Airline & airport strikes: August-September 2026

Aug 18 2026 Travel trends

Travelling in Europe in August or September 2026? Several airline and airport strikes have already been announced, with passengers potentially facing delays, cancellations and baggage disruption.

Here are the confirmed strike dates currently known.

August 2026 airline and airport strikes

Madrid-Barajas Airport, Spain

Maintenance workers responsible for the SATE automated baggage-handling system at Madrid-Barajas Airport are scheduled to hold partial strikes on:

Thursday, 20 August

Friday, 21 August

Sunday, 23 August

Thursday, 27 August

Friday, 28 August

Sunday, 30 August

The stoppages take place from 05:00–07:00 and 13:00–15:00. Minimum services of 50% have been ordered, but baggage delays remain possible.

Earlier SATE strike dates in August included 2, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14 and 16 August.

15–16 August – easyJet strike in France

easyJet cabin crew based in France went on strike on 15 and 16 August 2026 following a dispute over working conditions and schedules.

Flights from airports including Paris, Nice, Lyon and Bordeaux were affected. Although unions have filed a wider strike notice until 2 September, no additional walkout dates have yet been confirmed.

1, 4 and 8 August – Palma de Mallorca Airport, Spain

Swissport ground-handling employees at Palma de Mallorca Airport held strike action on 1, 4 and 8 August, with stoppages between 07:00–12:00 and 19:00–22:00.

Swissport provides ground services for airlines including Condor, Air Canada and Etihad Airways.

September 2026 airline and airport strikes

3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 13, 17, 18, 20, 24, 25 and 27 September – Madrid-Barajas Airport

The SATE baggage-system strike at Madrid-Barajas is scheduled to continue on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays during September.

The confirmed dates are:

3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 13, 17, 18, 20, 24, 25 and 27 September 2026.

The partial stoppages are scheduled for 05:00–07:00 and 13:00–15:00.

13 September – Rome Fiumicino and Ciampino Airports, Italy

ADR Security employees at Rome Fiumicino and Rome Ciampino airports are scheduled to strike for 24 hours on 13 September, from 00:00 to 24:00.

The action could result in longer security queues and possible knock-on flight delays.

30 September – Air traffic control strike across Italy

ENAV air traffic control employees are scheduled to strike across Italy on 30 September from 13:00 to 17:00.

Techno Sky employees are also scheduled to strike during the same period. As the action involves air navigation services, flights to, from and within Italy could face delays or cancellations.

What if your flight is affected by a strike?

A strike does not automatically mean your flight will be cancelled. Passengers should check their flight status directly with their airline before travelling.

If your flight is cancelled or arrives more than three hours late, your eligibility for compensation can depend on who is striking. Strikes by an airline's own employees may qualify for compensation under EC 261, while strikes involving external airport staff or air traffic controllers are more likely to be considered extraordinary circumstances.

Even when compensation is not payable, passengers may still have rights to rerouting, reimbursement, meals and accommodation.

How MYFLYRIGHT can help

If your flight is delayed or cancelled because of a strike, MYFLYRIGHT can help you check whether you may be entitled to compensation under European passenger rights rules. We assess the circumstances of your disruption, determine whether the airline may be responsible and, if your claim is eligible, help you pursue the compensation you are entitled to.