Palma Airport strike heightens weekend travel risk

Strike actions at Azul Handling and Menzies affect Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2 at Palma and other Balearic airports this weekend, with minimum service levels set by the transport ministry.

Palma Airport strike disrupts busy summer weekend

A strike by Azul Handling workers began Friday morning, affecting ground services at Palma, Ibiza and Menorca. The action runs in three daily windows from 5am to 9am, 12 noon to 3pm and 9pm to midnight, and is set to recur on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through December 31. Spain’s transport ministry has set minimum service levels ranging from 58% to 83% across the Balearics to keep some flights moving.

On Saturday and Sunday, Menzies handling workers will also strike, impacting easyJet, Jet2 and Norwegian traffic. Palma’s minimum service runs 55% to 81% and Ibiza’s 54% to 76%, while Mahon is not affected. A total of 6,381 flights are scheduled across Balearic airports this weekend, 344 fewer than the same days last year, a difference airlines attribute to the use of larger aircraft. easyJet says passengers should allow extra time but does not expect any impact on operations, while the UGT union says more than a thousand workers will be affected. The action is planned to repeat on the same weekend pattern through December 31.

These strikes reveal the tension between workers seeking better pay and safety and an economy that depends on steady, predictable travel. The Balearics rely heavily on tourism, so disruptions ripple beyond the airport to hotels, restaurants and local transport. The weekend pattern expands the reach of the protest and tests the balance between disruption and service in peak season.

Policy and negotiation dynamics are in play. The transport ministry sets minimum service levels to keep flights moving, while unions push for higher wages and safer conditions. The recurring weekend strikes raise questions about long term stability for Balearic travel and whether quicker settlements or new rules will emerge to curb repeated disruption.

Highlights

Travel plans may shift as talks continue in a tourism-heavy region.