SPAIN: Travel Chaos, Easter Plans & more – 2nd Apr 2026

Buenos días from Gracia! This is the Rorshok Spain Update from the 2nd of April twenty twenty-six. A quick summary of what's going down in Spain.

First up, the latest development in Spanish relations to the Iran war. On Monday, the 30th, Spain banned all US military aircraft involved in the Middle East conflict from using its airspace, reinforcing its opposition to Washington’s actions in Iran.

President Pedro Sánchez has positioned Spain as a leading European critic of the war. The decision has further strained relations with US President Donald Trump, who has threatened economic retaliation against Spain and any other European country that refuses to get involved.

On Monday, the country also announced plans to grant citizenship to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López through an exceptional naturalization process, approved by the Council of Ministers.

López has lived in the country since twenty-twenty after fleeing Venezuela because of his political persecution. He faces an unusual legal situation, as he does not have a valid passport, and Venezuelan authorities are trying to strip him of his nationality. He previously took refuge in the Spanish ambassador’s residence in the Venezuelan capital after he joined a failed uprising.

Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said Spanish law justifies the decision due to López’s very special circumstances.

The Council of Ministers made this decision to resolve his situation and to demonstrate its support for Venezuelan opposition figures amid ongoing political uncertainty.

Meanwhile, the travel sector expects major disruptions ahead. An indefinite strike by airport ground staff will disrupt holidaymakers travelling to the country over Easter. Workers from Groundforce and Menzies Aviation are taking industrial action over a pay dispute, affecting twelve major airports, including Barcelona, Madrid, Alicante and Málaga in the south, Palma de Mallorca, a western island, Ibiza off the eastern coast, and the Canary Islands, the southernmost autonomous community.

The strike began on Monday, the 30th, and workers are staging partial walkouts on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during peak travel hours, which increases the risk of delays, cancellations, and baggage handling issues. Baggage handlers will also carry out additional twenty-four-hour strikes between the 2nd and 6th of April.

Speaking of delays, on Tuesday, the 31st, the central government has had to stall a proposal to impose up to a 100% tax on property purchases by non-EU buyers due to limited political support.

Sánchez introduced the measure in twenty twenty-five to address the housing crisis. However, a fragmented legislature has hindered progress, with opposition from the Catalan party Junts, which blames limited supply, and the Podemos party, which says the plan falls short.

Lawmakers have yet to debate the bill, and elections are approaching.

Next, for anyone working in - or considering a move to - the country, this update is worth noting.

On Tuesday, the 31st, the country reformed its Ingreso Mínimo Vital (IMV) to better support people in employment. The IMV is a state benefit that guarantees a minimum income for low-income individuals and families, helping to reduce poverty and social exclusion.

Under the new rules, recipients can earn up to 6,000 euros a year without losing benefits, removing a key disincentive to work. If earnings exceed this threshold, support is reduced gradually rather than cut off, ensuring that taking a job always results in a net financial gain.

The reform also offers greater flexibility for vulnerable households and strengthens links to job support services.

A few significant arrests in a big case. On Monday, the 30th, nine men appeared in court following a major cross-border drug trafficking operation spanning Scotland and Spain. Police conducted coordinated raids across several Scottish towns, while Spanish authorities simultaneously targeted properties in Malaga in the south and Barcelona, arresting five additional suspects.

Seven men appeared to face charges, including involvement in serious organised crime, such as supplying drugs and money laundering. Two others appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court in Scotland, with most granted bail, while one was remanded in custody.

The arrests follow a two-year investigation into a network accused of importing cocaine into Scotland from the Iberian Peninsula.

Let’s move on to some weather. Spain is set for turbulent Easter weather, with strong winds and rough seas expected to disrupt holiday plans despite largely dry conditions. The state weather agency AEMET has issued warnings across several regions, including Aragon, Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community.

Orange weather alerts will affect multiple parts of Spain, particularly across the north-east, interior, and island regions.

At sea, waves are predicted to create hazardous coastal conditions. Although alerts are expected to drop to yellow by Thursday, the 9th.

Over to the Basque Country next, where a bingo ban has sparked a boiling debate. On Tuesday the 31st, a senior citizens’ centre in Bilbao, Northern Spain, suspended its weekly bingo games after a visit from the regional police force, saying they could face potential fines up to 60,000 euros.

Authorities acted following a complaint from a nearby gambling venue, as the games involved small cash prizes. Although players paid just 0.20 cents per card and winnings were minimal, regional gambling laws restrict money-based games to authorised venues, forcing the centre to halt the activity.

Residents say the sessions were recreational, promoting social interaction and mental stimulation. The suspension has caused other care centres to cancel their bingo games.

Meanwhile, advocacy groups are pushing for legal clarification and are pushing for a policy that allows bingo to be played recreationally in community settings as a non-profit.

Time for a coffee break! Last week, the Colombian Embassy launched Coffee Master Spain, a fifteen-day experiential and competitive event between the 14th and 29th of April, celebrating Colombian specialty coffee in Madrid and Zaragoza, in the northeast.

The initiative aims to promote Colombian coffee through cultural diplomacy, combining tastings, training, and public participation.

A total of twenty-six specialty coffee shops will create signature drinks using 100% Colombian coffee, with customers and experts voting for the best. And it´s not all about the coffee either, the event highlights the economic, social and sustainable importance of the plant, which supports around 500,000 Colombian families.

In music, late last week, the Cervantes Institute and Spain’s Culture Ministry announced the launch of Music by Spain, a new public body whose purpose will be to promote its music internationally.

The initiative is backed by major organisations, including Acción Cultural Española, and will receive thousands in annual funding from EU and government funds.

The body will support industry professionals through trade fairs, international missions, and market intelligence, aiming to improve access to global markets and coordinate efforts across the sector.

In fast food news, on Tuesday, the 31st, KFC launched its limited-time kebab-themed menu in Spain, featuring four new items: kebab, dürüm, falafel, and fries with kebab sauce.

To promote the release, the brand introduced a bold outdoor campaign that transforms its restaurant signage into giant rotating kebab rotisseries.

Kebab culture is strong across the country, and KFC is jumping on the bandwagon.

And finally, a thought for anyone living in, or curious about, the country and its exports.

Alessandro Gandolfi’s recent Guardian piece explores the “sea of plastic” in Southern Andalucia, around Almería, the garden of Europe, or la huerta de Europa. The huerta covers 30,000 hectares, roughly the same size as Barcelona three times over, and produces 3.5 million tons of vegetables annually, feeding Europe and generating billions.

The story began in the ninety-sixties with simple plastic covers in the arid Campo de Dalías. Today, drip irrigation, climate control, research centres, and desalination plants make it a high-tech agricultural powerhouse.

But there’s also a downside. The system relies heavily on migrant labour, many of whom work under tough conditions, and also raises environmental concerns, from plastic waste to water use. For many, it’s a vivid reminder: the country's sunny landscapes can be both innovative and controversial.

Read the full article in the show notes - it’s a fascinating glimpse at how food, labour, and technology collide in southern Spain.

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Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

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¡Hasta la próxima!