Warning issued for Irish travellers as Easter strikes hit holiday hotspots

Warnings have been issued

Ground staff and baggage handlers are striking, with walkouts scheduled over the weekend and again later in the week.

The affected airports include some of the most popular holiday hotspots for Irish travellers, particularly in Spain.

An estimated 3,000 workers will stop working across a 5 am to 7 am period, an 11 am to 5 pm period and a 10 pm to midnight period, per Extra.ie.

Spain’s three biggest unions have confirmed the strikes, deliberately timing them over the Easter break to hit their parent company, Air Europa, hardest.

The strikes follow an ongoing dispute over pay and job security, with further strike action already being considered during the summer break.

The affected airports are Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat, Alicante, Valencia, Málaga, Bilbao, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Las Palmas, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

Following the weekend strikes, additional action is planned for Thursday, April 2, and Monday, April 6.

Although not all airport staff are participating in the strikes, passengers can still expect likely delays to and from affected airports.

So, if you have a trip planned to the affected areas in the coming week, it is advisable to travel with hand luggage only where possible, as this may help in case any issues arise at the Spanish baggage carousels.

Passengers are also being advised to keep an eye out for the latest advice issued by their airlines, as well as the latest information on flights and departures from airports in Cork, Shannon and Dublin.

It comes as parts of the Canary Islands face a weather warning ahead of an approaching Calima episode. The phenomenon occurs when strong winds carry Saharan sand and dust across the Atlantic to the islands.

The weather event is expected to run until Wednesday, according to the state meteorological agency AEMET.