Nationwide Strike in Spain Today, Impacting Flights & Rail Services
by Michael Pihach
Barcelona International Airport. Photo: Sorbis / Shutterstock.com
Travellers in Spain could face disruptions Wednesday (Nov. 11), as a nationwide 24-hour general strike threatens to impact flights, rail services and public transportation across the country.
Spain’s two largest trade unions, UGT and CCOO, have jointly backed the walkout, which is being organized in response to housing-related concerns.
The action marks the first general strike jointly supported by the two unions in 14 years.
Airlines Warn of Cancellations & Delays
Lufthansa Group has warned passengers that the industrial action could disrupt flights to and from Spain, with cancellations and delays possible across its network.
“The strike is expected to have an impact on the Lufthansa Group airlines’ flight schedule to and from Spain. Flight cancellations and delays must be expected. We ask passengers to check the status of their flight before setting out on their journey,” the airline group said, as cited in The Independent.
Passengers affected by cancellations on Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings and Discover Airlines can rebook their flights once, free of charge, or request a refund.
Although specific aviation-sector walkouts have not been confirmed, previous general strikes in Spain have involved airport ground handlers, air traffic controllers and airline cabin crews.
Some major U.S. airlines have also issued 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.
Rail & Public Transit Disruptions Expected
Travellers relying on Spain’s extensive rail network could also face significant challenges.
Local reports warn of potential disruptions to Renfe services, including high-speed AVE trains, as well as metro systems and local bus networks.
Major cities, including Madrid and Barcelona, could see demonstrations, potentially resulting in street closures, traffic congestion and delays to ground transportation.
