November 12, 2026
Spain’s first joint CCOO–UGT general strike in 14 years cancelled 332 flights across the country on November 11, according to airport operator Aena. That was 7.33% of the 4,529 flights scheduled. Rail service was cut more sharply. A separate train drivers’ strike planned for November 12 has been moved to November 23, and another rail strike remains set for November 17.
How November 11 went
| Mode | Impact |
|---|---|
| Flights | 332 cancelled of 4,529 scheduled (7.33%) by early evening, up from 202 at 8:30 a.m. Airlines had rebooked many passengers in advance. |
| Barcelona-El Prat | 85 cancellations of 734 planned flights in the morning |
| Renfe AVE and long-distance | About 24% of trains cancelled |
| Renfe Cercanías / regional | About 10–12% cancelled |
| Madrid Metro | Running at about 79% in the morning |
Three Iberia flights to Portugal were cancelled on November 11 because of bad weather, not the strike. Demonstrations and reduced public transport also slowed travel in major cities.
Strikes still ahead
| Date | Action | Status |
|---|---|---|
| November 17, 2026 | Nationwide rail strike | Still planned; details TBA |
| November 23, 2026 | SEMAF train drivers’ strike | Moved from November 12 after a government rail-safety decree |
Iberia waivers
- Iberia, Iberia Express and Air Nostrum let November 11 passengers move to a date up to November 26 or take a refund as a voucher or to the original payment method.
- A separate Madrid waiver covers Iberia Group tickets bought by November 10 for travel November 10–12: change to any date up to November 16 or switch to another airport within 300 km.
Spain holds a snap general election on November 29.
What it means for airline travelers
- If you are connecting from Madrid or Barcelona to a train on November 17 or 23, have a flight or bus backup. Rail strikes in Spain hit high-speed AVE service hardest.
- Passengers from cancelled November 11 flights are being rebooked through November 26, so loads on Iberia and Vueling stay heavy this week. Check loads before you list.
- Iberia’s free-change rules apply to paying passengers; non-rev passes are not covered, so build in an extra day.
Sources
- Russian Tourism News: Spain General Strike Cancels 332 Flights as Nationwide Travel Disruption Grows
- TravelWiseWay: Spain Strike Cancels 332 Flights as Rail Walkout Is Delayed
- Latin Times: Spain Strike Hits Latin America Flights; Iberia Offers Refunds
- Iberia: Latest update of our flights
- TravelTourister: Spain General Strike Live (Nov 11)
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