Airport operations across Spain face fresh scrutiny after the Alternativa Sindical Aena/Enaire (ASAE) – the largest union representing ramp and platform staff – issued a blistering communiqué on 12 March 2026 accusing airport operator AENA and the state aviation-safety agency (AESA) of turning a blind eye to deteriorating working conditions. According to ASAE, the drive to outsource ground-handling and the seasonal hiring of poorly trained temporary workers has left critical ramp areas short-staffed and equipment poorly maintained. The union cites a spike in near-miss incidents at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife Sur and Alicante, warning that “economic pressure is being placed above passenger safety.” The allegations arrive just four weeks before the EU Entry/Exit System becomes mandatory, a change that will already stretch border-control resources during the busy Easter travel period. Business-travel managers moving staff through Spain should therefore anticipate longer turnaround times, potential baggage delays and ad-hoc safety inspections that could disrupt tight flight connections. AENA responded that incident rates remain within European norms and pointed to its €2.9 billion cap-ex safety-upgrade plan, but conceded that recruiting and training qualified handlers is “challenging in a full-employment labour market.” AESA said it would open an extraordinary audit of driving-permit procedures for air-side vehicles. If the audit confirms systemic shortcomings, carriers could face higher safety surcharges or mandatory ground-time extensions – both of which would raise costs for corporate travel programmes. Mobility teams should brief travellers on potential operational delays and evaluate flexible ticketing options for flights connecting through Barajas, Spain’s primary long-haul hub.
Source: Canarias-Semanal
