Portugal Airport Strike: Menzies Ground Handling Workers Plan Seventy Six Days Of Disruptions- What Travellers Need To Know

Published on September 3, 2025

Travelers readying to walk done Portuguese airports should brace for important recreation disruptions. Ground handling unit employed by Menzies Aviation, which provides services astatine awesome airports crossed Portugal, person announced a bid of strikes group to past until January 2026. These labour actions are expected to impact cardinal airports, including Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira, and nan Azores, pinch disturbances scheduled for high-traffic recreation periods specified arsenic agelong weekends, Christmas, and nan New Year.

Strike Schedule and Duration

The business action by Menzies crushed handling workers will unfold complete respective months, pinch nan first activity of strikes opening connected September 3, 2025, and continuing successful phases until January 2026. The unions involved, SIMA (Union of Metal and Related Industries Workers) and nan Transport Union (STA), person cautiously planned these strikes to coincide pinch highest recreation dates, perchance causing wide disruptions during important periods specified arsenic agelong weekends, vacation seasons, and world recreation peaks.

The scheduled onslaught dates are arsenic follows:

• September 3–9, 2025
• September 12–15, 2025
• September 19–22, 2025
• September 26–28, 2025
• October 3–6, 2025
• October 10–13, 2025
• October 17–20, 2025
• October 24–27, 2025
• October 31–November 3, 2025
• November 7–10, 2025
• November 14–17, 2025
• November 21–24, 2025
• November 28–December 1, 2025
• December 5–8, 2025
• December 12–15, 2025
• December 19, 2025–January 2, 2026

These dates person been specifically selected to maximize effect during times erstwhile airports acquisition dense rider traffic. Passengers flying done Portugal during these months tin expect imaginable delays and work disruptions, peculiarly during nan vacation play erstwhile airdrome postulation is astatine its peak.

Reasons for nan Strike

The determination to onslaught comes arsenic workers astatine Menzies request improvements successful their moving conditions, including an summation successful basal salaries to meet aliases transcend Portugal’s minimum wage. Workers are besides seeking amended compensation for nighttime shifts, arsenic good arsenic nan enforcement of antecedently agreed-upon benefits. SIMA and STA, nan 2 unions organizing nan action, person based on that existent conditions astatine nan institution break labour laws and neglect to supply capable compensation for workers, who are facing expanding economical challenges.

In summation to costs issues, nan unions are calling for greater respect for labour agreements that were signed successful nan past. They are peculiarly concerned astir Menzies’ nonaccomplishment to meet commitments regarding occupation benefits and moving conditions. Union leaders person emphasized that these issues are not isolated incidents but portion of a broader struggle for adjacent curen wrong nan aviation assemblage successful Portugal.

The unions person besides expressed vexation pinch nan company’s management, arsenic good arsenic pinch nan broader industry’s attack to labour relations. They declare that nan hose companies and Menzies guidance person grounded to prosecute successful meaningful negotiations aliases return nan workers’ concerns seriously. The unions person stressed that these strikes are a nonstop consequence to what they spot arsenic management’s neglect of workers’ authorities and needs.

Impact connected Airport Operations

The strikes are expected to impact crushed handling operations crossed aggregate airports successful Portugal, including cardinal hubs specified arsenic Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport and Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport. Ground handling services specified arsenic check-in, baggage handling, and boarding are expected to beryllium severely disrupted during nan strikes, starring to delays and cancellations of flights.

However, nan Portuguese authorities has ordered minimum work levels successful an effort to guarantee that basal operations continue. According to a decree by nan Court of Arbitration of nan Economic and Social Council, a important information of nan crushed handling operations will beryllium required to continue, though services will beryllium reduced during nan onslaught periods. This includes 100% of crushed handling services for home and land flights, but only 35% for world flights.

Despite nan minimum work decree, unions person criticized nan decision, arguing that nan measures successful spot will not let workers to efficaciously show their grievances. They judge that nan minimum work levels discuss nan strike’s effectiveness and undermine nan workers’ expertise to unit guidance to reside their demands.

Recommendations for Travelers

Given nan ongoing disruptions, travelers are encouraged to return proactive steps to minimize nan effect of nan strikes connected their recreation plans:

• Check Flight Status Regularly: It is important to enactment updated connected immoderate imaginable formation delays aliases cancellations. Airlines and airports are expected to rumor regular updates.
• Arrive Early: With further delays expected astatine check-in and security, passengers should scheme to get good successful beforehand of their formation departure times.
• Consider Alternative Routes: If possible, see flying from airports extracurricular Portugal aliases usage replacement proscription options to scope your destination.
• Pack Light: To debar further delays caused by baggage handling issues, it is advisable to recreation pinch manus luggage only, if feasible.
• Stay Informed: Follow updates from your airline, nan airports, and charismatic sources specified arsenic authorities websites for nan latest accusation connected nan position of nan strikes and airdrome services.

By staying informed and prepared, passengers tin thief guarantee that their recreation plans are impacted arsenic small arsenic imaginable during nan onslaught period.

Conclusion

The labour conflict astatine Menzies Aviation successful Portugal is group to origin sizeable disruptions for travelers complete nan coming months. The strikes, which are scheduled for strategical dates during high-traffic periods, will impact aggregate airports, and basal services will proceed astatine reduced levels. While nan unions progressive activity improved moving conditions and wages, nan strikes person nan imaginable to create awesome inconveniences for passengers. Travelers are urged to scheme accordingly by staying informed astir formation statuses and considering replacement recreation arrangements.