Strikes & Disruptions · Spain
Spain general strike on 11 November: what it means for flights and trains
Unions have called a 24-hour general strike across Spain on Wednesday 11 November, with Renfe driver strikes on the 10th and 12th. Minimum services aren't set yet. Here's how to plan.
By Roamie News Desk · Published · Updated
Photo: dalbera (Flickr) / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Spain is heading for a 24-hour general strike on Wednesday 11 November 2026, and it lands in the middle of a run of separate rail strikes. Unions CCOO and UGT have called the stoppage over housing costs and wages (Infobae). Flights, trains and city transport are all expected to run on reduced "minimum services", but the exact levels had not been published at the time of writing. If you are flying into, out of or around Spain from 10 to 12 November, plan for disruption.
What we know
- When: the strike runs for 24 hours on 11 November, from 00:00 to 24:00. In workplaces that run on shifts it can begin with the first shift that starts before midnight and end with the last one that runs past midnight (Público).
- Who: CCOO and UGT, Spain's two largest union federations, confirmed the date on 7 October. Other groups, including the CGT and tenants' unions, are backing it (Infobae; Público).
- Why: the unions cite rising rents and housing costs and are asking for higher wages. If it goes ahead, it will be the first general strike backed jointly by both federations since November 2012 (Infobae). It falls 18 days before Spain's general election on 29 November, and business groups have criticised the timing (same source).
- Minimum services are not set yet. The Ministry of Transport fixes the minimum services. Around 22 October, CCOO and UGT asked the ministry to negotiate them rather than impose them, and proposed using the levels from the 2010 and 2012 general strikes as a reference (Noticias Obreras). On 27 October the final levels had still not been published (Público).
For reference, the 2012 minimum services protected 10% of mainland domestic flights, 50% of flights to and between the Balearic and Canary Islands, 20% of flights to the EU and 40% of other international flights. On rail they protected 30% of Cercanías commuter trains (35% at peak times) and 20% of AVE and long-distance trains (Noticias Obreras). These numbers are a benchmark the unions put forward, not this year's rules.
The rail strikes around it
The general strike is sandwiched between strikes by train drivers:
- Renfe, 10 and 12 November: the drivers' union Semaf has called a full 24-hour strike across the Renfe group on 10 November and partial stoppages on 12 November. It says commitments on rail safety have not been kept (EFE via Infobae). That makes three days of rail disruption in a row from 10 to 12 November.
- Ouigo: the low-cost high-speed operator cancelled its whole timetable on 2 November on its Madrid–Barcelona, Madrid–Valencia and Madrid–Andalusia corridors because no minimum services had been set. Partial strikes are planned on 6 and 9 November (Merca2).
What it means for travellers
- Flights: fewer flights on 11 November is likely once minimum services are set. Domestic mainland routes were the hardest hit in 2012 (Noticias Obreras). The Majorca Daily Bulletin notes that past strikes have involved ground staff, air traffic controllers and cabin crew, and lists British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair and Iberia as airlines whose alerts passengers should watch.
- Getting to the airport: trains, metro and buses may run reduced timetables (Público). The Majorca Daily Bulletin also expects large marches in Madrid and Barcelona, which could slow road transfers.
- Rail plans from 10 to 12 November are at the highest risk, because the Renfe drivers' strikes fall either side of the general strike (EFE via Infobae).
- Your rights if a flight is cancelled: under EU rules you can choose a refund or rebooking, and the airline must provide meals and, if needed, a hotel while you wait. Compensation is a different matter. A strike by the airline's own staff does not exempt it from paying, but a strike by people outside the airline can count as an "extraordinary circumstance" (Your Europe, European Union).
What to do
- If you can, move travel away from 10–12 November, especially domestic flights and long-distance trains.
- Watch for the ministry's minimum-services resolution. These usually come out a few days before a strike. Then check your flight or train in the airline's app or on Renfe the day before you travel (Merca2).
- Keep your booking details current with your airline so cancellation alerts reach you.
- Allow extra time for airport transfers on 11 November, and have a taxi or private-transfer backup in Madrid and Barcelona.
- Know your options: if your flight is cancelled, ask for rebooking or a refund, and keep receipts for meals and hotels (Your Europe).
- Check your travel insurance. According to the Majorca Daily Bulletin, many policies only cover strike disruption if you bought them before the strike was announced on 7 October.
What happens next
The Ministry of Transport's minimum-services resolutions for air, rail and city transport are the next thing to watch. Airlines usually announce cancellations once those are out, so check your airline's notices again as soon as they are published.
Sources
- Los sindicatos confirman la huelga general para el 11 de noviembre — Infobae
- Guía de la huelga general del 11 de noviembre: servicios mínimos en colegios, transporte y salarios — Público
- CCOO y UGT piden a Transportes negociar los servicios mínimos de la huelga general del 11 de noviembre — Noticias Obreras
- El sindicato Semaf convoca nueva huelga de maquinistas en Renfe el 10 y 12 de noviembre — EFE via Infobae
- Ouigo cancela todos sus trenes el lunes por la huelga y Renfe afronta paros en noviembre y diciembre — Merca2
- Spain November general strike will cause flight cancellations and transport delays — Majorca Daily Bulletin
- Air passenger rights — Your Europe (European Union)