Strike by Ryanair Ground Staff: Why Palma Airport Has Remained Calm So Far — and What That May Hide

Why was the strike so little felt at Palma airport?

The first of several announced strike days by Ryanair ground staff left a surprisingly normal scene at Terminal A in the afternoon: around 2:30 p.m. the sun shimmered over the forecourt, it smelled of strong coffee and sunscreen, and the usual boarding announcements blared from the speakers. Travelers in flip‑flops strolled past open check‑in desks, luggage trolleys clattered, and the apron looked operational — as if nothing unusual had happened.

The central question

Why do the walkouts apparently not reach the passengers — and what does that mean for the strength of the union's position? At first glance the answer seems technocratic: airlines and airports have built buffers in recent years, organized diversions and arranged work schedules to cover peak times. But underneath lie problems that are rarely examined enough in public debate.

How the strikes are organized — and why that looks tactical

The union called for short, recurring walkouts in three daily windows (5:00–9:00, 12:00–15:00, 21:00–24:00). These "peak strikes" are meant to create maximum effect without risking a continuous, general strike. At the same time the handling company that services EasyJet flights also registered employees for actions — a development that makes the situation more confusing and shows how extensive the ground structures are.

What is rarely reported

1) Subcontractors and temporary work: Many ground tasks are no longer performed by a permanent workforce, but through subcontractors or temporary staff. That creates flexibility — but also a gap in labor law: who strikes when teams are swapped at short notice?

2) Reallocation of staff: Airlines shift staff between shifts, use reserve teams or bring colleagues in from less affected bases. That softens immediate consequences for passengers, but shifts the burden onto other teams and can lower morale.

3) Scheduling windows as a tactic: The clear strike windows allow airports and airlines to buffer selectively. Short‑term changes to duty rosters — as UGT complains — could, however, undermine the right to strike if employers reorganize staff so that stoppages lose their effect.

UGT's accusations — and the employers' response

The union criticizes that those responsible tried to change duty rosters to neutralize the actions' effect. Employers speak of "operational constraints" and planned reallocations and deny serious allegations. From Mallorca's perspective the explosive question remains: what happens behind the scenes when the interest in smooth operations meets the right to collective action?

Risks behind the calm

The current visible calm should not be reassuring. In the short term passengers escape largely unscathed, but this flexibility has its price: it shifts burdens, makes workforces interchangeable and can lead to worse working conditions in the long term. For the island economy this is a dilemma — the tourist system needs reliability, while many employees desire fair working conditions.

Concrete approaches that are often overlooked

If public debate should not only celebrate buffers and punctuality, tangible solutions are needed:

Transparency in duty rosters: Binding deadlines for changes so that the right to strike is not undermined by last‑minute reorganizations.

Regulated reserve pools: State‑controlled, fairly paid reserve staff who cushion short‑term absences — without undermining the rights of strikers.

Better communication for travelers: A unified, up‑to‑date information system at Palma airport that shows not only airlines but also handling changes in real time.

Strengthening negotiation spaces: Mediation offers through labor authorities so that conflicts do not degenerate into tactics and countermeasures.

What travelers can do now

For the coming days it is advisable to: check flight status shortly before departure, allow plenty of time and be especially vigilant for evening flights — after 9:00 p.m. staffing may be thinner. On site: remain polite. Airport staff, union members and travelers today share a common interest: as little chaos as possible.

The calm at the terminal is therefore not proof of composure, but rather an indication of a system that swallows disruptions — until it can no longer do so. The upcoming strike days will show whether compromises or escalation are taking place behind the scenes.