Holidaymakers heading through Spain’s airports this weekend have been handed a last-minute reprieve after unions suspended planned strike action in the country’s air handling sector.

The walkouts, which threatened to disrupt flights at the start of the busy Semana Santa getaway, have been called off – for now – at ground handling giants Groundforce and Menzies.

Union sources from UGT confirmed that Friday’s strike at Groundforce and the first two strike days planned by Menzies this weekend have been suspended, easing immediate fears of delays, cancellations and airport chaos.

The strikes had been triggered by a bitter row over pay, with unions demanding updated salary tables linked to inflation in order to protect workers’ purchasing power.

Despite the temporary truce, further disruption is looming.

Groundforce, part of the Globalia group, is still planning an indefinite strike starting Monday, March 30, which will hit 12 major airports across Spain – including Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Alicante and Palma de Mallorca.

Workers are set to walk out in three daily time slots – early morning, midday and late evening – in a move designed to maximise disruption during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

Meanwhile, Menzies – another key player in Spain’s airport operations – had scheduled multiple 24-hour strikes between late March and early April affecting around 3,000 workers.

While this weekend’s action has been paused, the rest of the strike calendar remains on the table pending negotiations.

Union insiders have already warned that if no agreement is reached, strikes could escalate dramatically, including potential walkouts every weekend until the end of the year.

Both companies play a critical role in Spain’s aviation system, handling everything from baggage to aircraft turnaround at the country’s busiest tourist hubs.

That means any disruption would ripple quickly through the entire travel network, especially during peak periods like Easter.

For now, flights are operating as normal.