Barcelona-El Prat: minimum services set for Groundforce handling strike until 30 November 2026

Spain's Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has set minimum services for the open-ended strike by ground-handling staff of Groundforce BCN 2023 UTE at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat airport, covering 1 October to 30 November 2026. The resolution, signed by the Secretary of State for Transport on 28 September, applies to a strike called by the CGT union that began on 4 August 2026 with no end date.

Emergency flights and Interior Ministry flights are fully protected. For domestic flights to and from non-peninsular territories, and for public service obligation routes, 77% of scheduled flights must be protected in both October and November. For international flights and peninsular routes where ground transport takes five hours or more, the share is 57% in October and 55% in November, and for shorter peninsular routes it is 36% and 34%.

The company reports 1,214 workers at the Barcelona airport, and the resolution leaves it to the company to designate the staff needed to meet the minimum services. Because ground handling covers tasks such as baggage and aircraft turnaround, passengers whose flights are handled by Groundforce may be affected while the strike continues.

The resolution does not list the airlines or flights handled by Groundforce, nor which individual flights could be delayed or cancelled. Passengers departing from or arriving in Barcelona should check their flight status with their airline before going to the airport.