Some 3,000 pieces of luggage have been unretrieved and up to 170 flights have been cancelled as the indefinite strike by ground staff at Barcelona airport continues into its second week, with no end in sight yet.
The indefinite strike by Groundforce workers at El Prat Josep Tarradellas Airport (BCN) has continued to cause disruption for travellers in its second week.
Some 3,000 pieces of luggage remain held at the airport facilities, and between 150 and 170 flights have been cancelled so far, airport officials have announced.
According to reports in the Catalan press, retrieving luggage has become a real ordeal for passengers of the more than twenty airlines served by Groundforce, a company that handles passenger check-in, boarding, luggage and flight coordination at numerous airports in Spain.
Waits at baggage claim counters are exceeding five hours to locate suitcases, in the best-case scenario.
Another 18 flights were cancelled on Thursday 13th alone, with the Lufthansa group being one of the hardest hit.
@vueling @aena Cola kilométrica para reclamar vuelos cancelados en Barcelona El Prat, sin aire, todos sudados y SIN RESPUESTAS ni INFORMACIÓN. Vergüenza. Esperando el vuelo desde las 16:00 y al subirnos al avión a las 21:00 se cancela. pic.twitter.com/STEGzgjv49
— uriilol (@oriol48200485) August 12, 2026
The high occupancy rates of flights in August has also made it difficult for holidaymakers with cancelled flights to be offered alternative seats on other flights.
The effects of the stoppage, which began on Tuesday August 4th, were further worsened by a power outage at the control tower on August 12th, leading to even more delays and disruptions.
These setbacks have coincided with the total solar eclipse in Spain, which made El Prat airport even busier than usual during the peak summer season.
Barcelona’s main airport handled 5.87 million passengers in July, 6 percent more than the previous year, and managed 35,886 operations, a 6.6 percent increase, according to the latest data from Spanish airport operator Aena.
Workers at Groundforce, who number 1,179 at Spain’s second busiest airport, cite poor working conditions, physical fatigue, stress, unpaid overtime and insufficient rest periods as the reasons for holding the strike.
Unfortunately, negotiations that could put an end to the strike don’t appear to be getting very far.
“The company management still refuses to sit down to negotiate. The last time was on July 24th, and we don’t understand the situation. We’re not asking for money, but for issues that affect our safety and health,” Juan Navarro, a member of the CGT union at Groundforce, told Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia.
“Since the company’s management changed here in Barcelona a couple of years ago, the number of stress-related absences has doubled,” Navarro said in relation to Groundforce’s working conditions.
According to union sources, Lufthansa sent one of its top executives to Barcelona this week to address the situation, although so far this move has not resolved the conflict.
Groundforce employees serve international and domestic airlines operating in both terminals of Barcelona airport, including Air Europa, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, SAS, Air Arabia, Turkish Airlines, ITA Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Croatia Airlines, United Airlines, Finnair, Asiana Airlines, Saudia Airlines, Air China, Air Transat and Luxair.
Passengers are being advised to check with their airlines ahead of time to ensure their flight is running or to see if there have been any schedule changes.
It’s also advisable to arrive earlier than usual as the strikes may cause several delays. If your flight has been cancelled, you have the right to choose between a full refund or an alternative flight to your destination.
While waiting for your new flight, the airline must provide assistance, as well as food and drink. If your new flight departs the following day or later, accommodation and transportation between the airport and the hotel must also be provided.
Some passengers may also be entitled to financial compensation when a cancellation or delay is due to the strike.
