Is Palma Airport Facing Strikes?
Wednesday, March 27th, 2024
Usually, this is a question that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”. Not so in this case.
What’s the current situation?
Over the last few days, passengers at Palma Airport have on several occasions been experiencing long delays when going through security control and some have not been able to reach the gate in time for their flight. Due to this, several airlines have started to issue warnings to their passengers, advising them to arrive at the airport at least three hours in advance of their scheduled flight time to avoid missing the plane’s departure.
What are the reasons for the delays?
There is plenty of speculation as to the reasons for the delays. Several sources have reported these to be due to unannounced strikes by security personnel employed by the security company Trablisa, so-called “work-to-rule” or “go-slow” strikes. Reports from the workers’ committee at Palma Airport highlight concerns about staffing shortages, demands imposed by the airport operator on training, and recent alterations introduced by Spain’s Aviation Safety and Security Agency concerning this training.
Trablisa on the other hand, has refuted any allegations of strike action and has instead expressed concerns regarding the “inadequate resources and planning” in place to manage peak demand over the busy Easter period. Trablisa’s denial is not surprising as, given the absence of formal announcements, any strike would be deemed unlawful.
What is the advice for travellers?
Regardless of the situation, passengers travelling via Palma Airport in the coming days or weeks are advised to prepare accordingly.
Your journey through the airport
- Make sure to arrive at the airport in good time.
- Check your airline’s recommendations before going to the airport and adhere to their advice.
- Some airlines are extending check-in desk hours to facilitate earlier luggage drop-off, so you can make your way through security control earlier than normally possible.
Your hand luggage
Think about the items you are taking through security control and keep your hand luggage to a minimum. Palma Airport has not yet introduced the new CT scanners. Therefore, you will still need to remove all liquids and electronic devices from your bags, to allow these to be scanned separately. This can slow down proceedings, so the less you bring with you, the better.
