Spain General Strike Set to Impact Flights from Madrid and Barcelona on Wednesday
by Daniel McCarthy
Barcelona International Airport. Photo: Sorbis / Shutterstock.com
A 24-hour general strike, which will include a walkout by Spain’s two largest train unions, is almost certainly going to impact travel through the country on Wednesday, including at some of Europe’s biggest hubs.
The strike, the first general strike in 14 years in Spain, is over a lot of the same themes that have propelled European protests over the last month or so, including some fiery ones in France: cost of living, a worsening housing crisis, and gentrification.
On Wednesday, travelers in Spain are going to face certain disruptions and most likely some cancellations. High-speed rail, commuter trains (Cercanías/Rodalies), and major metro systems (like Madrid and Barcelona) are operating on heavily thinned-out schedules.
The Spanish Ministry of Transport has established protected minimum service percentages for air passengers, but because ground handlers, baggage personnel, and security staff are joining the walkout, delays and localized cancellations are inevitable.
In response, major airlines have begun issuing flexible travel waivers.
American Airlines has introduced a special exception policy for passengers booked to fly through Madrid (MAD) and Barcelona (BCN) on November 11, allowing customers who bought tickets by November 6 to rebook their travel between November 8 and November 18 without incurring change fees.
Other major U.S. and European carriers—including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Iberia—have instituted similar flexible rebooking options. All travelers are strongly advised to check their airline’s app for real-time status alerts before heading to the airport.
