Portugal Airports Is Disrupting Summer Travel With Ongoing Strikes: Here’s What You Need To Know If You Plan To Travel

Published on August 14, 2025

Travelers heading to Portugal this August are facing an uncertain travel arsenic airport unit strikes frighten to disrupt plans passim nan state including Portugal Airports. Passengers flying into awesome Portuguese airports, including Lisbon, Porto, Faro, and location airports specified arsenic Madeira, Porto Santo, and nan Azores, are being advised to hole for delays and cancellations during weekends successful August.

The strikes, caused by disputes betwixt crushed handling unit and their employer, Menzies Aviation, stem from debased pay, unpaid nighttime shifts, and parking disputes. Menzies’ caller acquisition of Groundforce operations has intensified nan unrest.

Why Are nan Strikes Happening?

The walkouts see important labor astatine nan airports specified arsenic nan crews that work nan aircrafts, baggage handlers, arsenic good arsenic nan check-in personnel. The national that is representing nan workers that are connected strike, The Metallurgical and Related Industries Union, reported that nan strikes are caused because workers consciousness neglected and location is nary guidance conciliation for a reasonable settlement.

According to SIMA’s leader, Carlos Araújo, nan workers were pushed to onslaught owed to Menzies’ refusal to prosecute successful meaningful dialogue. The workers’ demands halfway astir issues of adjacent pay, due activity hours, and amended moving conditions.

What Does This Mean for Travelers?

Journeying done formation position checks and announcements is captious arsenic strikes are already impacting operations significantly. Over 70 flights were canceled retired of Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport connected nan first August weekend. This seems to widen into nan 2nd play arsenic well, pinch 8 flights to Lisbon canceled alongside galore delays, and passengers are reporting missing luggage connected immoderate flights.

The strikes are peculiarly troubling during nan peak summertime season erstwhile tourism successful Portugal is astatine its highest. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has warned that nan disruptions are apt to proceed passim August, urging travelers to stay vigilant.

Planned Strike Dates successful August:

The strikes are planned to proceed connected weekends for nan remainder of nan month. The upcoming onslaught periods are:

• 15 to 18 August
• 22 to 25 August
• 29 August to 1 September

Travelers readying to alert into Portugal during these dates should expect delays and imaginable cancellations, peculiarly pinch TAP Air Portugal and different airlines serving affected airports.

Will nan Strikes Affect Other European Destinations?

Sadly, nan strikes astatine airports successful Portugal are successful statement pinch nan broader shape of Europe’s summertime recreation mayhem. In nan adjacent Spain, airdrome employees, on pinch a number of hose personnel, person been implementing predominant strikes which has been affecting nan airports astatine Barcelona, Madrid, and Malaga.

From 15 to 17 August, much than 3,000 workers from Azul Handling, a institution connected to Ryanair, are readying a walkout. These strikes are expected to past until December, adding to nan strain connected summertime recreation crossed Europe.

At nan extremity of July, Italy saw a countrywide airdrome onslaught which impacted hundreds of flights. July saw wide French strikes which caused monolithic disruption, cancelling thousands of flights and affecting millions of travelers.

How Can Travelers Protect Themselves?

For anyone walking to Portugal successful August, location are steps you tin return to debar important disruption:

1. Confirm Flight Status: Regularly cheque pinch your hose to enactment updated connected immoderate formation changes aliases cancellations.
2. Arrive Early: With nan anticipation of delays, arriving astatine nan airdrome early will springiness you a buffer for check-in and security.
3. Monitor Airport Announcements: Listen for real-time updates astatine nan airdrome for imaginable changes to your formation schedule.
4. Prepare for Baggage Issues: Some travelers person reported departing without checked luggage. If possible, support basal items successful your carry-on bag.

A Bitter Dispute Between Employers and Workers

The onslaught showcases nan profound discontent towards some nan employers and nan airdrome employees. While Menzies Aviation continues to support that nan rule is being followed and nan authorities of labor respected, nan national is relentless successful its disapproval of nan deficiency of Menzies projected meaningful dialogues.

SIMA’s leader expressed nan union’s anger complete what they spot arsenic nan company’s nonaccomplishment to reside workers’ issues. The national describes Menzies’ response arsenic arrogant and irresponsible, arsenic it affects not only workers but besides nan thousands of visitors visiting Portugal.

Menzies, however, claims that it has made plans to guarantee minimal effect connected operations and dismissed national allegations arsenic “unfounded.”

The Ripple Effect of Strikes Across Europe

Portugal is not nan only state undergoing disruption. With Spain, Italy, and France besides facing airdrome disruptions, location is expected to beryllium further wide disruption crossed Europe. This ongoing series of strikes is elevating interest arsenic to what nan recreation manufacture will beryllium capable to negociate during highest season, irking immoderate passengers crossed different borders.

What Should You Do?

Travelers flying successful and retired of Portugal are urged to support a adjacent oculus connected updates. While nan authorities and airlines are trying to negociate nan situation, nan reality is that galore airports will stay nether strain done September.

Adapting to restrictions while enjoying nan sightseeing successful nan main attractions of Lisbon, Porto Porto and nan Azores, is easier pinch anterior readying successful place. Stringent restrictions often travel recreation and formation cancellations now a days, truthful keeping a adjacent watch connected formation schedules while arriving successful bully clip to nan airdrome is prudent.