| Journey Alert | Strikes to disrupt airports over 5 weeks – PortugalPortuguese American Journal

Travelers flying to, from, or inside Portugal this summer time are being urged to organize for potential delays and disruptions attributable to a brand new collection of strike actions introduced by ground-handling workers in any respect main Portuguese airports.

The industrial motion, organized by the SIMA union representing staff at SPdH/Menzies (previously Groundforce), will have an effect on airport operations throughout 5 consecutive weekends starting Friday, July 25, and persevering with by way of Monday, September 1, 2025.

The scheduled work stoppages will influence key Portuguese aviation hubs, together with Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira, Porto Santo, and airports within the Azores. Each strike will final 4 days—from 00:00 Friday by way of 00:00 Tuesday—with confirmed dates as follows: July 25–28, August 8–11, August 15–18, August 22–25, and August 29–September 1.

The union cited a number of unresolved labor points as the explanation for the strike, together with base salaries that fall beneath the nationwide minimal wage, unpaid night time and unsocial-hour premiums, restricted worker parking entry, and the failure by Menzies to honor the 2026 wage development settlement.

In explicit, the union has demanded that the corporate fulfill its obligations to disburse over €2.5 million in again pay inherited from the Groundforce transition.

As a results of the strike motion, vacationers ought to count on longer queues at check-in and safety, delayed or paused baggage-handling providers, and potential flight cancellations or schedule disruptions, particularly on short-turnaround routes.

Although important providers comparable to air site visitors management and plane fueling will proceed, the decreased staffing ranges are anticipated to create vital bottlenecks all through the Portuguese aviation community.

Passengers are strongly inspired to watch their flight standing usually, arrive early on the airport, keep away from checking baggage the place attainable, and permit further time for connections.

Travelers also needs to pay attention to their rights below EU Regulation 261/2004, which entitles them to rerouting or refunds within the occasion of cancellations and attainable compensation for delays exceeding three hours, relying on the airline’s particular duty and notification timeline.

It is essential to notice that this collection of strikes doesn’t embody SATA Air Açores cabin crew. The beforehand introduced strike scheduled for July 18–24 was formally canceled following last-minute developments between the union and the airline.

For additional updates and journey recommendation, passengers are suggested to seek the advice of their airline, journey agent, or the official communications of ANA Aeroportos and the Portuguese Civil Aviation Authority.

PAJ/Staff