Dual Ground Staff Strikes Set to Impact Palma Airport Passengers in August

Saturday, August 9th, 2025

Updated 10/8/2025

Two Strikes, One Busy Summer Season

Passengers travelling through Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) in August face potential disruption from not one but two separate ground staff strikes. The UGT union has called industrial action involving Azul Handling, the company responsible for Ryanair’s ground operations at many Spanish airports, including PMI. In addition to this, a second walkout has been confirmed by the UGT trade union involving ground staff from Menzies Aviation.

When are the Strike Dates?

Ryanair (Azul Handling)

The Azul Handling strike will initially run for three consecutive days (15th, 16th, and 17th of August). From then on, it will continue until the 31st of December 2025, on every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The strike will take place during three key time slots each day (05:00–09:00, 12:00–15:00, and 21:00–23:59).

Menzies

The Menzies strike will take place on the 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th, 30th and 31st of August 2025 for the entire 24-hour period on each of the strike days.

Why Are Ground Staff Striking?

Ryanair

According to UGT, the strike is a response to what it describes as “systematic breaches of labour rights” by Azul Handling. The union accuses the company of:

Failing to provide stable jobs and sufficient hours for part-time employees
Pressuring staff into working additional hours
Ignoring rulings related to bonuses and job guarantees
Limiting workers’ rights to return after sick leave or to adjust schedules for family reasons

UGT has sought mediation through Spain’s national labour arbitration service, but no agreement has been reached so far.

Menzies

Union representatives allege that Menzies has repeatedly breached agreed labour terms, citing:

Failure to pay agreed wages on time or in full
Violations of staff transfer rights
Disorganisation of work schedules and shifts
Frequent payroll and HR management errors
Staff shortages that increase workloads
Imposing holiday dates without consultation

Understanding the Role of Ground Handling Staff

Ground handling staff perform essential behind-the-scenes work to ensure flights operate smoothly. Their duties typically include:

Check-in services: processing passenger tickets, issuing boarding passes, and checking baggage
Baggage handling: loading, unloading, and transferring luggage between flights
Aircraft servicing: refuelling coordination, cleaning, restocking, and towing aircraft into position
Passenger assistance: helping travellers with reduced mobility, providing boarding support, and guiding transit passengers
Cargo and freight handling: managing goods and special items

When these workers strike, the effects can ripple through airport operations: from long queues at check-in to delayed baggage delivery, slower aircraft turnaround times, and even flight delays or cancellations.

Who Will Be Affected?

Ryanair flights: The Azul Handling strike, running from the 15th of August until the end of the year on specific days and times, directly affects Ryanair’s operations at Palma and other Spanish airports.
Airlines served by Menzies: Flights operated by Emirates, British Airways, American Airlines, easyJet, Turkish Airlines, Norwegian, Wizz Air, and others could see disruption on the six strike days in August.

If your airline is not served by either Menzies or Azul, the direct risk of disruption is lower. However, knock-on effects are still possible, for example, if strikes cause congestion at security checkpoints, baggage belts, or aircraft stands that your flight also uses.

What Passengers Should Do

To minimise the impact on your journey:

Check your airline’s updates regularly in the days leading up to your flight
Arrive earlier than usual, particularly during strike hours or on strike days
Pack essentials in your cabin bag in case your checked luggage is delayed
Stay alert to airport announcements and live departure boards
Consider travel insurance that covers strike-related delays or cancellations