Spain Extends Temporary Border Checks on Arrivals from Italy Until 22 October
Spain prolongs border checks on air and sea arrivals from Italy until 22 October 2026
Airport ground-handling strikes continue to snarl Spanish travel on 7 October 2026
Latest News
Spanish Unions Call 11 November General Strike, Raising Mobility and Travel Concerns
Spain’s UGT and CCOO unions have called a nationwide general strike for 11 November 2026 in protest over housing costs, their first joint action since 2012. Transport, public administration and logistics services are expected to be hit, posing significant disruption risks for international business travellers and assignees. Corporate mobility teams should review November travel and relocation plans, arrange flexible tickets and brief employees on contingency measures.
New Spanish Visa Application Centre launches in Havana to ease backlog
A Spanish Visa Application Centre opened in Havana on 6 October 2026 to handle Schengen and, soon, national visa submissions, relieving chronic appointment shortages at Spain’s consulate. The move should speed up travel plans for Cuban students, tourists and workers heading to Spain and simplify document handling for employers.
Mid-October Leeds Bradford Airport Strike Threatens Flights to Mallorca and Other Spanish Destinations
Unite union members at Leeds Bradford Airport will strike from 16–18 October 2026, threatening to ground flights to Mallorca, Málaga and other Spanish holiday hotspots at the start of the UK half-term break. Spanish tourism operators fear lost revenue, while business travellers may need to reroute via alternative UK airports. Companies should monitor airline advisories and secure flexible tickets.
Spanish Visa Backlog in the UK Grows as BLS Manchester Quotes 6-8 Week Processing Times
A Visarun report dated 6 October 2026 reveals that BLS Manchester now cites 6–8-week turnaround times for Spanish Schengen visas, far longer than EU standards. Applicants report cancelled trips and pending files, forcing UK businesses to start visa processes months in advance. The delays risk derailing short-notice assignments and increasing travel-planning costs.
New guidance clarifies how foreign residents can shift to Spain’s ‘cuenta ajena’ work permit in 2026
Relotus Relocation’s 7 Oct 2026 guidance details the three legal routes that allow foreign residents already in Spain to convert to the standard employee work-permit (‘cuenta ajena’) status. The update helps employers understand timelines, salary thresholds and documentation hurdles when regularising in-country talent.
Spain opens new Havana visa application centre to tackle consular backlog
As of 5 October 2026 Spain is outsourcing most visa lodgements in Cuba to a newly opened Visa Application Centre in Havana. The €17 service fee buys larger premises, more appointment slots and, officials say, faster turnaround—welcome news for companies, universities and Cubans with Spanish roots who have faced months-long waits. Decision-making stays with the consulate, but biometrics and document intake move to the VAC, modernising Spain’s busiest Latin-American consular post.
Barcelona–El Prat ground-handling strike drags into ninth week despite new minimum-service order
CGT’s indefinite strike at Barcelona–El Prat’s Groundforce unit shows no sign of ending. A new government decree obliges the company to operate up to 77 % of island flights and at least one-third of domestic services through 30 November, but unprotected flights remain vulnerable to cancellation and baggage delays. Business travellers should build contingency time into itineraries and track airline alerts closely.
Vueling restores Barcelona–Madrid shuttle with ten weekly flights targeting corporate demand
Vueling has resumed flights between Barcelona and Madrid, operating ten weekly services from 5 October and increasing to twelve later in the month. The schedule is tailored to day-return business travellers and positions the airline to regain share on Spain’s most lucrative domestic corridor, adding flexibility when rail capacity is tight or disrupted.