Security workers checking carry-on luggage at Barcelona’s airport began partial strikes on Friday, threatening more queuing chaos for passengers at one of Europe’s most popular airports. Spain’s airport authority, AENA, said that during the first of four strike hours, passengers had to queue for 40 minutes to get through the security filter but that it dropped to 20 minutes when the stoppage ended. Barcelona-based newspaper La Vanguardia reported queues of more than an hour long at what is the beginning of one of Spain’s peak summer holiday weekends. Passengers flying from Barcelona have been suffering delays of several hours to reach the boarding area in recent weeks because of the dispute, which centers on demands for more staff and better salaries. The workers plan an indefinite strike as of Aug. 14 if their demands are not accepted.
The association of Spanish airline companies, ACETA, said more than 1,000 people have missed their flights since July 24 because of the dispute. Barcelona’s airport, like others in Europe, was also affected by major delays in police passport controls following new European Union regulations several weeks ago. Marti Serrate, president of Spain’s travel agency association Acave, said “people are terrified,” of missing their flights. “We urge them to go to the airport at least four hours early so as not to get a nasty surprise,” he said, adding that “this shouldn’t have to be tolerated in 2017.”
