Major strike action to hit 12 Spanish airports that have Ryanair flights
More than 3,000 workers are set to strike between August 15 and 17 and then will continue to strike every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at a number of Spanish airports.
2
The strikes are set to continue through to the end of December.
Organised by the union UGT, the repeated walk-outs by Azul Handling - Ryanair 's handling subsidiary - are expected to impact the airline's operations.
Ryanair's bases located in Valencia, Alicante, Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Malaga, Ibiza, Palma, Girona, Tenerife South, Lanzarote and Santiago, are expected to be impacted.
The strike will affect all bases and work centres in Spain and will take place between 5am and 9am, noon and 3pm and 9pm to 11.59pm.
By law, the workers have to provide a "minimum service", however this is yet to be specified.
The protests are "against the sanctions imposed on workers and the abuse of hours".
The FeSMC-UGT airline sector is requesting mediation before the Interconfederal Mediation and Arbitration Service (SIMA).
According to the union, the strikes are being called for various reasons including a lack of stable job creation, restrictions on medical leave and the consolidation of part-time staff's working hours.
"UGT regrets having to go to these extremes and all the damages that may occur, for which the direct responsibility will be solely and exclusively the company and its reckless action with the workforce," the union commented.
Jose Manuel Perez Grande, federal secretary of the FeSMC-UGT Air Union, claimed Azul Handling has "a strategy of precariousness and pressure on the workforce that violates basic labour rights and systematically ignores union demands".
Flight cancelled or delayed? Top tips for handling travel disruptions
The FeSMC-UGT Air Sector is now demanding that the company withdraw the sanctions, comply with the opinions of the Joint Commission and immediately open a real negotiation process.
This would improve the working conditions of the more than 3,000 workers affected.
A number of baggage handlers also went on strike at several Spanish airports for the same reasons last year.
A Ryanair spokesperson told The Sun Travel: " Ryanair does not expect any disruption to our operation as a result of these third-party handling strikes in Spain."
Back in June, Ryanair also revealed Europe 's worst air traffic control centres (ATCs) for delays.
This included 1,642 of the airlines' flights to/from the UK being delayed, impacting nearly 300,000 British passengers.
Ryanair commented that the European Commission and European governments "have taken no action to fix their shoddy ATC services and ATC delays will now be even worse in summer 2025".
Micheal O'Leary, the airline's CEO, added that if staff shortages and ATC issues are not sorted, there will be "record ATC flight delays this summer".
Flight compensation rules
A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.
If you're flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.
You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven't used yet.
So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.
But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.
When am I not entitled to compensation?
The airline doesn't have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.
Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation.
Some airlines may stretch the definition of "extraordinary circumstances" but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?
If you can't claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.
Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.
Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.
If your flight is cancelled entirely, you're unlikely to be covered by your insurance.
A European airport is at risk of closure as Ryanair is set to scrap all flights.
Plus, Ryanair warns of record flight delays this summer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
5 minutes ago
- The Independent
Urgent warning made over UK pensions
An industry expert has warned that the UK state pension age may need to rise to 80 without significant reforms, as the current system is becoming unaffordable. The state pension age is already scheduled to increase from 66 to 67 by 2028, with a further rise to 68 expected to be brought forward from 2046. The Office for Budget Responsibility projects the annual cost of the state pension could reach £200 billion by 2073, representing 7.7-8.4 per cent of GDP by the 2070s. Pensions expert Jack Carmichael suggests the cost could be even higher than official projections, potentially necessitating a state pension age of 80 to maintain affordability. To manage spiralling costs, the government may be compelled to either raise the state pension age more rapidly or reform the triple lock mechanism.
Telegraph
6 minutes ago
- Telegraph
I went to Ibiza with my autistic son to try out TUI's new sensory room. Here's what we thought
The plane touched down on the white isle on a dark Friday evening, and the passengers let out a loud cheer. It was after 11pm, and most of them – including the girls in curlers and false eyelashes sitting in front of us – were getting ready to go clubbing. My 13-year-old son Eddie and I, on the other hand, had rather a different sort of holiday in mind: we had flown to Ibiza to try out the new sensory room at the TUI BLUE Aura Resort in San Antonio. Let me explain. In 2019, Eddie was diagnosed with autism, sensory processing disorder (SPD) and demand avoidance (a condition that makes him overwhelmed when confronted with demands). We have been on something of a learning curve since then, and – along with our other two children, who are not on the spectrum – we have tried to adapt our holidays to accommodate Eddie's additional needs. This generally means planning ahead carefully so that Eddie knows what to expect, making sure we don't over-schedule and showing and talking him through any trips we have planned well in advance. It often affects our choice of destination, too. Happily, increasing numbers of travel companies and organisations – including Center Parcs and LEGOLAND – now provide sensory rooms for neurodivergent guests, or those who are particularly sensitive to noise and overstimulation. So, too, do a number of airports, including Bristol, Birmingham, Gatwick and Heathrow. These rooms typically feature soft lighting, interactive sensory equipment and a quiet space, and can be a vital resource – particularly for families travelling with neurodivergent children. However, no hotels offered such a feature – until earlier this April, when TUI BLUE (the TUI Group's 'personalised-service and experience oriented' hotel brand) opened the very first at its Nausicaa Beach property in Larnaca, Cyprus. This was closely followed, in May, by the opening of a second sensory room, at its sister hotel in Ibiza. I found myself curious and immediately arranged to visit, keen to see whether the new rooms were really the game-changing offerings they claimed to be. First impressions were promising: before our trip, the hotel manager kindly sent us a video of the resort and the room we would be staying in. We were also given the option to book TUI's assisted travel at the airport (which we did), meaning that at both Birmingham and Ibiza airports, we are assigned someone to help take us through security and passport control (Eddie always wearing his Sunflower Lanyard, which indicates an invisible disability). By the time we arrived at the hotel, it was after midnight, and we were glad of the kindly receptionist who met us and arranged for us to be shown to our room by a porter. It was on our way to breakfast the next morning that we spotted the sensory room – hard to miss, as it was right next to the main area and kids club in the centre of the resort; an admittedly odd choice for a space designed (in conjunction with Perfectly Autistic, a neurodiversity consultancy) to provide a calm, soothing and low-stimulation environment for frazzled guests. Undaunted, we headed straight to reception to pick up the room's key and gingerly let ourselves in. We were immediately struck by how dark it was – though agreed the low lighting was probably intentional – and it was a few moments before our eyes had adjusted sufficiently to take in the large, open space. Eddie was immediately captivated by the fishtank-like tube in the corner studded with glowing lights (though would admit only that it was 'pretty cool', and that he would have enjoyed it more when he was younger), as well as by the sparkly glitter boards, where he could draw or write his name, and the large balls which you could sit and roll around on. There were also bean bags and mats for families to sit on, and a few children's books – including ones from the 'That's Not My…' series – as well as puzzles, a clock and a writing board. Eddie was a little old for the playhouse in the corner (though he did remark he'd have liked that too, when he was younger), and for the interactive sensory equipment, but overall the atmosphere was cosy yet calm. In addition to the new sensory rooms, TUI says they have given all the frontline TUI BLUE Aura staff enhanced neurodiversity awareness training. And yet, when I casually asked one of the reps what sort of neuroinclusivity training he'd had, he told me there was a very short session (around 10 minutes) on how important it is to give neurodiverse people space and to remain calm. And that was it. He helpfully offered to show me the company intranet policy on neurodiversity, and we noted that there were a number of courses on offer – just none that he'd been made aware of. I suggested better training should, perhaps, be something for the brand to work on, and said he would ask about the other courses. That said, the hotel itself was, on the whole, well set up for neurodiverse guests. Though Eddie was too old for the kids' club (which accepts ages three to 12), he enjoyed making use of the newly introduced 'Now and Next' boards – a resource they also have at Eddie's specialist school, which helps children to be clear about what's coming next. The clubs have also introduced communication cards, so that children can clearly express their wants and needs. The staff were all excellent, too – warm and friendly, particularly the gentleman who ran the main snack bar, who Eddie took a shine to – and despite the fact that it was the school holidays, it never felt overcrowded, and a choice of pools meant we were able to head to a quieter option when the main area got too noisy. So successful was the atmosphere the hotel had created, that by the end of our week, we both felt rested and relaxed. On our last night, I decided to put our holiday to the ultimate test, booking dinner at the hotel's Japanese restaurant – a gamble, as Eddie had got into the routine of eating at the main hotel restaurant. But I needn't have worried. As soon as we arrived, we spotted the kind manager from the snack bar, who gave Eddie a friendly pat, and from then on – through the fantastic fire display, the sushi buffet and all the cooking – the whole evening was a big hit. We left Ibiza on a high, Eddie gushing about the doughnuts for breakfast, the water park and the pool. The sensory room seemed not to have made a big impression on him, though I suspected just knowing it was there had helped more than either of us realised. And after all, even a small step in the right direction is a step – and for families holidaying with neurodivergent children, every step makes a world of difference. Essentials
Reuters
6 minutes ago
- Reuters
Zelenskiy speaks with Trump ahead of Putin ceasefire deadline
KYIV, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that he had had a "productive" conversation with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump on ending the war, sanctions on Russia and the finalisation of a U.S.-Ukraine drone deal. Trump, who has signalled frustration with Vladimir Putin in recent weeks, has given the Russian president until August 8 to make peace in Ukraine or face tougher sanctions. "President Trump is fully informed about Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities and communities," Zelenskiy wrote on X, referring to intensifying drone and missile attacks. Trump has threatened to hit Russia with new sanctions and impose 100% tariffs on countries that buy its oil, but sources close to the Kremlin told Reuters, opens new tab that Putin was unlikely to bow to the ultimatum. Zelenskiy said Ukraine was also ready to conclude a deal with the U.S. on the purchase of Ukrainian drones that would amount to "one of the strongest agreements". He had earlier said the deal was worth around $30 billion. Ukraine is increasingly seeking financing and investment from its foreign partners to bolster its burgeoning domestic arms industry. Zelenskiy said Kyiv's European partners had so far pledged to buy more than $1 billion in U.S. weapons for Ukraine as part of a new scheme.
