Travel Update: Planned Strike Action at Palma Airport over Easter

Thursday, March 19th, 2026

Anyone looking forward to a well-earned Easter break in Mallorca should keep an eye on the situation at Palma Airport (PMI). Trade unions have announced industrial action affecting ground handling services in the coming weeks.

Who is striking and when? Key dates at a glance

The planned action involves the companies Groundforce and Menzies. Some strikes are scheduled for specific time slots, while others will last all day.

Company	Period	Times (slots)
Groundforce	From 27 March (indefinite), every Mon, Wed, Fri	05:00–07:00, 11:00–17:00, 22:00–00:00
Menzies	28–29 March and 2–6 April	All day (24 hours)

Strike dates overlap on Friday, 3 April and Monday, 6 April, during the time slots 05:00–07:00, 11:00–17:00 and 22:00–00:00.

Good to know: As Groundforce is only striking during certain hours, operations outside these windows on non-overlapping days are likely to continue as normal.

What do ground handling services actually do?

While most passengers only see check-in staff, ground handling agents such as Groundforce and Menzies play a central role in airport operations. Their responsibilities include:

• Passenger services: Check-in, boarding at the gate and lost property services
• Airside operations: Loading and unloading baggage, guiding aircraft to stands and pushback procedures
• Cleaning & logistics: Cabin cleaning and coordinating onboard water supply and waste disposal

Why is the strike taking place?

The reasons are typical labour disputes:

• Groundforce: Disagreement over the interpretation of the collective agreement, particularly how wages should be adjusted in line with inflation
• Menzies: Employees are protesting against worsening working conditions driven by low-cost airline models and are calling for more stable employment prospects

Could the strikes still be called off?

Yes, there is still a possibility. In Spain, strikes are often announced well in advance to increase pressure during negotiations. Agreements are frequently reached at the last minute during mediation talks (SIMA), meaning the strikes could yet be cancelled at short notice.

Will all airlines be affected?

Not necessarily. Some airlines use different service providers. For example, Ryanair uses Azul Handling, while Jet2 relies on its own staff. However, this does not guarantee disruption-free travel. All airlines share airport infrastructure, such as baggage systems, security and fuel services, so strikes affecting major providers like Menzies and Groundforce can cause knock-on delays across the entire airport. If baggage systems become congested, your luggage may be delayed, too.

Travel tips during strike days

If you are travelling on affected dates, consider the following:

• Check your flight status regularly via your airline’s app or website.
• Use online check-in to avoid queues at the airport.
• Travel with hand luggage only, if possible, to bypass baggage handling.
• Allow extra time at the airport to pass through security without unnecessary stress.

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