Portugal Airport Worker Strike Set for July 25-28

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Ground-handling tug and baggage conveyor sit idle under a TAP Air Portugal jet at Lisbon Airport during planned airport worker strike.

Portugal's peak-summer travel rush faces fresh turbulence. Ground-handling staff employed by SPdH/Menzies plan to walk out from 12 a.m. Friday, July 25, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 28. The nationwide Strike spans Lisbon Airport (LIS), Porto (OPO), Faro (FAO), and island gateways, threatening check-in backlogs, baggage pile-ups, and flight cancellations just as holiday traffic surges. Unions accuse the company of stalling on pay and roster reforms. Airlines are already trimming schedules, and Portugal's airport operator ANA warns travelers to arrive early, monitor flight alerts, and keep itineraries flexible.

Key Points

Why it matters: The four-day walkout targets Portugal's busiest summer weekend, risking mass disruption for U.S. travelers connecting through Europe.
Strike window: 12 a.m. July 25 - 11:59 p.m. July 28.
Airports hit: Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Funchal, Ponta Delgada, more.
Services affected: Check-in, ramp, fueling oversight, baggage transfer, security lines.
Knock-on risk: Crew displacement could delay departures into July 29-30.

Snapshot

Ground-handling company SPdH/Menzies manages ramp and baggage operations for more than 40 airlines across Portugal. Union SIMA says 80 percent of its 4,000-strong membership will Strike over stagnant wages, excessive overtime, and fewer staff per shift since the firm's 2023 takeover of Groundforce. ANA - Portugal Airports estimates up to 600 daily flights could see delays or cancellation during the action. Airlines including TAP Air Portugal and United have issued change-fee waivers. U.S. departures to Lisbon routinely connect onward to Faro or Porto, so missed links could ripple through itineraries. Travelers should confirm baggage transfer times, carry essentials in hand luggage, and prepare for security queues exceeding one hour.

Background

Portugal's aviation sector has weathered repeated labor clashes this summer. SATA Air Açores cabin crew struck July 18-24, grounding inter-island flights. Ground-handling staff say negotiations that began in May stalled after management offered a 3 percent raise, below Portugal's 4.2 percent inflation rate. SIMA also demands tighter limits on back-to-back shifts, citing safety concerns for ramp agents working in extreme heat. Menzies counters that recent pay increments match industry averages and notes a 12-percent rise in absenteeism that "strains operational resilience." The July 25-28 stoppage is the first of five weekend strikes scheduled through September if talks fail.

Latest Developments

Airlines Issue Flexible-Booking Policies

United, Delta, TAP Air Portugal, and Ryanair now allow no-fee rebooking for passengers ticketed to or through Portugal from July 24-30. United's waiver covers flights departing the United States to Lisbon or Porto, with travel rebooked by August 5 in the same cabin. TAP says it will prioritize long-haul connections but warns baggage may be routed separately. Low-cost carriers EasyJet and Ryanair urge travelers to travel with carry-on only to avoid mishandled luggage. ANA has boosted volunteer staffing in terminals, yet concedes that ramp delays will cascade into gate holds, lengthening turnaround times to 70 minutes versus the usual 40.

Analysis

Peak-season strikes in Europe are increasingly weaponized for leverage, and ground-handling staff are pivotal because airlines cannot legally subcontract ramp work on short notice. Lisbon handles roughly 55,000 passengers daily in late July; if even 30 percent of flights are disrupted, nearly 65,000 travelers could face missed connections or overnight stays across the four-day period. The walkout also intersects with Portugal's growing role as a trans-Atlantic transfer point for Brazil-Europe itineraries, so downstream congestion may extend beyond Portuguese borders into Madrid and Paris. From a traveler-experience lens, ground-handling stoppages inflict double damage: longer queues inside terminals and operational chaos airside that airlines cannot mask. Carriers may opt for wide-bodied aircraft to consolidate capacity, but that strategy compresses turnaround schedules and puts further strain on thinning ramp crews. Unless Menzies improves its wage offer, unions appear ready to execute August walkouts that coincide with Portugal's busiest domestic holiday weekends, compounding airline schedule risk through early September.

Final Thoughts

Travelers holding Portugal itineraries between July 25 and July 28 should monitor airline text alerts, download airport apps for live security-line data, and keep at least two hours of buffer on connecting flights. Consider soft-sided carry-ons to bypass baggage delays, reconfirm Hotel late-arrival policies, and purchase Travel Insurance covering strike-related disruption. Preparation and patience will be critical amid the Portugal airport worker strike.