AIRPORTS across Europe are bracing for travel chaos as workers prepare for a fresh wave of strikes.
The walkouts are expected to leave thousands of US travelers facing delays and cancellations during peak summer travel.
EasyJet plans to keep flights running with reduced services due to Spanish laws (stock image)[/caption]
Spain, Belgium, France, Italy, and Greece are among the countries hit by the latest industrial action.
In Spain, over 650 EasyJet cabin crew based in tourist hotspots like Barcelona, Alicante, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca are set to strike from June 25 to June 27.
The airline said the strike aims to “level the crews’ working and wage conditions in Spain with ones at other bases of the company in Europe.”
EasyJet plans to keep flights running with reduced services due to Spanish laws that require a minimum service level during strikes, Time Out reported.
Still, passengers flying in or out of Spain on those dates should expect delays or changes.
Belgium’s airports are also in the firing line, with national strikes already impacting around 180,000 passengers this year.
The next strike was scheduled for June 25, just 75,000 people are expected to pass through Brussels Airport.
The protests are aimed at the Belgian government’s budget cuts and have caused major disruptions for months.
Passengers have been warned to check with their airlines for last-minute updates.
Strikes have also hit airports in France, Italy, and Greece in recent weeks, causing widespread delays and cancellations.
Travelers impacted by airline strikes may be eligible for compensation, depending on the airline’s policy and travel insurance coverage.
But those who book flights knowing in advance about scheduled strikes are unlikely to get refunds.
Unions often use strike threats as leverage in negotiations, so there’s always a chance they could be called off.
But that risk hasn’t eased nerves as thousands prepare for summer vacations.
Travel anxiety high as Americans say trips feel unsafe: study
A new study has found a majority of Americans feel “plagued” by nerves and anxiety by the mere thought of international travel.
In the past year, the poll of 2,000 U.S. travelers, conducted by Talker Research, found 94% have traveled domestically, and 28% have traveled internationally.
Fears of traveling abroad have increased for both groups — 30% of domestic travelers feel nervous about international travel, while 20% of travelers with international experience also feel nervous about doing it again.
And while 88% said they already have plans to travel in the next 12 months, four in 10 are starting to get cold feet over their next vacation due to how “unsafe” they think traveling will be.
Travel-related anxieties stemmed from potential travel delays and cancellations (42%), means of travel (40%), current government policies (40%) and current perceptions about American tourists (39%).
Others cited fears over the possibility of getting hurt while traveling (31%), not knowing much about their destination (27%), having traveled to unsafe locations in the past (16%) and having bad past travel experiences (15%).
A secondary study of 1,500 U.S. travelers conducted by AXA Assistance revealed people mostly travel to visit family (34%), go on summer vacations (34%) or escape for weekend getaways (32%).
Nearly all (95%) said safety was undoubtedly important to them. Some shared the more specific reasons safety is front of mind for them while abroad.
“Traveling should be something people can really enjoy and be able to relax. But for many, that’s not always the case,” said Stephen Samataro, chief revenue officer at AXA Assistance.
“The anxieties people feel are justified and reasonable. That’s why safety is so critical for people — people want the reassurance that they can worry less when they’re on vacation and focus more on their adventures.”
Meanwhile, a roof collapse at Majorca’s Son Sant Joan Airport added to the airport chaos.
The incident sparked panic among travelers after glass and debris came crashing down in the arrival hall.
Shattered vending machines and broken tiles littered the floor as staff rushed to calm terrified passengers.
“No one was seriously injured,” according to local reports, in what airport workers described as a “miracle.”
AENA, Spain’s airport authority, said the collapse happened when a piece of debris fell and tore through the roof.
Officials cordoned off the area and launched an investigation into the cause.
The same airport had a similar scare in January when a panel crashed to the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.
At the time, workers said the dust made it hard to breathe and caused people to slip on the floor.
“Passengers had to put masks on because of the air contamination,” one told Diario de Mallorca.
The fresh airport incident came just weeks after anti-tourism protests swept across Spain.
In Palma, Majorca’s capital, protesters blocked buses and unfurled banners demanding an end to mass tourism.
The group ‘Menys Turisme, Més Vida’ – meaning “Less Tourism, More Life” – said they were “ready to break the tourism status quo.”
Locals have blamed mass tourism for soaring rents, traffic chaos, pollution and low wages.
