Strike drags on with no talks in sight

The indefinite strike by Groundforce employees at Barcelona-El Prat Airport has entered its third week with no sign of resolution. The industrial action, launched on 4 August 2026, has already led to nearly 270 flight cancellations and left around 6,000 pieces of luggage stranded at the airport, according to figures reported by workers to La Vanguardia and confirmed by multiple outlets. Groundforce staff, who handle check-in, boarding, baggage handling and flight coordination for around 20 airlines, began the strike after repeated failed negotiations with management. The company has not engaged in talks since 24 July, before the strike began, according to Juan Navarro, a representative of the CGT union.

We’re not asking for money, but for issues that affect our safety and health.

Core demands focus on working conditions

The strike committee, led by the CGT union, insists the action is not about salary increases or additional holidays. Instead, workers are demanding improvements in occupational health and safety, dignified shift patterns and better work-life balance. Workers cite chronic understaffing, high staff turnover, insufficient training, unpaid overtime and inadequate rest periods as key concerns. Esther García, spokesperson for CGT, accused the new management of rolling back employee rights and refusing to address long-standing risks to worker wellbeing.

  • 1,179 Groundforce employees are on strike at El Prat
  • Airlines affected include Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Qatar Airways, Air Europa, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines
  • No negotiations scheduled; last mediation attempt was 24 July
  • Strike limited to Barcelona, not affecting Groundforce operations at other Spanish airports

Passengers face ongoing disruption

While the airport remains open and not all flights are impacted, passengers on affected airlines face significant uncertainty. Delays at baggage reclaim have exceeded five hours in some cases. On 13 August alone, 18 flights were cancelled, with Lufthansa Group airlines among the hardest hit. The disruption has coincided with peak summer travel, compounded by a surge in visitors linked to a total solar eclipse visible in Spain and a recent power outage at the airport’s control tower on 12 August. Aena, the airport operator, reported 5.87 million passengers passed through El Prat in July, a 6 per cent increase year on year, underscoring the pressure on services. Passengers are advised to check directly with their airline before travelling. Airlines including Lufthansa have sent senior executives to Barcelona in an attempt to mitigate the situation, though no breakthrough has been announced. The strike remains indefinite with no end date set by the union.

Reported by thelocal.com, ftnnews.com, democrata.es, lasexta.com, travelmarketreport.com, Catalan News, By Demócrata, thelocal.es, visahq.news, Cristina Martín Valbuena, Travel Market Report, spotifero.com, CatalunyaPress.cat, catalunyapress.es.