Iberia has issued an operational alert warning that a strike called by South Europe Ground Services (SEGS) will affect Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport on 26 December, with further stoppages planned for 30 December and 2 & 7 January 2026. The walk-outs run from 08:00–12:00 and 18:00–22:00, targeting check-in, baggage handling and aircraft turnaround at Spain’s busiest hub.
Although the Ministry of Transport has imposed minimum-service levels of 77 % for domestic and 56 % for longer-haul flights, Iberia, Iberia Express and Air Nostrum have warned passengers to expect delays and mis-connected bags. Travellers who purchased tickets before 20 December can rebook free of charge until 15 January 2026, while agency-issued tickets must be changed through the original agent.
Should itinerary adjustments or last-minute rerouting force passengers to update Schengen or transit paperwork, VisaHQ can help smooth the process: its Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) lets individuals and corporate travel teams check entry rules, upload documents and arrange courier collection in one streamlined workflow—valuable time saved while airlines shuffle strike-hit schedules.
![Ground-Handling Strike at Madrid-Barajas Set to Disrupt Flights on 26 December]()
The industrial action stems from stalled pay talks and concerns over staff ratios during the peak holiday period. SEGS handles the IAG group as well as several Asian and Latin-American carriers, meaning that knock-on effects could ripple across OneWorld’s European network. Companies with tight meeting schedules in Madrid are being advised to add buffer time or route travellers through Barcelona or Valencia where feasible.
Tax and immigration advisers also remind employers that EU Posted-Worker notifications remain tied to the original travel plan; any diversion via France or Portugal may require duplicate filings. Meanwhile, air-cargo operators using Barajas’ sprawling freight area are bracing for late-night cut-off extensions that could hit perishable shipments bound for Latin America.
At publication time Iberia had not cancelled any services, but the airline admitted that on-the-day protective cancellations remain a last-resort option if staff shortages bite. Mobility managers should therefore maintain real-time monitoring and proactively contact assignees transiting Madrid over the next fortnight.
Although the Ministry of Transport has imposed minimum-service levels of 77 % for domestic and 56 % for longer-haul flights, Iberia, Iberia Express and Air Nostrum have warned passengers to expect delays and mis-connected bags. Travellers who purchased tickets before 20 December can rebook free of charge until 15 January 2026, while agency-issued tickets must be changed through the original agent.
Should itinerary adjustments or last-minute rerouting force passengers to update Schengen or transit paperwork, VisaHQ can help smooth the process: its Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) lets individuals and corporate travel teams check entry rules, upload documents and arrange courier collection in one streamlined workflow—valuable time saved while airlines shuffle strike-hit schedules.
The industrial action stems from stalled pay talks and concerns over staff ratios during the peak holiday period. SEGS handles the IAG group as well as several Asian and Latin-American carriers, meaning that knock-on effects could ripple across OneWorld’s European network. Companies with tight meeting schedules in Madrid are being advised to add buffer time or route travellers through Barcelona or Valencia where feasible.
Tax and immigration advisers also remind employers that EU Posted-Worker notifications remain tied to the original travel plan; any diversion via France or Portugal may require duplicate filings. Meanwhile, air-cargo operators using Barajas’ sprawling freight area are bracing for late-night cut-off extensions that could hit perishable shipments bound for Latin America.
At publication time Iberia had not cancelled any services, but the airline admitted that on-the-day protective cancellations remain a last-resort option if staff shortages bite. Mobility managers should therefore maintain real-time monitoring and proactively contact assignees transiting Madrid over the next fortnight.
