Barcelona-El Prat Airport strike by Groundforce staff threatens flight delays

The CGT union has called an indefinite strike of Groundforce handling workers at Barcelona‑El Prat Airport, beginning at 00:00 on 4 August 2026. The action involves about 1,179 employees and follows accusations of excessive workloads and insufficient training.

Groundforce, a subsidiary of Globalia, provides check‑in, baggage and ramp services for dozens of airlines, including Air Europa, Lufthansa, KLM, Qatar Airways, Air France and Turkish Airlines. The strike coincides with the peak summer travel period, raising the risk of significant delays and queues at the airport’s terminals.

The Spanish Ministry of Transport has defined minimum service levels to protect emergency flights, non‑peninsular domestic routes, and a portion of international and short‑haul flights. Aena has not issued an official statement, while airlines are advised to monitor flight status closely.