Strike Threat at Palma Airport Risks Delays This Summer

Travelers heading to Mallorca this summer face potential disruption after staff providing assistance to passengers with reduced mobility at Palma Airport (PMI) announced indefinite industrial action beginning May 25, 2026.

The strike is staged by PRM (Persons with Reduced Mobility) assistance teams employed by contracted service provider Adelte. What began as a planned single-day walkout has escalated to rolling daily stoppages, with full 24-hour strikes every Saturday — the airport's busiest day for flight turnarounds.

Workers and their unions cite chronic understaffing driven by over-reliance on part-time and zero-hours contracts, severe work-life balance issues, and more than 8,000 emergency shift extensions issued last year, often with less than 24 hours' notice. The dispute intensified this week after management issued an internal memo banning all staff shift swaps, a move unions condemned as an illegal attempt to undermine the constitutional right to strike.

The action will primarily affect elderly, disabled, and injured passengers who rely on wheelchair assistance, terminal guiding, and dedicated boarding support. Staff warn that previous shortages have already left some arriving passengers stranded on aircraft or waiting for hours in baggage reclaim, with conditions expected to worsen during active strike windows. Knock-on departure delays for standard flights are also possible.

Passengers with pre-booked special assistance on flights to or from Palma from May 25 onwards are advised to contact their airline directly, allow extra time at the airport — especially on Saturdays — and monitor updates on minimum service levels. Spain's Ministry of Transport is expected to legally mandate a minimum percentage of staff remain on duty, which may limit the impact on international services.