Language Bonus Dispute Sparks Service Withdrawal

Information assistants at Barcelona-El Prat Airport are set to stop communicating in English with passengers due to a dispute over unpaid language bonuses. The CSIF union, representing staff employed by I-SEC, the private company managing the service, confirmed the action on Tuesday 20th October 2026. These assistants, stationed near security checkpoints, guide passengers through screening procedures, including how to separate luggage and proceed through controls. They also routinely use foreign languages, including English, to assist international travellers.

Union Accuses I-SEC of Withholding Bonuses

The CSIF union alleges that I-SEC is charging AENA, the state-owned airport operator, for multilingual services but is not passing on the corresponding language bonus to workers. The bonus is a contractual addition to salaries for staff qualified to operate in more than one language.

It is unacceptable that the company charges AENA for a service and refuses to pay its workers for providing it.

The union warned that the decision undermines service quality and unfairly penalises both staff and passengers.

Call for AENA Oversight and Immediate Action

CSIF is demanding that I-SEC immediately reinstate the language bonus payments and restore full multilingual support. It is also calling on AENA to supervise compliance with contracted service conditions and ensure passengers continue to receive necessary information in accessible languages. Passengers relying on English-language assistance at security points should expect disruptions if the measure takes effect. AENA provides general airport information via its counters and virtual assistance points, accessible through the Aena Maps indoor guidance system.

What This Means for Travellers

  • The change affects only information assistants managed by I-SEC at security zones.
  • Other English-speaking services, including airline desks and tourist information offices in Terminals T1 and T2, remain operational according to AENA.
  • Travellers are advised to arrive with extra time and seek assistance at official AENA or airline information points if needed.

Primary sources: aena.es. Reported by metropoliabierta.elespanol.com, murciatoday.com, metropoliabierta.cat, Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life.