Ryanair passengers told to 'check' ahead of strikes at multiple major airports

With just a week left before strikes hit 12 Spanish airports, British holidaymakers are being advised to review their insurance policies in anticipation of potential delays, cancellations, or even being stranded overseas. More than 3,000 Azul Handling baggage handlers, who service Ryanair flights, are set to strike at some of Spain's busiest airports starting from August 15, as highlighted by experts at Forum Insurance.

The airports facing disruption include Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Alicante, Ibiza, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife South, Girona, Lanzarote, and Santiago de Compostela. The industrial action is planned for August 15, 16 and 17 during the peak hours of 5am to 9am, 12pm to 3pm, and 9pm to 11.59pm.

The strikes are expected to carry on every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday throughout the remainder of the year. The union has cited poor working conditions and breaches of labour rights as the reasons behind the strikes.

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This comes at a time when many Brits are jetting off for their summer holidays, potentially impacting thousands of travellers.

José Manuel Pérez Grande, federal secretary of the FeSMC-UGT air union, said: "Azul Handling maintains a strategy of precariousness and pressure on the workforce that violates basic labour rights and systematically ignores union demands."

A Ryanair spokesperson downplayed concerns: "Ryanair does not expect any disruption to our operation as a result of these third-party handling strikes in Spain."

Advice for travellers affected by Spanish airport strikes

Niraj Mamtora, director at Forum Insurance, has issued a stark warning to travellers: "Standard travel insurance policies often exclude airspace disruptions, so you should never assume that you're covered for events like strikes, airport closures or air traffic control outages. To protect yourself, look for a policy that offers 'travel disruption' or 'airspace closure' as an optional extra or higher-tier feature.

"Travel disruption insurance can cover you if your flight is cancelled or delayed due to strikes or airspace closures, and may reimburse you for unused travel and accommodation, enforced stays abroad, or extra expenses if you're stranded and no suitable alternative transport is available for more than 24 hours.

"Even when the disruption is caused by ground staff, such as baggage handlers, it can still affect flights and fall under certain travel disruption or airspace closure clauses, depending on the policy wording.

"Always check your policy wording carefully. Some insurers require that the disruption be unexpected and not known at the time you book or buy your policy. If you travel against official advice, or if the event was foreseeable, you may not be covered."

Already booked but unsure if you're covered?

Niraj advised: "First, check your existing policy documents carefully. Some standard travel insurance plans may offer limited protection for delays or missed departures, even if they don't specifically mention airspace closure. Look for sections on 'travel disruption' or 'missed departure' to see if any cover applies.

"If your policy doesn't include this, contact your airline or travel provider directly. Airlines are often obliged to offer rebooking, refunds, or care such as meals and accommodation. Package holiday providers may also be responsible for rearranging your travel or offering compensation.

"For future trips, consider adding 'travel disruption' or 'airspace closure' cover as an optional extra. It's a small investment that can save you significant stress and cost if the unexpected happens again."

Essential advice for travellers

Niraj has also imparted further guidance for those jetting off to Spain later this month:

• Scrutinise your policy documents immediately. Even if you believe you're insured, the specifics, exclusions, and conditions are crucial.
• If your holiday or insurance was recently purchased, bear in mind that insurers might not cover disruptions already known when you booked. Verify if the strike is considered a 'known event' in your policy.
• Get in touch with your airline or tour operator promptly if your flight coincides with the strike dates. Many companies have contingency strategies, but it's essential to take swift action.
• Hold on to any receipts for extra costs incurred due to delays – they could be crucial if you decide to claim compensation.
• If possible, try to arrange your travel plans around the anticipated strike periods to minimise inconvenience.
• Should your flight be delayed and you miss a subsequent connection or a pre-booked transfer, you might only be eligible for coverage if your insurance policy includes missed connection or onward travel clauses. It's always wise to scrutinise the small print.

Niraj said: "Travel disruption cover usually doesn't allow you to cancel your holiday just because of expected delays. Claims are typically only accepted for specific costs you've incurred due to confirmed disruption."