Travel Disruptions Expected in Spain During Easter Break
Travellers planning to visit Spain for their Easter break should be aware of potential travel disruptions caused by industrial action. Starting today, March 30, several major airports across the country are set to experience strikes, which could lead to significant delays and complications for passengers.
The affected airports include Barcelona-El Prat Airport, Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport, and Palma de Mallorca Airport. Additionally, other locations such as Alicante, Malaga, and the Canary Islands may also face disruptions. The strikes involve Groundforce workers, with over 3,000 ground handling staff members expected to participate.
The strike action is scheduled to occur in multiple intervals throughout the day, including from 5am to 7am, 11am to 5pm, and 10pm to midnight. These times coincide with busy travel periods, increasing the likelihood of long queues, delayed luggage drop-offs, and boarding issues.
The ongoing pay disputes are reportedly the cause of the strikes, and the action could continue indefinitely. This uncertainty adds to the concerns of travellers who may wonder about their rights to a refund or compensation if their flight is affected.
Travel insurance expert Alicia Hempsted from MoneySuperMarket has advised families to review their policy documents to determine eligibility for coverage. If a flight is cancelled or delayed due to the strikes, holidaymakers might be able to recover some costs, according to Alice.
She explained: ‘Under EU law, you may be entitled to a refund for your flight from the airline, but you may also be able to reclaim other costs, such as accommodation, on your travel insurance. If your flight is delayed, your airline has an obligation to offer you food, drink and accommodation depending on the length of the delay.’
However, it’s important to note that travellers can only claim additional compensation if they are informed about the strikes less than 14 days before their flight. Alice added: ‘Strikes are generally considered “extraordinary circumstances,” meaning airlines aren’t usually responsible, unless the disruption is caused by their own staff, such as pilots or airline employees.’
Regarding whether travel insurance will cover any delays or cancellations due to the strikes, Alice explained that it depends on when the trip was booked. She said:
‘As long as the airline strikes were announced after you booked your trip and your travel insurance, you may be able to claim through your insurer. Always check the terms and conditions of a policy before you buy, as not all travel insurance providers offer cover for airline strikes. If your policy includes travel disruption cover, it might be possible to claim for disruption or losses incurred as a result of your trip being delayed or cancelled. This may include alternative accommodation, or expenses incurred such as travel, food and drink, and can even stretch to covering the full cost of your holiday should you end up not being able to travel. However, it is worth noting that not all policies cover this as standard and cover levels, conditions, and exclusions can vary between providers, making it important to check with your insurer as your first port of call.’
Alice urged travellers to purchase insurance as soon as they book a trip to ensure they are covered and to carefully review their policy documents.
