Travelers Head to Portugal This Summer Face Weekend Disruptions
As the summer season kicks off, travelers heading to Portugal are being advised to prepare for potential delays and cancellations at airports across the country. The situation is due to a series of strikes by airport staff that will occur every weekend throughout August. These disruptions are primarily affecting aircraft servicing, baggage handling, and check-in teams, who are walking out over issues such as low pay, unpaid night shifts, and disputes over parking arrangements.
The strikes have impacted several key airports, including those in Lisbon, Faro, and Porto, as well as Madeira, Porto Santo, and the Azores. With the summer season in full swing, these disruptions could significantly affect travel plans, especially for those arriving during peak times.
FCDO and ANA Issue Warnings
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a warning about the potential for significant delays due to the collective action taking place over weekends in August. Similarly, ANA, the company managing Portugal’s airports, has also released advice, indicating that several airlines, including state-owned carrier TAP, may be affected by the strikes.
Passengers should be prepared for more weekend disruptions starting from tomorrow, with the third of five planned strikes set to begin on:
- 15 to 18 August
- 22 to 25 August
- 29 August to 1 September
Flights Already Affected
The strikes have already caused chaos at Portugal’s busiest airports. On the first weekend, Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport canceled more than 70 flights. The second wave from 8 to 11 August brought additional challenges, with eight flights to Lisbon being canceled. Long delays also held up departures. According to union sources cited by Lusa News Agency, around 25 flights left without passengers’ checked bags.
The conflict has sparked a bitter public feud between Menzies Aviation, which recently took over Groundforce operations, and the Metallurgical and Related Industries Union (SIMA), which represents the striking employees. SIMA leader Carlos Araújo criticized the management for its approach, stating that the union was forced into this situation due to the intransigence of the current management.
“We were forced into this situation by the intransigence of the current management, represented by its vice-president Rui Gomes, who opted for confrontation instead of dialogue, refusing solutions that respected workers’ rights and the interests of the country,” Araújo said in a statement earlier in August.
Meanwhile, Menzies has stated that plans are in place to keep operations running and emphasized that the company respects the law and workers’ rights. A spokesperson for Menzies told Lusa that the union “insists on promoting a distorted narrative based on unfounded allegations.”
Broader Impact Across Europe
Portugal’s strikes are part of a larger pattern of disruptions across Europe. In Italy, a nationwide airport strike lasted four hours on 26 July, leading to 73 flight cancellations in one day across Milan, Venice, and Naples. Spain has also faced disruptions, with Volotea’s crew and pilots staging a strike on 26 July, affecting flights to over 100 destinations.
From 15 to 17 August, airports across Spain are expected to face more delays, as over 3,000 workers at Azul Handling – part of the Ryanair group – plan a walk-out at 12 airports. The strikes are expected to continue weekly through December.
France has seen some of the most severe impacts, with air staff strikes in July forcing airlines to cancel thousands of flights, affecting over 1 million passengers. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary criticized the strikes, calling them “holding European families to ransom” and urging EU action to protect travelers.
Advice for Travelers
With strikes coinciding with peak-season travel, holidaymakers heading to Portugal or other parts of Europe are advised to leave extra time at airports, monitor announcements from airlines, and expect delays at major hubs. This summer’s ongoing disruptions serve as a reminder of how quickly holiday plans can be affected by unforeseen circumstances.
