Groundforce strike begins in Barcelona, possible delays and luggage problems
An unlimited strike by part of the ground staff at Barcelona–El Prat Airport has been ongoing since August 4th. Minimum services have been introduced, but passengers and travel agencies should expect disruptions.
Strike during peak season
Groundforce employees have gone on strike due to, according to the CGT union, worker overwork, insufficient training, and worsening working conditions.
Groundforce u Barcelona handles passenger check-in, boarding, baggage handling, and some flight coordination. This can lead to delays, slower flight processing, and baggage delivery issues.
Numerous airlines at increased risk
The company serves a number of international carriers, including Air Europa, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, ITA Airways, Croatia Airlines, United Airlines and Finnair.
According to estimates by the Spanish Ministry of Transport, airlines that Groundforce serves during August and September have around 11,600 planned flights and 2.4 million seats.
Minimum services should prevent a higher number of cancellations, but do not guarantee smooth traffic. Passengers with short connections and checked-in luggage are at the greatest risk.
Travel agencies and TMCs should regularly check flight statuses and advise passengers to keep medication, documents, and essential items in their hand luggage.
