where a train or coach takes less than five hours, are only protected at 36 per cent in October and 34 per cent in November.

The ministry estimates that around 10,400 flights and up to 1.8 million passengers fall under the strike across those two months. Flights outside the protected levels can still be cancelled, sometimes at short notice.

What to do if your flight is affected

If you’re flying with any of the airlines above, check your flight status in the airline’s app before you leave for the airport, rather than relying on the departures board at El Prat. On Mondays, it’s also worth leaving a little extra time to get through T1 departures while the protest is on. Packing essentials and a change of clothes in your hand luggage is sensible too, given how many bags went astray over the summer.

On compensation, strikes by an airport’s ground handling staff are usually treated as ‘extraordinary circumstances’ under EU flight rules, so airlines rarely have to pay out cash. However, you’re still entitled to a refund or a new flight if yours is cancelled, plus meals and a hotel if you’re left stranded overnight.

So until Groundforce and the CGT get back round the table, anyone flying out of Barcelona with these airlines should check before setting off, with the first protest due on Monday October 19.

If you have tried booking a flight to or from Spain this year, you may have noticed that the appetite for air travel has not gone away, even as airlines face rising fuel bills and uncertainty over the conflict in the Middle East. Millions of passengers have continued to pass through the country’s airports, with budget airlines playing a major role in keeping traffic moving.

Spain’s airports handled a record 257.2 million passengers between January and September 2026, an increase of 4.1 per cent compared with the same period last year. The latest figures underline how strongly low-cost carriers have contributed to demand during the busy summer travel season.

Ryanair leads the low-cost race

Ryanair remained Spain’s busiest low-cost airline during the July-to-September period, carrying 18.51 million passengers, up 1.9 per cent on the previous year. Vueling followed with 10.69 million, an increase of 5.4 per cent, while easyJet carried six million, up 1.2 per cent. The strongest growth came from smaller competitors. Wizz Air increased passenger numbers by 43.7 per cent, reaching the top ranks of airlines operating in Spain.

Volotea grew by 17.5 per cent, Jet2 by 10 per cent and Iberia Express by 9.4 per cent. The figures show that the summer increase was not confined to Spain’s three biggest low-cost operators. The airlines have benefited from demand for flights linking Spain with other European countries, including holiday destinations. Spain has also attracted travellers seeking a destination perceived as safer amid geopolitical instability, according to the Cinco Días report.

Fuel costs put pressure on airlines

The rise in passenger numbers has come as airlines contend with a steep increase in operating costs. European jet fuel prices rose by 122 per cent over a year, according to indices compiled by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and cited by Cinco Días. The conflict in the Middle East has added to uncertainty over fuel prices and airline planning.

The pressure is already shaping decisions. Ryanair has adjusted capacity at several regional Spanish airports while focusing on larger airports and popular sun-and-beach destinations. IAG, the parent company of Iberia and Vueling, has also sought to contain capacity to limit the impact of higher kerosene costs.

The financial strain is particularly visible among smaller operators. Wizz Air reported losses for its first fiscal quarter, which ended in June, while Volotea has entered preliminary creditor-protection proceedings as it works to restructure its debt. Both still ranked among the 20 largest airline operators in Spain during the summer period.

Spanish airports continue to grow

The increase in low-cost traffic formed part of a wider rise across Aena’s Spanish airport network. In September alone, airports handled 31.7 million passengers, 4.2 per cent more than in the same month of 2025. Aircraft movements rose by 5.3 per cent, although freight volumes fell by 5.7 per cent.

Madrid-Barajas recorded 6.3 million passengers in September, up 6.6 per cent year on year. Barcelona-El Prat handled 5.4 million, while Palma de Mallorca recorded 4.2 million. Málaga-Costa del Sol also saw a strong month, with 2.8 million passengers, an increase of 6.8 per cent.

For travellers, the figures show that demand for flights to and from Spain remained strong through the main summer season. For airlines, however, more passengers have not removed the challenge of keeping flights profitable as fuel and geopolitical risks continue to weigh on the industry.

Travellers flying between Germany and Spain will lose three direct Ryanair routes next spring after the airline confirmed it will end all operations at Bremen Airport. From April 2027, its connections with Alicante, Málaga and Palma de Mallorca will disappear.

On October 8, the Irish carrier announced the cancellation of all routes to and from the German airport, which will result in the reduction of approximately 500,000 seats per year. Ryanair said that it was forced to make this decision due to high airport charges, taxation, and other operating costs.

Also affected is the connection between Bremen and London Stansted, which could make travel more difficult for British passengers based at Bremen.

The announcement concerns Bremen rather than an abandonment of the Spanish connection. However, the current customers will have to consider other routes for the summer of 2027.

Ryanair confirms Bremen exit: Alicante, Málaga and Mallorca routes affected

The decision applies to three Spanish airports that have connections with Bremen: Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport, Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport and Palma de Mallorca Airport.

These lines make a direct connection with the most popular holiday spots of Spain, the Costa Blanca, the Costa del Sol and the Balearic Islands.

According to aviation industry data published by ch-aviation, Ryanair’s Bremen network comprises six destinations: Alicante, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, London Stansted, Zadar and Lamezia Terme, with the Italian route scheduled to launch on October 26

This means that the airline’s withdrawal is more than just a matter of Spain for holiday trips; it means the whole of Ryanair’s Bremen network is going to be over, the network which was established here almost two decades ago.

The official company statement is that all flights from Bremen will end in April 2027, and that the estimated half million seats will be transferred to other European airports and regions.

For travellers planning their holiday, the timing is very important. The withdrawal is just at the beginning of the 2027 summer season, when the traffic to Spain is usually increasing.

On its website, Ryanair still offers fares to Bremen up to March 2027, but flights from April onwards have been removed.

This does not mean Ryanair is abandoning Alicante, Málaga and Palma de Mallorca altogether. They will be operating large schedules from these Spanish airports. The only cancellations concerned are the direct flights to and from Bremen.

However, for the passengers who used to travel between the north of Germany and Spain without changing planes, these changes will probably lead to longer journeys or the need to look for an alternative departure point.

Why is Ryanair withdrawing from Bremen Airport?

Ryanair cites as the reason for the change the excessive cost of operating in Germany.

Ryanair cited several reasons for its withdrawal, including air traffic control charges, security fees, airport charges and Germany’s aviation tax.

These expenses, the company claims, make Bremen less competitive than other European airports, which have cheaper operating costs.

Then Ryanair’s chief commercial officer, Jason McGuinness, spoke of a loss of 500,000 seats per year, a major source of air traffic and visitors to Bremen and the surrounding area.

He also pointed out that other German airports could face similar reductions if costs were not reduced to make the country more attractive to international operators.

According to Ryanair, the capacity it is withdrawing from Bremen will be redeployed at other European airports and in other areas where the operating conditions are more favorable.

However, local authorities in Bremen dispute the airline’s explanation.

In a report on the German public service broadcaster Tagesschau’s web page, the economic department of the city of Bremen is quoted as saying that the company wants to make use of the airport’s equipment and services at almost no cost to itself.

The conflict between the low-cost carriers, which are seeking to minimize their fees, and the regional airports, which need to be able to support themselves financially, is more than apparent.

The consequences for Bremen could be considerable: German news agencies report that, over the past few years, Ryanair has carried around 400,000 passengers via the Bremen airport, which in the last year accounted for around two million passengers.

Loss of this service could, therefore, represent a considerable reduction in the flow of traffic, though the ultimate effect will depend on the extent to which other air companies will take up the route.

This decision is based on the reduction of capacity that Ryanair has been making across Germany. The company has repeatedly complained about the taxes levied on aviation and the high costs of running airports.

For Spain, the announcement means the loss of three direct connections with Bremen from April 2027, rather than Ryanair withdrawing from the three Spanish airports themselves.

What travellers to Spain should know before April 2027

A particular warning goes out to travellers going to Alicante, Málaga or Palma de Mallorca on dates which are definitely restricted.

From April 2027, Ryanair is scheduled to withdraw, which means that the routes will be removed from its summer schedule.

Those wishing to book for Easter or the summer holidays are asked to check the details of the service on the official Ryanair website before making arrangements for their accommodation or other transport.

The regular traveller who usually flies from Bremen may well have to consider alternative routes, possibly to Hamburg or to Hanover, according to the circumstances at the time of departure.

Another way of getting to Spain is to go by other airlines, although there is no guarantee that direct replacement services will be introduced on all three routes.

This is of particular importance to travelers who have relatives, homes or commitments in the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol and in Mallorca and who previously relied on these connections.

German press has been reporting that Bremen is about to lose its only direct link with the United Kingdom unless another airline steps in. And as far as British travellers are concerned, they’ll be left without a link to the UK, at least until another operator takes up the challenge.

Importantly, this announcement does not necessarily mean that the existing flights will be cancelled immediately. It is noteworthy that the date of termination of operations is April 2027, and before then the passengers should check with the airline to see whether their flights are affected.

As far as flights already booked but later cancelled by the company, passengers should be contacted about alternative arrangements.

According to European regulations, a passenger who has his flight cancelled generally has the right to choose between a refund or an alternative route, subject to certain conditions. Any compensation is dependent on the circumstances of the cancellation and the notification.

So please keep your ticket and watch out for all communication from Ryanair.

For now the most important difference is that Alicante, Málaga and Palma de Mallorca will not be removed from the Ryanair network. What will end is the direct connection with Bremen, as the low-cost carrier redistributes its capacity away from the German airport.

It is a further reminder that a traveller’s route can be changed at any time, and that it is worth re-checking the routes before booking flights.