MADRID, Nov. 10, 2026 — Flights to, from and within Spain will be cut on Wednesday, Nov. 11, when a 24-hour nationwide general strike hits the country. Iberia is letting customers move their trips for free, and several foreign airlines have issued waivers of their own.
The strike
Spain’s two largest unions, CCOO and UGT, joined by CGT and CNT, called the walkout over wages, housing and the cost of living. It falls ahead of Spain’s Nov. 29 general election. Spain’s Transport Ministry has set minimum air services that guarantee between 18% and 85% of flights, depending on the type of route:
| Route type | Minimum flights guaranteed |
|---|---|
| Islands, Ceuta/Melilla and public-service-obligation routes | 56%–85% (Canaries 56%–74%, Balearics 68%–75%) |
| International, and mainland routes where the rail/road alternative takes 5+ hours | 39%–64% |
| Mainland routes with an alternative under 5 hours | 18%–37% |
Travel Trade Journal lists airport-level minimums of 57% international, 32% domestic and 78% island flights at Madrid, and 56%, 34% and 79% at Barcelona. Rail services are also expected to be disrupted. The published summaries do not fully agree on how international flights are treated, so check each flight’s status directly. Cancellation totals from the airlines had not been published as of this writing (TBA).
What the airlines are offering
- Iberia Group (Iberia, Iberia Express and franchise partner Air Nostrum): a free change to another flight up to Nov. 26, or a refund.
- Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Discover): one free rebooking or a refund, for flights that have already been cancelled.
- American Airlines: a fee waiver for Madrid and Barcelona travel.
What it means for non-revs
- Avoid Nov. 11 for any travel to, from or within Spain. Short mainland routes such as Madrid–Barcelona could run as few as 18% of flights.
- Expect Nov. 11 and Nov. 12 flights to be full with rebooked passengers, which leaves little room on standby lists. Wait until Nov. 13 or later if you can.
- If you must travel, island and long international flights keep the highest guaranteed minimums, but rebooked passengers will fill those seats first.
- Rail is also affected, so don’t count on a train to get you home if a flight is cancelled.
Sources
- ElNacional.cat: Estos son los servicios mínimos para el transporte aéreo durante la huelga del 11N
- Travel Trade Journal: Spain faces nationwide general strike on November 11; flights and rail services to be disrupted
- Travel And Tour World: Spain’s November 11 Strike Shakes Up Travel as Iberia Offers Refunds and American Airlines Waives Fees
- Lufthansa Group: Flight disruptions due to a nationwide general strike in Spain on 11 November 2026
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